Riley Green’s debut album is called Different ‘Round Here, and it features his latest song, “I Wish Grandpas Never Died.” But if you listen to the title track, it has a bit of a nostalgic feel, and the first line in the chorus says, “Brave is 18 wearin’ army green.” Riley has a great deal of respect for our military and our veterans, and he explains that that particular line was inspired by some of his high school buddies who enlisted in the military straight out of high school. “I didn’t do any military,” says Riley. “I went into college and tried to play football, and that was the closest I got (to understanding the physical and mental demands of boot camp) was two-a-days, and I still don’t think I have a very good idea of what it would be like.”
But when Riley thinks about some of his buddies taking on that responsibility straight out of high school he says, “We were both at the same level of, I don’t wanna say maturity, I’d probably say immaturity, at 18-years-old. And for them to be shipped off and go through all the stuff they go through, that’s as brave as it gets for me.”
These days, Riley’s chosen path of music allows him to connect with current and former service members at meet and greets and at his concerts, and he considers it an honor when they thank him for what he does, because he has a deep sense of gratitude and respect for what they do.
Riley Green – Veterans Day :20
“I didn’t do any military. I went into college and tried to play football, and that was the closest I got was two-a-days, and I still don’t think I have a very good idea of what it would be like. But I had a lot of buddies that … we were both at the same level of, I don’t wanna say maturity, I’d probably say immaturity, at 18-years-old. And for them to be shipped off and go through all the stuff they go through, that’s as brave as it gets for me.”