12 years old my father was beating my mother so I got in the middle of it all. He beat me so hard that I was hospitalized. In the days that followed I was released and my mother rounded my brother and I up and ran away to her parents a few states away. Years passed and I joined the military and thought that maybe times had changed my father. I was wrong and after trying to rekindle a relationship with him he tried to put his hands on me. I beat that man that I feared for so many years to where I made him beg me to stop.. He died a few years later but he never raised his hands in anger since that day. Men stand up for those that can't protect themselves and every soldier feels a duty to protect. You raise your hand to a woman you might as well put your own neck in the noose because we're sure to be there waiting. Great vid and love this song.. Thank you for your sacrifice, for those to your left and right. Head on a swivel brother

It’s not the vet in you. It’s the good MAN in you good sir!

If I was on that mans jury, I would NEVER vote to convict him. He removed one evil person. A couple million more to go. Let him out. Send him to do more good. Thank you Vet for your service!

I'm with you, brother. When I was 7, I was at my sister's house when her husband started beating her. She was pregnant and I tried to get him off of her. He hit me in the head with nun chucks. I came to and my sister was covering me with her body. She told me to just lay still that he'd stop soon. He beat her for 10 to 15 minutes more, and then left to get beer. I wish I had been big enough to help her then. But my dad and brothers took care of him later. I joined the Marine Corps years later and I made a solemn vow that I'd never let a woman go through what that piece of shit put my sister through. Excellent reaction. Keep up the great work.

I'm from Newfoundland and on the Ferry to the mainland while everyone else was sleeping I heard a guy tell his friends he was going to drag me into the bathroom and rape me. A gentleman not far from me heard him and promptly stomped the crap out of him. The cops on the mainland arrested the bruised and battered dude trying to hide in the trunk of his friends car. I was terrified my knight in shining armour was going to also get arrested but they sent him on his way. Four months later I learned rapie dude was found guilty of sexual assault and long story short I married my hero! Thanks for your service. Luv from Canada.

When a man says, "wait in the truck", you know he means business. Great song and video!

My favorite part is when he said “it ain’t paradise….that’s true….but it’s a whole hell of a lot better than the place I sent him to”

As a vet yes we feel compelled to help. It's what we do, I would never want to be put in that situation. I never want to be that violent person again, but if I'm forced I will. Thank you for your service. Semper Fi

THIS is what real country music is all about. Every...single...abused woman prays for a guy like this, to protect her & just make it stop. 💯 He didn't run because he knew he only did what was RIGHT. Note; FYI...the "Judge" under the seat is a reference to a >>Taurus-Judge-Revolver>This song is so perfectly written & phrased...it makes me cry every time I hear it. #WaitInTheTruck

They should have gave him a medel. God bless you.

Being a southern woman I definitely know what wait in the truck means. Took me a minute to wanna even listen. Glad I did. Fantastic song. ❤

I absolutely agree. If the justice system worked, there would be no need for men like us who WOULD and DO step up when things like this happen. Justifiable in my opinion. Period!

I absolutely adore this song. I get goosebumps every time I listen to it. I prayed for years for an angel like that. It never happened, 10yrs after divorce I still wish a judge under a seat would deal with him. Love love love this song💜💪

I was abused and my friend who was a Vet came and saved me. I love this sound. Sent it to him and told his thank you and that I loved him ❤.

I'm not a veteran but most of my family are and I was raised and taught with the mentality of fuck around and find out. I agree with you 💯

I gotta say thanks to all vets. As a soon to be wife a one of yours I gotta say from the bottom of my heart it means so much for people to say this.

I could see the pain in your face while watching this. Thank you for your service and for being the kind of man who hurts when you see the pain of others! God bless you!

