471:, which Unterberger describes as "excellent," and eliminate Alexander's "somber" violins. Unterberger states that the cumulative effect of the differences is to make the Beatles' version "exuberant," compared to Alexander's sad version, claiming that it sounds "as if the Beatles expected to win over the woman as a matter of course, whereas there was a sense of desperate last-hope begging in Alexander's vocal." Critic
42:
624:, friends of mine had the Beatles' BBC recordings on bootlegs; that's how I heard the tune. I didn't hear Arthur Alexander's record until after my first album was out already, with my version of 'Soldier Of Love' on it. I think Arthur wins, definitely."
618:. Crenshaw had been introduced to the song by the Beatles cover and did not hear Alexander's original until he released his own rendition. He explained, "I heard the Beatles doing it first and flipped over their version. When I was with
447:
As early as 1962, The
Beatles had been playing live versions of the songs on both sides of Alexander's single, with "Where Have You Been (All My Life)" being unofficially recorded at the
313:
suggests that the mixing of love and martial metaphors is almost overdone, although the song manages to avoid sounding gimmicky. Unterberger attributes this to the song's "fine sad"
1446:
1645:
662:
649:
301:
sound. Marsh rates it as one of the top 1,001 singles of all time, praising its "inexorable rhythmic flow" and the way the lyrics and music combine to create a "
1510:
1598:
1471:
1318:
1181:
1584:
643:
Grady Lloyd's 1967 version, with the title "Lay Down Your Arms", was a top 10 hit in some US regions such as central
Florida. It was covered by
1650:
463:. Unterberger enumerates a number of ways in which the Beatles' recording differs from the original, such as the Beatles playing the main
1496:
1365:
246:
24:
1372:
1545:
1245:
866:
832:
792:
233:
68:
1630:
673:, which was produced by Cason. AllMusic critic Rick Anderson regarded this version as being "fun" and "a sweetly kitschy gem."
1635:
1311:
353:
282:
suggests that "Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)" may have been lost to history had the
Beatles not heard it and recorded a
1051:
290:
of the
Beatles' recording emerged in the late 1970s. Marsh describes Alexander's version of the song as having an "off-center
1277:
1174:
1439:
1538:
459:" single. Unterberger rates the Beatles' performance of the song as "fabulous," calling it probably "the greatest gem" on
1640:
1393:
1655:
1304:
1284:
1234:
320:, the "dignity" of Alexander's vocal, the exchanges between Alexander and the backup singers and the "restrained"
41:
1358:
1230:
1167:
615:
540:
451:
in
December that year. They recorded a cover of "Soldier of Love" on July 2, 1963, the day after recording the "
298:
167:
1205:
1078:
726:
915:
1559:
1379:
1048:
820:
631:
wrote, "Any record collector had to love a guy who knew enough to cover Arthur
Alexander's 'Soldier of Love.
941:
1591:
1478:
1414:
620:
508:
1552:
1386:
858:
581:
967:
1625:
1620:
1266:
1212:
504:
467:
on guitar, while on
Alexander's recording the riff was played on piano. The Beatles also add vocal
291:
493:," who sings the lead vocal. MacDonald also suggests that three songs from the Beatles 1963 album
486:
1566:
1400:
882:
723:
310:
1327:
1270:
1109:
995:
862:
828:
824:
813:
788:
611:
597:
531:
500:
321:
287:
255:
61:
885:
1524:
1503:
1464:
1252:
1190:
912:
657:". Pearl Jam also played the song live and it has appeared on several of their live albums.
495:
472:
382:
221:
185:
154:
53:
1338:
1154:
1148:
589:
433:
236:", which reached #58 in the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1962. The song was later covered by
140:
456:
691:
229:
49:
1614:
1141:
945:
784:
666:
658:
477:
452:
439:
410:
283:
267:
263:
209:
1517:
1259:
576:
405:
112:
20:
1407:
564:
490:
482:
377:
344:
251:
237:
117:
84:
1421:
1020:
776:
424:
418:
279:
217:
213:
131:
125:
89:
654:
644:
569:
448:
314:
259:
1114:
1083:
1056:
972:
890:
731:
628:
306:
302:
752:
661:
and his band The
Disciples of Soul covered it on their 2021 live album
468:
317:
294:
225:
1296:
489:
singer. Author Ian MacDonald describes it as an "ideal vehicle for
286:
version of it. He writes that the song was mostly forgotten until a
1159:
511:"—were influenced by "Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)."
