Acoustic Diaries: Between the Lines of 'Broken Soldier

 The Scribbled Thoughts That Became ‘Broken Soldier’

Sometimes the hardest things to put into words are the ones that make the most sense later. Those quiet thoughts, scribbled down in moments of pain, longing, or reflection—words that, at the time, felt too raw to share. I've been carrying some of those words for years now. Words that didn’t make it into the song, yet somehow still feel like they were meant to be said. And maybe this is the right time to finally share them.

When I look back at the notes I made on a pack of guitar strings, I’m transported right back to that place. It’s funny—when I was scribbling those words, I didn’t know they’d become part of a song one day. But now, here I am, about to release Broken Soldier, and those thoughts feel like they were always meant to be part of it. This blog is about the things that didn’t make the cut, the untold story that was brewing just beneath the surface.

The Guitar String Pack

It’s an old, crumpled pack of guitar strings—bent up and faded, with a coffee stain on the corner. The writing on it is smudged, a mix of anger and longing, like I didn’t know which direction to lean. I can still remember the night I wrote those words. I had just finished working through something heavy, and I felt like I had no place to put the thoughts swirling around in my head. The strings were right there, and in that moment, they became my canvas.

The words were messy, but they were raw. Honest. They weren’t poetic enough to make it into the song, not “song-ready,” as I often tell myself. But the feelings in them were everything I couldn’t quite express through melody. They didn’t fit the rhythm or the verse structure, but they captured something real. Something that, at the time, I wasn’t ready to let go of.

The Song That Came Later

One of those scribbled lines made it into Broken Soldier—and as much as I’d like to say I saw it coming, it just slipped in there without me even noticing. "Pictures on the wall, now just shadows of the love we made." It’s about my stepdaughter—she’d colored me pictures during a time when everything seemed right. Those little drawings were so full of love and innocence, but once they were gone, so was the warmth of that love.

Just after releasing Saving Grace, everything changed. They left, and I was left holding on to those pictures, the memories of her smile, and the empty space that followed. I never thought those words would make it into the song, but sometimes that’s how it goes. Life and music collide in ways you can’t predict.

What Didn’t Make It

Some of the words in that string pack were too raw, too personal to make it into the song. At the time, I couldn’t see how they’d fit—maybe they were too direct, or maybe I was just afraid of letting that much emotion spill out. But now, looking at it, I know there’s a reason why those lines never made it. I wasn’t ready to share them.

Sometimes, you write things that feel too real, too personal. You think about the people who might hear it, and wonder if it’s too much. If you’ve ever written something for yourself—whether it’s a journal entry, a letter you never sent, or a lyric you left behind—then you know exactly what I’m talking about. There are pieces of us that are still works in progress, and some of those pieces can’t be shared yet.

But they stay with you. And maybe one day, when you’re ready, they’ll find their way out.

Rediscovering the Scribbles

I found the string pack again the other night while I was going through some gear. It stopped me cold. That same heaviness came rushing back, and for a moment, it felt like no time had passed at all. The words I had written years ago were still there, unchanged—still as real and raw as the day I put them down.

That’s the thing about moments like this. You can go years without thinking about them, but when they come back, they bring everything with them. Those feelings, those memories—they don’t disappear. They just wait for you to be ready to face them.

We all have those artifacts, don’t we? Things we wrote when no one was looking. If you’ve got one, don’t throw it away. It’s part of the story—even if it never gets sung.

The Evolution of the Song

As for Broken Soldier, it’s a song that evolved from those unspoken thoughts. It’s a reflection of what it feels like to carry the weight of something you can't let go of. The song is an exploration of grief, regret, and the inner turmoil of trying to find peace when it feels impossible. It’s not just about addiction or loss, but about the fight inside yourself to keep going when everything feels like it’s falling apart.

Each part of Broken Soldier tells a story, and while the scribbled lines on that guitar string pack didn’t all make it into the song, they were the spark. They were the beginning of something that needed to be said, even if it took a little while to find the right moment to say it.

Why I’m Sharing This Now

Maybe it's the right time for me to share this story. Or maybe it’s because I’m still working through it. Either way, these words are part of my journey, and now that Broken Soldier is coming, I feel like it’s time to let them out. If you’re reading this, I want you to know that even if you’ve got pieces of yourself tucked away, it’s okay. We all have those parts that are still unfolding. And sometimes, the rawest moments are the ones that shape us the most.

Broken Soldier is coming April 25. It’s a track that means a lot to me, and I hope it resonates with you. Pre-save it now. You can hear it when it drops, and if it speaks to you, I’d love to hear your thoughts.  https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/waltersfall/broken-soldier-3

                 Much Love Walters Fall