Thank you. I lived in a abusive marriage for 7 out of the 11 years we were married. I actually had people say to me " you must've liked it to stay that long" , " what did you do to make him that mad" . I became a public spokesperson as a survivor for a while. The way people looked at me was so disappointing. At the time I still believed in the compassion of the human race. Not so much now. I was put in the group I named as them and those people. You see people don't understand true empathy. Others around them that are in terrible situations are just. Others. Not themselves. Not their problem. Not in their yard. Only when life throws them a reality curve and turns their apathy to empathy do they understand. It only takes 1 terrible action, decision, accident or just bad luck to make them understand and see the one thing they never did. That we're all in this together. I'm sorry, got on my soapbox didn't I lol. I just appreciated your comments. More than you know. Thank you

He didn't just save her life. He saved the life of any woman that monster might ever come across

Best line ever is "I sat on the porch smoking one of his cigarettes and waited for the cops to come"!!! 🤘🤘🤘 and as someone who has been through something similar, you are absolutely right, sir!!! There is never a reason! Thank you for your service!

Just in how I was raised never hurt a woman Thank you for your service brother And todays generation has went to complete shit

Notice as she pulled away from the jail, she was driving his truck!❤

As a woman that has survived domestic violence, I felt this deep down. I never told my family because my brother would have killed my ex in a hot Southern minute and I couldn't let that happen. Now, after I've been away from him and healed , I promise that no man will do to me what he had done to me in the past..... my boyfriend, Ruger, would have something to say about that and he goes where I go.. 😉

I love this song. Country music was folk music, it told a story. This song hits the mark.

Absolutely it would have been her life or his life. He saved her life.

"this place is not paradise that's true, but it's a whole lot better than the place i sent him too" BEST line ever in a song!

I just recently discovered this song and have watched a few reactions to it. It's absolutely heartbreaking to scroll through the comments and see how many women, including myself, can relate! We all know that the law doesn't help us until it's too late! My opinion is quite biased whether he was right or wrong in his actions. However, if I had been his attorney I would have bent, twisted and argued the justifiable homicide defense to fit his "crime"! Sometimes there's a reason if you find yourself lost in a small town you've never been to before at midnight! And, sometimes doing 'your' right thing (everyone's is different) and obeying the law are two completely different things!

#1 - Thank you for your service. My son is a Marine so I understand the military life. #2 - I've watched a lot of the reaction videos to this song. All the men say the same thing. I wish I would've met these men, instead of my ex. My boys saw everything from my bruises to my ex choking me. Ya, it really sucked we were in that situation but I got us out of it and my boys have both said it taught them how to NOT treat a woman. They are both amazing young men who have a bright future so that is the one bright spot that came out of the hell we lived in. Thanks for the review and giving us hope that there are men like you out there!!

Saved her and any woman after her, men like that don’t change….I’m a survivor of DV and I think justice was served

Some years ago I got into a similar situation. Our Daughter came home all beat up. As her mom took her get patched up, I drove over to their house. As I got out of my truck I picked up a pick handle out the bed. I beat her, now ex-husband, to within an inch of his miserable life with the pick handle. He was the hospital about a year. The a$$ kickin was over pretty quick but, him learning to walk again tended to drag on for him. He now has a real severe limp to remind him. I also sent word to him if there was a next time I'd make damn sure he never did again.

As a woman who was sexually abused for four years, I would have been thankful if someone interfered and told me to wait in their truck. Thank you for your service.

The thing that people don’t understand about domestic violence abusers is that most times no matter how far away you try to get from them they will not let you go. Law-enforcement a lot of times fall short for these women. Sometimes this option in self defense is the only option that will save their life

As a former "her," I get cold chills when I hear this song..

Thank you for your service. Ask a child in the early seventies and eighties, I knew of two or three women that needed someone like this man in their life badly. One lady had her scalp split and tried to hide it from the other women with her wig, as a nosy child I spotted it.😢 I thought she would die from such a big gash, she wouldn't even go to the hospital. As a child I'd wished I could do to him what he'd done to her. It was a big secret from the men in our lives because she begged the other women not to tell them because SHE was afraid for HIS safety... I only know of one man that got that very late night knock and a couple of men with spines invited him outside away from the house and adjusted his attitude toward her for good. This song gives me chills, because I wish this man with a purpose had been there for her and their children.

Firstly thank you for your service sir🇺🇸💪🏼❤️I agree with you 💯‼️

I'm a Vet too and I don't put up with any man putting his hands on a woman period. And I've got into a few fist fights in my time for that and I Love this Video and Song. And it pains me to see how many Women on here have had to go through that shit.