485:'s "crooning" on the song as an example of why Lennon was a great
305:
in which strife among lovers becomes a cry for universal peace."
527:
464:
340:
1300:
1163:
653:, with their version appearing as a B-side to their cover of "
241:
815:
The
Beatles as Musicians: The Quarry Men Through Rubber Soul
1576:
1488:
1456:
1431:
1350:
1222:
1197:
1052:"No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees"
587:
575:
563:
555:
547:
537:
526:
521:
431:
416:
404:
388:
376:
368:
360:
350:
339:
334:
153:
138:
123:
111:
95:
83:
75:
59:
48:
34:
812:
663:Macca to Mecca! Live at the Cavern Club, Liverpool
650:No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees
1447:I've Suffered for My Art...Now It's Your Turn
1312:
1175:
475:calls it one of the Beatles greatest covers.
8:
1103:
1101:
848:
846:
844:
216:and Tony Moon It was originally recorded by
1472:This Is Easy: The Best of Marshall Crenshaw
806:
804:
1319:
1305:
1297:
1182:
1168:
1160:
718:
716:
714:
712:
710:
708:
518:
331:
40:
31:
1646:Song recordings produced by George Martin
771:
769:
767:
765:
763:
761:
682:
536:
525:
349:
338:
47:
1079:"Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)"
996:"A Few Minutes with Marshall Crenshaw"
727:"Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)"
522:"Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)"
335:"Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)"
35:"Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)"
7:
1532:Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)
1242:Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)
202:Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)
177:Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)
1021:"Photographic image of WLOF Chart"
14:
1246:Where Have You Been (All My Life)
940:DeCurtis, A. (January 25, 1991).
234:Where Have You Been (All My Life)
69:Where Have You Been (All My Life)
1497:You're My Favorite Waste of Time
994:Borack, John (August 19, 2017).
665:. The song was also covered by
16:1962 single by Arthur Alexander
1:
610:The song was also covered by
481:critic Anthony DeCurtis uses
297:" and his vocals as having a
244:, released on the 1994 album
240:during a 1963 session at the
1278:Every Day I Have to Cry Some
1651:Songs written by Buzz Cason
753:Allmusic: "Soldier of Love"
1672:
1539:Whenever You're on My Mind
1285:Sharing the Night Together
1235:A Shot of Rhythm and Blues
781:The Heart of Rock and Soul
18:
1440:Live …My Truck Is My Home
1334:
515:Marshall Crenshaw version
299:country and western music
250:. It was also covered by
161:
39:
1380:Mary Jean & 9 Others
1631:Marshall Crenshaw songs
1560:Crying, Waiting, Hoping
821:Oxford University Press
755:. Accessed 29 Nov 2008.
1636:Arthur Alexander songs
1592:Til I Hear It from You
1479:392: The EP Collection
855:Revolution in the Head
853:MacDonald, I. (2007).
1511:There She Goes Again
859:Chicago Review Press
811:Everett, W. (2001).
787:. pp. 352–353.
669:on their 2006 album
647:for the 1999 album,
627:William Ruhlmann of
1641:Dot Records singles
1213:Lonely Just Like Me
1140:The Beatles Bible:
968:"Marshall Crenshaw"
920:Robertchristgau.com
328:The Beatles version
1415:What's in the Bag?
1401:Miracle of Science
1231:You Better Move On
1110:"Soldiers of Love"
861:. pp. 86–87.
