"Soldier" is a song by Neil Young from the 1972 soundtrack album, Journey Through the Past. It was the only new track included on the album, and was later released on the 1977 compilation Decade, although it was slightly edited.
The song observes how a soldier's eyes "shine like the sun." This is most likely referencing young men returning from war traumatized by the things they have seen in battle. In the second verse, Young sings he does not believe Jesus because he "can't deliver right away". This could be seen as an atheist comment referencing the soldier's feelings that Jesus cannot deliver right away to prayers or wishes, therefore he does not exist.
Famous quotes containing the words soldier and/or young:
“Do you know what a soldier is, young man? He’s the chap who makes it possible for civilised folk to despise war.”
—Allan Massie (b. 1938)
“Twenty-eight young men bathe by the shore,
Twenty-eight young men and all so friendly;”
—Walt Whitman (1819–1892)