He knew if the guy went to jail, he'd get out, just to beat someone else! His way the guy will never hurt anyone again.

The song was #1 country song so it resonated with a lot of people...... I was in an abusive relationship and Hardy is a HERO....... We should leave those relationships.. but it's hard to do..mentally,, financially.. physically........ But when you feel you'd rather die than go on with your life,, a lot of times,, That's when you grow a pair and leave...

I watched this video in tears the first time I heard this. I was beaten with 2 children standing nearby. I walked out after 15 years and 2 children later having to drive myself to the hospital with a fractured skull, broken occipital bone, blood in my eyes and barely survived. I had someone beg me to leave, he wanted to bad to walk in and just take me out of the house but I was one of those women who “could deal with it”. Laying in a hospital bed I saw the exact ma who begged me to leave standing there waiting for me to look up. 8 years after we are still together. I left the ICU and have a man whose stood beside me, who took on 2 kids like they were his own, and will die protecting us. This video hits in so many different ways now looking back ❤

Thankyou for your Service. 🇺🇸🤝✊ Also i'am a Retired Vet as well and im a father friend and brother and Husband i have 4 sister 3 daughters and 6 best friends that are all Women. i live in a place where i have lots of land and lots of shovels. if the day ever came where they come to me to tell me a man hurt them.... well we know the answer...

I’m living happily ever after married to my hero while the abusive monster ex is spending the rest of his life in prison!

just went through a year of never knowing if my exhusband was going to roll up on me or my son high and try to kill us. order of protection was useless. first time I heard this song was the one and only time i broke down crying during that whole time. it was all my friends who kept me safe. him leaving our island a couple weeks ago was the biggest relief of all time, and this is an amazing song that anyone who's been there will feel resonate from heart to toes.

First heard this song last week on the radio and it totally caught my attention even at a lower volume. The melody is so good even without the "story". But it's the catch line "wait in the truck" -- people feel that and understand! I searched and found this video and was blown away. Took guts to produce this kinda message. It's different and edgy like nothing out there. Ultimately, it makes you think, it makes you contemplate what you would do for an absolute stranger. And leaves you wondering if there really are men out there that would do that for somebody. And ya, she got his truck - which is totally cool. I'd love that truck. Good dang song fo sho.

I am sad to see so many comments of my fellow sisters who were once "her" , However, I am so happy you all are survivors. God Bless you all.

So 50 years ago I went thru the same DV and to this day I remember every minute! I cried when I heard this song. Maybe it could help open eyes because back then there wasn’t much that people would do. Thank you for your service!

This song has me all up in my feels. In 2 months it will he 29 years ago since my hero saved my life. In my story my now husband of 25 yrs did not go to jail but my abuser went. Not for the violence he have me but for other charges. Either way he was locked up and my hero is still..to this day protecting me. Thank you for sharing your reaction. Sadly this happens alot.

Great reaction! I'm a pretty headstrong independent woman, but when my late husband said 'wait in the truck' I did it no questions asked. I trusted him with my well being and he didn't want me in whatever was about to happen.

Hardy gave Lainey a "Judge" as a Thank You for their CMA award. 😂😂😂

I with you on that one brother.. I love this song it's almost my story of my life.. I served 18 years of my 25 years sentence for killing the sob that beat my ex wife and my 7 years daughter to death.. was on my way to pick up my daughter it was my weekend to have my daughter I get there the neighbor come to my truck as I was getting out and she told me she could just Call the police that they was scared because they heard screaming coming from the house and pulled out my gun and walked up to the front door that was upon half way so I opened it and seen my little baby girl lifeless laying in the hallway blood was all ever the place in the hallway walked on in and I could hear him freaking out and moving around and moving stuff walked my way through the house making my way to where I was hearing from I found him in the bad room were my wife body was he see me and his eyes got big he didn't get out all of it he when to say I didn't mea all he got out as I shoot him 3 times to be sure he was dead the I made my way to my little baby girl as I kneel down to her baggage God to not take her he when the cops got me.. I might not make it to heaven to see my little girl again I'll go to hell because I gave justice to that sob for my little baby girl.. I'm sorry for the sad message brother...

