Are You a Soldier, a Poet or a King?

Are You a Soldier, a Poet or a King?
@ A. Gillardi Photo LLC | Creative Commons

If you're a fan of melodic folk-pop music, you have probably heard of the Texas-based brother-sister duo, the Oh Hellos. Ever since the release of their critically acclaimed debut album, Through the Deep Dark Valley, in 2013, the folk-pop duo have captivated listeners with their heartfelt songwriting and enchanting harmonies.

Of the many memorable songs on the album, one song that stands out is the emotional and uplifting anthem, "Soldier, Poet, King".

The Oh Hellos: Siblings in Harmony

The duo is composed of the two siblings Tyler and Maggie Heath, born and raised in Texas and developed a passion for music. They have been singing and making music together since 2011 and have produced a unique style of folk-pop. Their songs have a raw, natural sound, often combining traditional instruments with modern production.

This duo has been receiving increasing attention for their eclectic mixture of folk and indie rock. Their soulful lyrics and powerfully harmonized vocals, back with traditional instruments, have captured the hearts of many.

Through their socially conscious songs, they explore questions of identity and purpose with an endearing sweetness. Their live concerts often feature the duo singing with an array of backup instruments.

The Meaning Behind "Soldier, Poet, King"

The song Soldier, Poet, King by the Oh Hellos is part of the album "Dear Wormwood", released in 2015.

The song opens with a plucked guitar line that immediately sets a mood of sorrow and longing. Tyler and Maggie's intertwined vocals join in, in what we can call a spiritual quest for redemption and a call to act with bravery, courage, and righteousness.

The phrase encapsulates the idea of embracing multiple identities with courage, often adopting characteristics of a soldier, a poet, and a king.

The soldier embodies an undying fight for justice and truth, while the poet epitomizes the beauty of emotions, words and sentiments.

The king is the embodiment of righteousness, leader of all the virtues, and defender of integrity.

The song’s lyrics come directly from The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. It speaks of how faith gives us strength, reminding us that we don't have to choose between being soldiers for justice or being poets. Instead, it is a call to be both. With faith and moral courage we can do hard things, bringing justice and beauty into this world.

The track builds to a grand finale, with strings and horns accompanying the soaring vocals. It's a powerful, hopeful song that speaks to the indomitable spirit of humanity.

What's the Secret Behind its Popularity?

YouTube and TikTok are the answer.

YOUTUBE

On the 19th of December of 2018, to celebrate her 25k followers, Casey McDonald aka "GothFrog" - a storyboard artist and animator - posted on the platform a short animation video inspired by the song.

The format of the video is quite simple: at the beginning of each verse, a new character appears and at the end of each verse, the new character walks in an infinite journey with the previous ones, till the end, where all of them are shown together.

The simplicity of the format combined by the catchy melody of the song, led to other animators to start creating similar videos with different characters. It spreads especially across the Gacha Life community (a roleplay mobile videogame where users can create their own custom characters), probably thanks to the low amount of time required to create animation compared to the more traditional tools.

TIKTOK

At the start of 2023, a TikTok user created a new video inspired by the song. The video went viral and created a lot of buzz on the platform, captivating the attention of many users.


"Soldier, Poet, King" is a timeless track that speaks to the heart of the listener. The Oh Hellos have crafted a beautiful and intricate song that captures both the sorrow and the hope of being human.

💡
Are you a soldier, a poet or a king? Find out with our personality test!