Droptine’s Cody Hibbard began his unlikely path to music as a Naval Academy cadet, before an injury sidelined his service dreams and ultimately led him to pick up a guitar. While his career trajectory changed, his deep-rooted respect for the military remained, inspiring his latest cut, “Bend,” out now.

“‘Bend’ shows the bond between someone who has gone through chaos and the person that gets them through everything,” Hibbard shares. “It’s a song about vulnerability and admitting that sometimes the only thing to do is to ask for help.”

Self-written by Hibbard and produced by Julian King and Jim Catino, the battle worn track is an ode to the spouses of military members, acknowledging their sacrifice and dedication to weathering through life’s roughest storms. A willow tree serving as the song’s metaphorical backdrop, its ability to bend rather than break while being battered by winds encapsulates the emotional and psychological toll returning from deployment often has on families.

This road's been narrow
Took a few wrong turns to get this far, ain’t no one’s hero
But baby you can hide these scars, cause like those willows
I run stronger in the wind, when we’re holdin hand in hand, you got my soul on the mend
So Baby bend

To coincide with the release, Hibbard continues to highlight the stories of real families who have lived through these experiences with his interview series “The Heroes Behind The Song,” available on YouTube beginning Monday, Aug. 21. “The Heroes Behind The Song” features candid conversations between spouses, delving into the hidden challenges military families face while shining a light on the battle that follows them.

For more information, visit CodyHibbard.com or follow @CodyHibbard_ across social media.