Children on Record

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ Christmas Songs ▤ Song Poems

#9 Two & a Half Daddy Won't Be Home for Christmas 1966 · Single · Christmas Lullaby / Daddy Won't Be Home for Christmas · Mockingbird # MR-1004 · USA

Credited on the record as Two & a Half with The Minutemen.

Annotation

The song "Daddy Won't Be Home for Christmas" (Mockingbird Records # MR-1004) by Two and a Half and The Minutemen - released by Coastal Carolina Music, Wilmington, North Carolina - took a patriotic stance, as well as looking at the plight of a soldier's family, missing him during Christmas time. Narrated from the mother's perspective, she explained to the children that "he's busy helping others who are fighting to stay free" , and that many children in Vietnam "have no mom or dad" . The mother said that the day he returned to the US would "be our Christmas day" . The chorus at the end of the song sounds like a group of children. Released around 1967-68?

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Mockingbird Records MR-1004B (SoN 39742), blue label; "Daddy Won't Be Home for Christmas" (Harfoush-Johnson), Coastal Carolina Music, Wilmington, N.C., BMI, 3:24; produced and arranged by Heber Johnson; Two & a Half with The Minutemen; "Dist. by Sound of Nashville, Inc., 160 2nd Ave. S., Nashville, Tennessee". [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Children, I have something to say

I received a letter from daddy today

Now I know it is hard for you to understand why your daddy is in a far away land

What words can I use so that you will know why your daddy and others must fight and must die

Now he can't be here to tell you himself

So he asked me to tell you that he send his love and that he is thinking of you this Christmas eve

Daddy won't be home for Christmas this year...

I tell you what it meant dear, as I tuck you into bed...

He's busy helping others who are fighting to stay free

He said to tell you that there are children there that have no mom or dad...

Soon he will be home to stay and when we'll all together that will be our Christmas day

Themes: Christmas Patriotic Home Front Perspective Child

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ Christmas Songs ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#10 Frank Seymour Band & Patty Ann A Little Girl's Prayer 1966 · Single · A Little Girl's Prayer / Serpent and the Tree · Hitran · USA

Credited on the record as Frank Seymour Band, Cass County Redhead with Patty Ann.

Notes

Little Girl's Prayer, A (Frank Seymour Band)

Country, home front perspective. Child narrator - Patty Ann
Narrator sitting in a church, little girl came in to pray:
Mum told me you took daddy away.
Went to Vietnam to fight for the country. But KIA.

Notes

Hitran Recording Co., yellow label, Side 1, 45 RPM; "A Little Girl's Prayer" (Cass County Redhead), 2:49, credited to the Frank Seymour Band with "Cass County Redhead With Patty Ann". The label carries a date stamp reading "JUN 24 1966"; no catalogue number is printed. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Child Home Front Perspective K.I.A. Patriotic Religion

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#11 Various Artists GI Joe: Stories of Patriotic Americans - The Story of the Green Beret 1966 · Album · Hanna-Barbera # HLP 2057 · USA

Credited on the record as G.I. Joe.

Notes

Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Series. Song and story LP credited to G.I. Joe, with Ballad Of The Green Beret (songwriter Barry Sadler) on both sides. [From Discogs]

Themes: Patriotic Green Beret

Genres: ♪ Spoken Word Children's

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

1967

#12 Sandy & Sue Our Daddy's in Vietnam 1967 · Single · Our Daddy's in Vietnam / Tattle Tale · Basic # PRP-181 · USA

Credited on the record as Sandy & Sue (The Powell Sisters).

Annotation

In the song "Our Daddy's in Vietnam" (Basic # PRP-181), by Sandy & Sue - the "Powell Sisters" - a couple of young child girls displayed patriotic support for their father fighting in Vietnam. They sung that without his work "we'd loose our freedom land" . The girls wishes that they could also "fight this war" to help their father. In the middle of the song, one of the girls entered into a spoken-word monologue, recalling a happy family scene when their father. Released in Nashville, Tennessee. Composed by B. Powell.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Basic PRP-181-A, light blue label, 723 17th Ave., S., Nashville, Tenn.; "Our Daddy's in Vietnam" (B. Powell), 2:15, Charayjim Music-BMI; credited to Sandy and Sue, The Powell Sisters. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Daddy's gone, he left last night, he told us to be good

And help around the house like little girls should

But daddy, we're lonely...

We wish that we could go along

And fight this war with you..

Mummy cries a lot at night

When we say our prays we ask god to bless us and guard you over there

There are three lonely people who try to understand

Without their daddy tall and strong we'd loose our freedom land...

