"Salute To A Switchblade" is a story about two American soldiers, Tom T. Hall and Yates, who are stationed in Germany. One night at a bar, they meet some German women and invite them to sit with them. They drink a lot of German beer and eventually, Tom T. Hall asks one of the women if she is a spy. She denies it but says that she is feeling a bit high, which is a common condition for American soldiers. Tom T. Hall excuses himself and when he returns, he finds that Yates has left with one of the women and someone else has taken his seat. When he asks for his seat back, the man tells him that the woman is his wife and pulls out a switchblade knife. Tom T. Hall makes a run for it and the man chases after him. He manages to escape out a window and makes it back to his bunk. The next day, Tom T. Hall realizes that the man has cut his coat down the back with the knife. He is relieved to hear that the man has been sent home, as he is no longer a threat to him. Tom T. Hall ends the song by advising women who are married to always wear their wedding ring and alludes to the army's policy of painting things that can't be moved, and saluting things with switchblade knives. Overall, the song is a humorous take on the dangerous situations that American soldiers can find themselves in when stationed overseas. It also touches on themes of marriage, loyalty, and survival.