Fell in love with this song and video from the day it was released! I am 62 and my daughter and son in law introduced me to hardy. One of the best songwriters around today!! From Montgomery al 🙏 ❤️. And....thank you for your service sir. My husband is a disabled vet too!

I love this song it does bring back a time when I dealt with domestic violence for over a decade (a very rough time in my life, it took me moving several times and now finally being with a really great guy).

Not all of us younger guys are like that. Im 24 raised ww2 vet. My room growin up was a barracks bed made up at 5am work the land chow time then back out too feed the horses. Before bed respect and courage was engraved into my being. That old man bless him i can survive though ignore pain and if your gashed open pack it with moss wrap it up and keep going. I was taught to be a marksman. He always said if another war happened and they made it on us soils id be ready. Im damn proud. Love ya pappy rest in peace

I'm a survivor of DV. Took goin to the police to get him to leave me alone. But this song hit home. I had to pull over the first time I heard it. Because it could have been me in this instance if I didn't leave him. And Hardy is right. The best judge is the one under your seat. Glad to see a few good men out there. Thank you.

I know if anyone lays hands on my daughter I'll be tellin her to just wait in the truck too!

He deserved a medal, not a jail sentence.

I'm an old-fashioned 65 yr old female. I believe that if more criminals knew that they would get their %$*÷ blown away a lot of this stuff in America nowadays would stop!

Where were men like you when I needed them? Not one man has fought for me. I will fight a man before I will ever fight a girl, because I have had to. My story is dark. I am happy someone has someone like you.

I would have been on may knees thanking that man. Women be careful who you date. I've come close before to that when I was single. I've raised my boys to never hit a woman. I married wonderful Christian man who has never put his hands on me. I wanted a man like daddy and I got him, a southern gentleman. Girls, first time a guy tries to put his hands on you, get away and don't go back. peace out in Mississippi.

If I was the judge in that case I would have ruled it a justified homicide and dismissed it with time served. We need more people to stand up for the weak and vulnerable that can't protect themselves.❤❤❤

First time I saw this I realized she was driving the truck at the end. Talk about full circle. Awesome song

Justice served! As a combat vet we need to stand up for the weak I feel its our duty.

I lived in an apt building n my next door couple were fighting n she was screaming for help. I ran next door n the door was open. I seen him on top of her beating her. I ran in n started choking him down , getting him off of her.SHE GOT UP N STARTED HITTING ON ME. I through him aside n walked out,,, never thought helping a woman would turn like that. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

Hey, man. Thank you for your service. As a southern woman, I certainly know what “Wait in the truck” means. My folks made sure I’d be able to take care of myself by the time I was old enough to go places without them. Wish more parents did. It’d save a lot of pain. Love this song. If it were a real situation, I bet she takes dang good care of his truck, too. Legally speaking, he would have been defending her if the guy was in the act of beating her. Or she could have shot the guy herself. Pictures of her battered and bloody would go a long way to proving self-defense. She was leaving when he picked her up. Going back was a vigilante move, which means he’s left himself open to legal punishment. I don’t know about y’all, but I do know men like this always go after the woman that leaves to continue the abuse. If this hero took her in and defended her when the guy came to take her back, he would have been well within his rights to shoot him down in self defense or defense of his friend. Waiting for that moment would give him a chance to remain free. Teaching her to defend herself would help also. If you don’t want to loose your freedom, think of the best way instead of acting impulsively. Hero didn’t deserve so much jail time for taking out the trash, though.

That first knock is "Excuse me.", the second knock is " I SAID! ", then it's just f it I'll open the door myself!

In these circumstances so many people don't step up and help. I think people should help people whenever they can! Thanks for your service!

Always loved Hardy ... and loving this one too. Keep up the awesome songs and the issues people are reluctant to face. You guys rock.

Got to say, that I thought him reaching for a shotgun, was self defense. Domestic Violence is so wrong. I Love the message in this song. From the Appalachian Mountains, and we take care of our own. Hardy, you are the man.