692:"Arthur Alexander"
509:All I've Got to Do
322:string instruments
311:Richie Unterberger
224:and released as a
204:," also known as "
168:You Better Move On
157:singles chronology
1656:The Beatles songs
1608:
1607:
1585:All I Ever Wanted
1359:Marshall Crenshaw
1328:Marshall Crenshaw
1294:
1293:
942:"Live at the BBC"
886:"Live at the BBC"
612:Marshall Crenshaw
608:
607:
602:Marshall Crenshaw
598:Richard Gottehrer
541:Marshall Crenshaw
532:Marshall Crenshaw
501:Not a Second Time
445:
444:
256:Marshall Crenshaw
198:
197:
194:
193:
149:
1663:
1504:Someday, Someway
1465:The 9 Volt Years
1394:Life's Too Short
1321:
1314:
1307:
1298:
1206:Arthur Alexander
1191:Arthur Alexander
1184:
1177:
1170:
1161:
1127:
1126:
1124:
1122:
1105:
1096:
1095:
1093:
1091:
1075:
1069:
1068:
1066:
1064:
1045:
1039:
1038:
1036:
1034:
1025:
1017:
1011:
1010:
1008:
1006:
991:
985:
984:
982:
980:
963:
957:
956:
954:
952:
937:
931:
930:
928:
926:
909:
903:
902:
900:
898:
879:
873:
872:
850:
839:
838:
818:
808:
799:
798:
773:
756:
750:
744:
743:
741:
739:
720:
703:
702:
700:
698:
687:
671:Soldiers Of Love
634:
592:
519:
505:It Won't Be Long
496:With the Beatles
473:Robert Christgau
436:
421:
400:
399:
395:
383:Rhythm and blues
364:30 November 1994
332:
222:Arthur Alexander
212:song written by
206:Soldiers of Love
186:Anna (Go to Him)
163:
162:
155:Arthur Alexander
147:
143:
128:
107:
106:
102:
64:
54:Arthur Alexander
44:
32:
1671:
1670:
1666:
1665:
1664:
1662:
1661:
1660:
1611:
1610:
1609:
1604:
1572:
1484:
1452:
1427:
1346:
1339:Robert Crenshaw
1330:
1325:
1295:
1290:
1218:
1193:
1188:
1155:Nashville Scene
1142:Soldier of Love
1136:
1131:
1130:
1120:
1118:
1107:
1106:
1099:
1089:
1087:
1077:
1076:
1072:
1062:
1060:
1047:
1046:
1042:
1032:
1030:
1023:
1019:
1018:
1014:
1004:
1002:
1000:Goldminemag.com
993:
992:
988:
978:
976:
965:
964:
960:
950:
948:
939:
938:
934:
924:
922:
911:
910:
906:
896:
894:
883:Unterberger, R.
881:
880:
876:
869:
852:
851:
842:
835:
810:
809:
802:
795:
775:
774:
759:
751:
747:
737:
735:
724:Unterberger, R.
722:
721:
706:
696:
694:
689:
688:
684:
679:
641:
632:
588:
538:from the album
517:
461:Live at the BBC
432:
417:
397:
393:
392:
354:Live at the BBC
351:from the album
330:
276:
247:Live at the BBC
189:
180:
171:
139:
124:
104:
100:
99:
60:
28:
25:Soldier of Love
17:
12:
11:
5:
1669:
1667:
1659:
1658:
1653:
1648:
1643:
1638:
1633:
1628:
1623:
1613:
1612:
1606:
1605:
1603:
1602:
1595:
1588:
1580:
1578:
1577:Collaborations
1574:
1573:
1571:
1570:
1563:
1556:
1549:
1542:
1535:
1528:
1521:
1514:
1507:
1500:
1492:
1490:
1486:
1485:
1483:
1482:
1475:
1468:
1460:
1458:
1454:
1453:
1451:
1450:
1443:
1435:
1433:
1429:
1428:
1426:
1425:
1418:
1411:
1404:
1397:
1390:
1383:
1376:
1369:
1362:
1354:
1352:
1348:
1347:
1345:
1344:
1341:
1335:
1332:
1331:
1326:
1324:
1323:
1316:
1309:
1301:
1292:
1291:
1289:
1288:
1281:
1274:
1271:You Don't Care
1263:
1256:
1249:
1238:
1226:
1224:
1220:
1219:
1217:
1216:
1209:
1201:
1199:
1195:
1194:
1189:
1187:
1186:
1179:
1172:
1164:
1158:
1157:
1146:
1145:, 2 July 1963.
1135:
1134:External links
1132:
1129:
1128:
1097:
1070:
1049:Erlewine, S.T.