Remember, when you used to come home from work daddy and we'd run and through are arms around your neck

And you'd swing us high in the air and kiss our foreheads

We would share all our secrets

And god's gifts of the day until mummy came to greet you too

Then we'd kind of be forgotten...

But we didn't mind because you'd look at her and say 'It's good to be home again honey'

And we always felt so good inside after that

Show full lyrics (17 lines) ▾

Themes: Patriotic Soldier's Perspective Child

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#13 Becky Lamb Little Becky's Christmas Wish 1967 · Single · Little Becky's Christmas Wish / Go to Sleep Little Lambs · Warner Bros. # 7154 · USA

Annotation

Probably the most well-known (and most commercially successful) of the 60s child spoken-word records, the song "Little Becky's Christmas Wish" (Warner Bros. Records # 7154) by the 6 year old girl Becky Lamb took the form of a letter to Santa Claus asking him to bring her big brother Tommy home for Christmas. However, he died in Vietnam. Her father Bill Lamb, hosted a radio program in Flint, Michigan, on the station WKMF from 1960 to 1984, where Becky occasionally made an appearance. A year later Becky continued the story with "Love, Tommy" (Warner Bros. Records # 7158).

The record company ran a full-page advert in Billboard on 9 December 1967 which said that "every year a particular record performance seems to synthesize the Christmas sentiment of that particular season. This year an unusual offering by an unusually gifted child bears that kind of mood and feel, that stamp of Singles greatness. More Poignant than any in recent memory, the big-big Christmas Single of '67-'68 appears to be Little Becky's Christmas Wish".¹ Billboard then noted the track in its "Christmas Spotlight" on 16 December 1967, describing it as a "moving ballad narration that has all the emotional ingredients of becoming one of the top hits of this Christmas. Timing is perfect for the sad lyric content, easily identifiable".²

Many viewed this as a cynical attempt by the music label to cash in on a sensitive topic, with the help of a small child. As a musical representation of the Vietnam war, it displays the impact of a soldier's death on young siblings, and thus an interesting track. The song reached # 2 in the Billboard Christmas chart. It started out with Becky telling Santa in a letter that her brother Tommy is away. Becky told how Tommy used to play President John F. Kennedy's speech, an inspiration to fight for the country. Becky then recalled the day that the bad news arrived from the postman. She wondered why Tommy's girlfriend never came around to the house anymore.

Sources

1 Billboard, 9 December 1967 ↩
2 Billboard, 16 December 1967 ↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Warner Bros. Records 7154 (K15765), orange label; "Little Becky's Christmas Wish" (DeAngelo-Casabon), Carlman Music, BMI - 2:58; produced by Dick Glasser, arranged by Al Capps, vocal supervision by DeAngelo, Casabon & Lamb. Issued in a Warner Bros. company sleeve with a red triangle pattern, "© 1964 Warner Bros. Records, Inc., a subsidiary and licensee of Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc." [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Dear Santa, this is the very first time I’ve ever written to you

All my Christmases have been wonderful and you gave me lots of nice toys

This year mommy says Christmas won’t be the same, because, well because my big bother Tommy won’t be here

Not too long ago Tommy was home in a green suit with great big gold buttons

I played Tommy's favourite record....

A man was talking and said not what my country can do, what I can do... Or something like that

I asked what that meant...he said it means a lot...

Last week Mr. Dewey brought mommy a letter and made mommy cry

I don’t like Mr. Dewey anymore

When daddy came home, he cried too

And I never never saw my dad cry before

Santa why were mommy and daddy crying?

They took Tommy's record player and things and put them in the attic...

Tommy has a girlfriend, her name is Kathy, but she doesn’t come over anymore

I wonder why?

But please, please bring Tommy home for Christmas

So mommy and daddy won't cry anymore

Show full lyrics (18 lines) ▾

Themes: Christmas Patriotic Child Home Front Perspective JFK K.I.A.

Genres: ♪ Traditional Pop Pop Novelty

Also in: ▤ Christmas Songs ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#14 Joey Martin Joey's Prayer 1967 · Single · Joey's Prayer / Joey's Letter · Imperial # 66273 · USA

Annotation

A double-sided child narrated Vietnam record (Imperial Records # 66273), that also goes down as a Christmas song.. Both sides written by Jeanne Castle, and produced by Dick Shepp. Little is known of Joey Martin's biography, but he probably came from the US. Released in 1967, the narrator said that he was "just in my teens" . In the song "Joey's Prayer" , on the a-side, Joey wrote a letter (in the form of a prayer) to his brother, Mike Martin, fighting in Vietnam. It is another song representing the sibling of a soldier, who felt the absence of his brother, particularly during the Christmas festive season.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Imperial 66273, "Audition Record" promotional labels, "A Product of Liberty Records", Liberty Records, Inc., Los Angeles; "Joey's Letter" (Jeanne Castle), matrix IM-6416, 2:40, and "Joey's Prayer" (Jeanne Castle), matrix IM-6415, 2:10, both Metric Music Co., BMI; "A Gemini Production", produced by Dick Shepp. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

To Mike Martin, soldier USA, somewhere in the war zone

Delivered by angel, special delivery, to my big brother

I'm all alone sitting in our little room....