Like so many womens' stories I'm reading here, I survived 21 years of living in fear & raising my unfortunate children under that as well. I have so many regrets because by being too afraid to leave, many, many fears are ingrained into my children into their adulthood. I WISH I had a saviour like him. He removed evil, but our justice system has punished him for that moral, human compassion. This song/video/story brings me to such tears. I applaud him for saving her. Thank you for your service.

Preach brother. Part of the younger generation here💪🏻

Opinion time, since you asked ... I've thought about the right and wrong of this situation pretty deeply and this song conflicts TF out of me. My moral outrage screams, "He deserved it!" and the justice system fails victims of DV more often than not. There is a good chance she would have eventually wound up dead, because abusers don't give up. So let's hear it for the selfless protector, the avenging angel! But my common sense says, "Yeah, but he didn't ask any questions. He wasn't even sure if the guy he shot was the one that had been abusing her. What if it was the abuser's roommate and he just shot the wrong guy?" Vigilante justice sounds good in the heat of the moment, but there are a lot of real life complications. My husband is a retired lawyer and I put the situation to him (without having him listen to the song, just the facts as I know them from the lyrics), and he said the character is absolutely in a very bad legal place, no matter how good the intentions. Could a jury acquit him? Yes. Is that likely to happen after hearing the jury instructions about self-defense or defense of the woman? Probably not. Very noble intentions, but not the best realistic way to protect a victim and much more likely to land the avenging angel in prison than not. So, yep. In the abstract, very satisfying as a story. In real life ... he's going to prison. Conflicted AF with this one. But that's what good music does, right?

A true hero...a real man and not some wanta be.

Best real reaction to this I have seen. Anyone who thinks Hardy did this wrong, has never seen an asshole beat a woman like they were a punching bag. If I could not stop him, I would find a few who could

This is the very thing that happened to my father. 🥺 he was with a woman who was still married but separated. The other man was a real drunk…beat her all the time. My dad was over one night the other man showed up which he wasn’t supposed to (Protection Order) he had a gun and threatened to £!LL her and their daughter …. My dad went to his Truck pulled his pistol out of the glovebox and chased him into the cornfield and shot him dead. My daddy died in prison in 2014. He went in when I was 4 years old, 1994. This video HIT ME HARD 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

As a survivor of domestic violence, I get goosebumps everytime I hear this song. I also don't condone violence or killing anyone, however I 100% agree and was raised you never put your hands on a woman. I was raised around men like 👆 that. And thank you for your service, dear!

"I didn't try to hide my pistol I didn't even try to run I just sat on the porch, smoking one of his cigarettes And waited for the cops to come" That is stone cold bad ass. He traded his freedom for hers, with no regrets.

Song hits you hard. He gave up his freedom for hers. Being a native Texas farm girl....I know what Wait in the truck means.

Heard this song for the first time on the way into work this morning. Stumbled on your reaction. You are 100% right, never lay your hand on a woman. I would hope the system would cut him some slack but eye for an eye. Thank you. Cheers from Wisconsin.

This video hits home. I'm thirty years out of my DV Still when I see my ex it scares me. And I still harbor bitterness in my heart. But I'm a survivor

First time I watched this video, I said I'd marry a man for doing that. I married a stranger for doing something no one else would have ever done for me and years later we are still together and never had an argument. Actions always speak louder than words.

I can say I am blessed enough to have several men in my life who would handle things that way. And I know when I'm told to wait in the truck by any one of them it's best to fo just that.

Thank you for your reaction on this song I a survivor of abuse I lived it for 17 yrs until he about killed me then I put him in jail but I'm still scared of him probably always will be but I'm thankful I was able to get away from him

I love this song precisely because of the conflict it creates between my emotions and my brain. Of course I believe that society needs due process and that abuser needed a trial because I think that trials are more for us as a society to hold up evil and examine it and condemn it. But dammit...sometimes that shit isn't working right and someone has to take out the trash.

Oh yes, down south when someone tells you to stay in the truck, you know something’s goin down.

This song reminds me of the night of July 07,1990, my daughter's 2nd birthday. My Daddy would've done this, and he was a vet, but my Daddy never did believe in hitting a woman, or a child. My Daddy yanked a man out of his car, because he saw him punch his girlfriend/ wife so hard, that she went up against the window. My Daddy said that all he could see was my face, and he had to help her. RIP Bill, there's not a day that goes by that I don't miss you.