1040:
1012:
986:
958:
932:
904:
874:
867:
840:
833:
800:
793:
757:
745:
704:
681:
680:
678:
675:
640:
637:
606:
605:
604:
603:
600:
593:
585:
584:
579:
573:
572:
567:
561:
560:
557:
553:
552:
551:April 28, 1982
549:
545:
544:
535:
534:
524:
523:
516:
513:
443:
442:
437:
429:
428:
422:
414:
413:
408:
402:
401:
390:
386:
385:
380:
374:
373:
370:
366:
365:
362:
358:
357:
348:
347:
337:
336:
329:
326:
275:
272:
196:
195:
192:
191:
182:
173:
159:
158:
151:
150:
144:
136:
135:
129:
121:
120:
115:
109:
108:
97:
93:
92:
87:
81:
80:
77:
73:
72:
65:
57:
56:
46:
45:
37:
36:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1668:
1657:
1654:
1652:
1649:
1647:
1644:
1642:
1639:
1637:
1634:
1632:
1629:
1627:
1624:
1622:
1619:
1618:
1616:
1600:
1596:
1593:
1589:
1586:
1582:
1581:
1579:
1575:
1568:
1564:
1561:
1557:
1554:
1553:Blues Is King
1550:
1547:
1543:
1540:
1536:
1533:
1529:
1526:
1522:
1519:
1515:
1512:
1508:
1505:
1501:
1498:
1494:
1493:
1491:
1487:
1481:
1480:
1476:
1474:
1473:
1469:
1467:
1466:
1462:
1461:
1459:
1455:
1449:
1448:
1444:
1442:
1441:
1437:
1436:
1434:
1430:
1424:
1423:
1419:
1417:
1416:
1412:
1410:
1409:
1405:
1403:
1402:
1398:
1396:
1395:
1391:
1389:
1388:
1384:
1382:
1381:
1377:
1375:
1374:
1370:
1368:
1367:
1363:
1361:
1360:
1356:
1355:
1353:
1351:Studio albums
1349:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1336:
1333:
1329:
1322:
1317:
1315:
1310:
1308:
1303:
1302:
1299:
1286:
1282:
1279:
1275:
1272:
1268:
1264:
1261:
1257:
1254:
1250:
1247:
1243:
1239:
1236:
1232:
1228:
1227:
1225:
1221:
1215:
1214:
1210:
1208:
1207:
1203:
1202:
1200:
1198:Studio albums
1196:
1192:
1185:
1180:
1178:
1173:
1171:
1166:
1165:
1162:
1156:
1152:
1151:
1150:Soldiering On
1147:
1144:
1143:
1138:
1137:
1133:
1117:
1116:
1111:
1108:Anderson, R.
1104:
1102:
1098:
1086:
1085:
1080:
1074:
1071:
1059:
1058:
1053:
1050:
1044:
1041:
1029:
1022:
1016:
1013:
1001:
997:
990:
987:
975:
974:
969:
966:Ruhlmann, W.
962:
959:
947:
946:Rolling Stone
943:
936:
933:
921:
917:
916:"The Beatles"
914:
913:Christgau, R.
908:
905:
893:
892:
887:
884:
878:
875:
870:
868:9781883052843
864:
860:
856:
849:
847:
845:
841:
836:
834:9780195141054
830:
826:
822:
817:
816:
807:
805:
801:
796:
794:9780306809019
790:
786:
785:Da Capo Press
782:
778:
772:
770:
768:
766:
764:
762:
758:
754:
749:
746:
734:
733:
728:
725:
719:
717:
715:
713:
711:
709:
705:
693:
686:
683:
676:
674:
672:
668:
667:The Derailers
664:
660:
659:Little Steven
656:
652:
651:
646:
638:
636:
630:
625:
623:
622:
617:
613:
601:
599:
596:
595:
594:
591:
586:
583:
580:
578:
574:
571:
568:
566:
562:
558:
554:
550:
546:
543:
542:
533:
529:
520:
514:
512:
510:
506:
502:
498:
497:
492:
488:
487:rock 'n' roll
484:
480:
479:
478:Rolling Stone
474:
470:
466:
462:
458:
454:
453:She Loves You
450:
441:
440:George Martin
438:
435:
430:
426:
423:
420:
419:Songwriter(s)
415:
412:
411:Apple Records
409:
407:
403:
391:
387:
384:
381:
379:
375:
371:
367:
363:
359:
356:
355:
346:
342:
333:
327:
325:
323:
319:
316:
312:
308:
304:
300:
296:
293:
289:
285:
281:
278:Music critic
273:
271:
269:
268:The Derailers
265:
264:Little Steven
261:
257:
253:
249:
248:
243:
239:
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
187:
183:
178:
174:
169:
165:
164:
160:
156:
152:
145:
142:
137:
133:
130:
127:
126:Songwriter(s)
122:
119:
116:
114:
110:
98:
94:
91:
88:
86:
82:
78:
74:
70:
66:
63:
58:
55:
51:
43:
38:
33:
30:
26:
22:
1531:
1518:Cynical Girl
1477:
1470:
1463:
1457:Compilations
1445:
1438:
1420:
1413:
1406:
1399:
1392:
1387:Good Evening
1385:
1378:
1371:
1364:
1357:
1343:Chris Donato
1267:Detroit City
1260:Go Home Girl
1241:
1211:
1204:
1149:
1139:
1119:. Retrieved
1113:
1088:. Retrieved
1082:
1073:
1061:. Retrieved
1055:
1043:
1031:. Retrieved
1028:Cflradio.net
1027:
1015:
1003:. Retrieved
999:
989:
977:. Retrieved
971:
961:
949:. Retrieved
935:
923:. Retrieved
919:
907:
895:. Retrieved
889:
877:
854:
814:
780:
748:
736:. Retrieved
730:
695:. Retrieved
690:Younger, R.
