# What do Iraq War veterans have to do with The Killers’ biggest singalong?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/what-do-iraq-war-veterans-have-to-do-with-the-killers-biggest-singalong/
- Published: 2026-10-30T06:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T06:09:52+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/what-do-iraq-war-veterans-have-to-do-with-the-killers-biggest-singalong/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Matt Pinfield’s work with wounded Iraq veterans inspired the song’s famous lyric.
- Flowers also used it to explore faith and imperfection.
- Its gospel sound drew on U2, Bowie and Lou Reed.

## Summary

The Killers’ song ‘All These Things That I’ve Done’ grew out of a conversation between Brandon Flowers and Columbia Records A&R executive Matt Pinfield, who described mentoring wounded Iraq veterans with PTSD while facing a divorce. Flowers began writing after hearing his story, and the lyric “I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier” was intended as a tribute to that work. The song matters as both a celebrated singalong and a personal response to service, faith and uncertainty.

The track also drew on several musical influences: U2’s expansive sound inspired its gospel choir, its bass line came from David Bowie’s ‘Slow Burn’, and Flowers modelled the chorus vocal on Lou Reed. He said the song reflected his Mormon beliefs as he entered the rock world. Released as a single from the band’s debut album, Hot Fuss, it later appeared on lists of great songs and was performed at Live 8 in London, though it lost a 2006 Grammy to U2.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.