This made me cry I've been through so much from 15 to 34 I was beating almost every day by my ex so this really hit home but the part I loved it's where she said her judge was under the seat I had bad thoughts every now and then how to kill him but I didn't his last beaten took him out of the house for good I raised my kids God has been good all I have to say to women out there that's being hit if you're hit one time get out don't stay God bless

The offender would only go after her again and possibly unlive her the next time. Restraining orders do not work.

Istg i love this song am I would die to go see it live like ITS SO GOOD IDK WHY “I don’t know if he’s an Angel cause angels don’t do what he did, he was hellbent to find the man behind all the whiskey scars I hid” and the lord have mercy on me part. LITERALLY BEST SONG EVER ( it actually might be better than AA and Before he cheats 👀) BTW, amazing reaction thank you so much❤

Thank you for your service! I was married to a veteran who served our country for 18 years. Unfortunately he had PTSD and would not get the help he needed. I tried so hard to help and understand him. Unfortunately he became not just verbally abusive but physical too. I loved that man with all that I had and really tried to help him. I knew he was struggling and eas told by another vet maybe he had a TBI. Which i would of had no knowledge of. However. In 2019 I left because it was just getting worse and I feared for my life. I knew what he was capable of and he was sure to show and tell me. I wish it didnt have to end that way. I will always wonder if it was something I did wrong or maybe there was something i could have done. I come from a long line of military in my family. My dad was in the Navy and he raised all 4 of my brothers to never lay a hand on a woman ever. My dad and brother ( Marine) were always helping others. So thanks again for your service and hope you have someone in your life to take care of you! I wish people knew more about PTSD and how real those struggles are for people with PTSD.

You are absolutely right. I’m just a southern guy never served but men as a whole need to be the protector. Hard to do cause they really have set laws up so you can’t Wild West is even if it’s moral to deal with the evil they were doing, the justice system is a stickler for the detail. I can’t say I disagree with giving every person a chance in the court but same time if they got you dead to rights walked in and shot someone for no reason or some other crazy thing putting them in a box for life rather than dealing with the problem immediately. Thank you for your service and know there are still those of us at home who are a little old fashioned. Can only hope some of the even younger get this toxic masculinity crap out of their heads and know when to man up. God bless.

What that man did should be covered by the Good Samaritan act! I think a case for self defense could be made because the POS was reaching for his 12 🤷🏻‍♀️ just my thought. This song has done more for me than 10 years of therapy! Go Hardy!

Can't listen to this song without ugly crying!

As a woman who was in the same situation as the woman in the video, I wish someone would have been my angel like he was. I am still to this day 18 years later hiding from that man, and if anyone would have helped me in that way, they should not have been convicted of murder.

Awesome song she knows he's a keeper .he stuck up for her.maybe he should have beat him up instead so he wouldn't have to go away and they could ride off into the sunset. But it was meant to be powerful and it is awesome song.awesome message alot of us have been hurt and no one to protect us.hes a true hero.for sticking up for what's right and paying the price for it.

this is a well done videoo and song and it reminds me of independence day-mcbride, and having bee this place im forever gratful to my tattooed savior. what i really like about this is he didnt try to get oout of the consquences. he knew as soon as he went there what they were adn he accepted them, all to protect life thatss a real man.

🥹❤️‍🩹 great song…great reaction👍🏻 🇺🇸Thank You for your service

Sir, I want to say I have watched so many reactions to this song and every man has the same reaction. "NEVER HIT A WOMAN " my question is how do I always find the ones that do??

Thank you for your service and reaction. Happy holidays to you and all of yours. 🎄

1. Thank you for your service 2. God bless you 3. He never should have gone to jail

Awesome reaction! This song moved me, and I don't usually listen to this type of music. Amen! If I was on this jury, he wouldn't do a day

I think most of us watching see a real moral dilemma, and it seems like that's the point of the song. How far are we willing to go to help or protect, not just someone we love, but anyone, when the laws won't protect us?