685:
670:
648:
642:
639:Other covers
626:
619:
614:on his 1982
609:
582:Warner Bros.
559:January 1982
539:
494:
476:
460:
457:I'll Get You
446:
352:
277:
245:
205:
201:
199:
176:
148:(uncredited)
29:
21:Donny Osmond
1567:Some Hearts
1432:Live albums
823:. pp.
697:January 11,
621:Beatlemania
616:debut album
590:Producer(s)
483:John Lennon
434:Producer(s)
427:, Tony Moon
372:2 July 1963
345:the Beatles
252:The Kaisers
238:The Beatles
141:Producer(s)
134:, Tony Moon
118:Dot Records
1626:1991 songs
1621:1962 songs
1615:Categories
1422:Jaggedland
677:References
425:Buzz Cason
280:Dave Marsh
274:Background
214:Buzz Cason
146:Noel Ball
132:Buzz Cason
23:song, see
1599:Walk Hard
1525:Mary Anne
1366:Field Day
1121:April 27,
1090:April 27,
1063:April 27,
1033:March 27,
979:April 27,
951:April 24,
925:April 24,
897:April 24,
777:Marsh, D.
738:April 25,
655:Last Kiss
645:Pearl Jam
570:Power pop
469:harmonies
449:Star-Club
315:minor key
260:Pearl Jam
1546:Our Town
1373:Downtown
1115:AllMusic
1084:AllMusic
1057:AllMusic
973:AllMusic
891:AllMusic
825:115, 178
779:(1999).
732:AllMusic
629:AllMusic
556:Recorded
548:Released
499:—"
369:Recorded
361:Released
307:Allmusic
303:metaphor
208:," is a
76:Released
19:For the
1223:Singles
1005:June 3,
507:" and "
309:critic
288:bootleg
228:of the
220:artist
190:(1962)
181:(1962)
172:(1961)
865:
831:
791:
491:Lennon
389:Length
318:melody
295:rhythm
266:, and
230:single
226:B-side
96:Length
62:A-side
50:Single
1489:Songs
1024:(JPG)
577:Label
565:Genre
406:Label
378:Genre
292:Latin
284:cover
113:Label
85:Genre
1408:#447
1253:Anna
1123:2014
1092:2014
1065:2014
1035:2022
1007:2020
981:2014
953:2014
927:2014
899:2014
863:ISBN
829:ISBN
789:ISBN
740:2014
699:2015
528:Song
503:", "
465:riff
341:Song
218:soul
210:1962
90:Soul
79:1962
1269:"/"
1244:"/"
1233:"/"
530:by
455:"/"
343:by
242:BBC
52:by
1617::
1153:,
1112:.
1100:^
1081:.
1054:.
1026:.
998:.
970:.
944:.
918:.
888:.
857:.
843:^
827:.
819:.
803:^
783:.
760:^
729:.
707:^
635:"
398:59
324:.
270:.
262:,
258:,
254:,
188:"
179:"
170:"
105:18
1601:"
1597:"
1594:"
1590:"
1587:"
1583:"
1569:"
1565:"
1562:"
1558:"
1555:"
1551:"
1548:"
1544:"
1541:"
1537:"
1534:"
1530:"
1527:"
1523:"
1520:"
1516:"
1513:"
1509:"
1506:"
1502:"
1499:"
1495:"
1320:e
1313:t
1306:v
1287:"
1283:"
1280:"
1276:"
1273:"
1265:"
1262:"
1258:"
1255:"
1251:"
1248:"
1240:"
1237:"
1229:"
1183:e
1176:t
1169:v
1125:.
1094:.
1067:.
1037:.
1009:.
983:.
955:.
929:.
901:.
871:.
837:.
797:.
742:.
701:.
633:'
396::
394:1
232:"
200:"
184:"
175:"
166:"
103::
101:2
71:"
67:"
27:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
