First, wonder how many interpretations are from those who have never served, seems they all are.

The first verse is a reference to basic training from a drill sergeants perspective, where the philosophy is to break down one's self impression, and to build it back up and build confidence.

The chorus is maily a reference to how prwsidents, mainly republican, keep using religion as a justification for armed action. Yet when armed axtion should be carried out, such as against ISIS, nobody wants to defend the basic human rights of others.

Second verse, refers to trained soldiers (not basic training recruits) always being on standby ready to go at momwnts notice. It goes on to describe how war is confusing, and brings out the worst of humanity in even the best intetioned people.

The third verse, goes back to a view of basic training, but from a recruits perspective, and how hard everything seems that lies ahead. The clay dirt lauguing at the weakling boy just shouts doing pushups till you cannot do pushups anymore, and have that red clay dirt all over you, and it stains your uniform, clothing, equipment, everything. You are busy in basic training, and have barely time to write family and friends, and very little time weekly to make phone calls, or at least back when then Army actually treated recruits like they were going into the military and not like it is summer camp.

The title and common line 'All good soldiers' also just shouts the high amount of emphasis olaced on following orders. Contrary to the belief soldiers are trained to blondly follow orders, actually much training is spent on what is a legal and valid order, and was is not, and the duty to refuse an illegal order, and to do what is in our power to prevent an illegal order from being carried out (ie an order to attack civilians is an illegal order, and a soldier would be authorized to use force against his fellow soldiers, and those giving such orders if necessary to prevent such an order from being carried forth). Also, it would surprise many how in combat, you need to be able to think on your feet, and how orders quickly turn into more of objective directives (ie seize and secure that building doesn't mean to charge in gung ho under fire like an idiot) that each level of the chain of command has some authority and jurisdiction to decide how to work and operate in order to achieve such. This is where i see the 'all good soldiers' line also referring ro how those who never served or know directly someone who has, because it is a blind blanket statement, just as ignorant as a president who claims to know or understand what any god (or gods) will may be. Also the whole all good soldiers believe in god theme, also represents how many who are serving use their faith as a way to cope with fear and fate.

Also, the line, who will be accountable, a cannibal, a cannonball also is very representative of the fact until a soldier is in a combat situation, there is no telling how they will react, and the cannibal part to how some mentally unstable soldiers have taken body parts off enemy. Accountability is a huge deal in the military, and when things go wrong, they always want to make someone accountable/responsible for any deviation outside expectations from the high ranking officers (and sometimes public and politicians) even when sometimes, there is no one person or group that is clearly accountable. Bad things happen in war, and sometimes, especially in populated areas, civilians get caught in a bad situation, by both sides at times. Some people also step up, and do something brave and against every instinct of man, ie charging a numerically superior force single handedly, or telling everyone to fall back while you hold off enemy single handedly.

The reference to warheads, just illustrates the potential power of destruction having a few thousand soldiers, of all types, can wreak upon their intended (and sometimes unintended) target. It speaks to the might of the US Military, and the fact we can totally f@$# up a place plenty fine and good without the need for nuclear warheads, how a military is capable of mass destruction just with boots on the ground.

I was in the military on 9-11-01, served 10 years. A lot of those who like myself actually saw combat, and conducted combat operations, we do a lot of what we do for our fellow soldiers, who quickly become the closest family you will ever have. Brothers in arms who bear the burden of battle and shed and spill blood will always be closer than brothers who share blood. The 'write my friends' line illustrates this, because the military for most, changes the way you think and look at things, and often, it is hard for a soldier or veteran to relate to civilians, and vice versa. I know my civilian friends and i lost touch with eachother, as we did not know what to say to one another. Looking back on my pre-military days, i found joy in some rather stupid, petty BS, which is represented in the trying to remember line.

I'm pretty sure this song is pretty direct in meaning. Soldiers follow orders blindly and do as the president (government) says, usually using "God & country" as a scapegoat. In this sense, in SOME conflicts the American soldier is no different from any other religious zealot....keep in mind this is by no means universal, but I can definitely see it being used in relation to the recent Iraq war and previous Gulf War.

First of all one line in the Chorus: "the president believes in god," I don't think that Brett wants only Atheist presidents, but the president should not ask the country to pray, or even mention God. Separation of Church and State, not working too well.

The second verse: Brett is assuming himself to be a soldier, the wall that was in his dream was probably a nightmare about the basic training wall that the soldiers have to get over.

I think the song is also about the process of breaking a man from humanity, and turning him into a monkey. Soldiers are not trained to think or have morals, they are trained to follow orders without question. If the president starts a war their reply is that they'll do anything the president says.

All good soldiers refers to the justification of war through American arrogance and our firm belief in god above enabling us to prevail.