Justin Moore’s ‘The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home’ Video Is a Heartbreaking Reminder
Justin Moore's powerful "The Ones That Didn't Make It Back Home" video is an important reminder that honors military, first responders and school shooting victims.
From downed soldiers to students hiding in their classrooms, Moore offers a harsh look at the realities of the world in 2019. Also featured are police in the line of duty and firefighters fighting blazes. The "The Ones That Didn't Make It Back Home" video was shot on Veterans Day 2018 and featured real-life heroes.
Moore's own social media manager, Cody Villalobos, directed the clip. Villalobos is a former EMT, and it was his experience that helped bring the idea to life. The inspiration came this past September while the band was headed to play a charity show benefiting Parkland, Fla., students who were victims of a mass shooting on Feb. 14, 2018.
Moore co-wrote "The Ones That Didn't Make It Back Home" song alongside regular collaborators PaulDiGiovanni, Chase McGill and Jeremy Stover. The lyrics are nothing short of powerful and captivating:
"Here's to the ones that didn’t make it back home / The ones we ain’t seen in so long / The hold up a beer ones / The wish they were here ones / The not forgotten but gone / They’re in a better place up there."
Villalobos tells People, "I felt that only showing military visuals didn’t give tribute to everyone who might connect to this song, and not to all who inspired Justin to write the song in the first place. Since we were on our way to a tribute show for a school shooting, that was fresh in my mind. I had to pay tribute and honor the ones that didn’t make it back home from school, as well as home from the line of duty and overseas."
"The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home" marks the first single from his forthcoming full-length album, Late Nights and Longnecks, which will be released via Valory Music Co. (Big Machine Label Group division) on April 26.
The story seems to have a positive ending for all characters involved, but that's not always the case, as recognized in a poignant message from Moore at the end:
"Here's to the families that live in the reality of this video, and to the ones that didn't make it back home."
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