Soon will be Christmas

But it is quiet everywhere...at Christmas time

I know he is sad without the tree and things

He don't know when he is coming home to see what Santa brings

But really presents aren't important....

Mom says he's with us no matter where he may be

Because we'll keep his picture hanging right on our Christmas tree

See ya, Joey

Themes: Christmas Child Home Front Perspective Religion

Genre: ♪ Narration

Also in: ▤ Christmas Songs ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

#15 Joey Martin Joey's Letter 1967 · Single · Joey's Prayer / Joey's Letter · Imperial # 66273 · USA

Annotation

In the second track "Joey's Letter" , Joey wrote a letter (rather than a prayer delivered by angels). In it he sought to explain to his big brother in Vietnam that those at home in the US "are marching in parades of peace" so that "this whole mess can be solved" . He argued that the only way to achieve peace in the world is for everybody to unite and stand against the war. Therefore, this single took an anti-war position, displaying sympathy with the peace movement and protesters demonstrating.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Lyrics

English

To Mike Martin, soldier USA, somewhere in the war zone

Delivered by angel, special delivery, to my big brother

I'm all alone sitting in our little room....

Soon will be Christmas

But it is quiet everywhere...at Christmas time

I know he is sad without the tree and things

He don't know when he is coming home to see what Santa brings

But really presents aren't important....

Mom says he's with us no matter where he may be

Because we'll keep his picture hanging right on our Christmas tree

See ya, Joey

To Mike Martin, soldier USA, somewhere in the war zone

Urgent, delivery before Christmas...

I want you to know that most of us here in our own way are fighting for all of you

We are marching in parades of peace

The whole nation is involved

United together both young and old

Fighting so this whole mess can be solved

Like dad says, the only way that can win this war for peace in all the lands

It's all for one and one for all

United we got to stand

So keep your hopes up big brother

And know that we are all on your side

And doing everything we can to make peace world-wide

I'll be seeing ya, Joey

Show full lyrics (26 lines) ▾

Themes: Christmas Anti-War Child Home Front Perspective Demonstration

Genre: ♪ Narration

Also in: ▤ Christmas Songs ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

#16 Edan Benn A Little Boy's Prayer 1967 · Single · A Little Boy's Prayer / Land of Counterpane · Liberty # 55947 · USA

Annotation

Edan Benn, a young child, narrated the track "A Little Boy's Prayer" (Liberty Records # 55947). Arranged and produced by Tommy Oliver - a major conductor in Hollywood in the 1950s and 1960s. He also co-wrote this song with Bud Miller. As suggested in the title of the song, the lyrics took the form of a child's prayer. With his birthday approaching, the boy did not want any toys, just that god "please bring my daddy back home...he is a soldier" . The boys mother had explained the situation to him, which included some patriotic, pro-government sentiment: "we are at war and he is fighting to protect us" . The boy said that he missed out on lots of father-son activities, such as fishing, camping, boating, and going to ball games, which his other friends did with their fathers. The boy also acknowledged that his mother greatly missed the soldier.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Liberty 55947 (LB-2367), tan "Audition Record" promotional label, Liberty Records, Inc., Los Angeles, California; "A Little Boy's Prayer" (Bud Miller-Tommy Oliver), 2:37, Metric Music Co. / Retlaw Music, BMI; arranged and produced by Tommy Oliver. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Now lay me down to sleep, a ray the lord my soul to keep

If I should die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take

God bless mommy, little Sue, baby John, and especially my daddy

Please lord can I have a little of your time to ask a special favour

You see, tomorrow is my birthday and all week my mommy has been asking me what I want for my birthday present

But I haven't been able to tell her, oh I want something alright

But I haven't told anyone yet, except I'm going to tell you now lord

For my birthday present could you please bring my daddy back home to me

You see he is a soldier and I really miss him

Mommy says we are at war

And he is fighting to protect us

But other daddies are here

But is it only my daddy that is protecting us?

If he could only be here just tomorrow for my birthday cake and then...go back to war...

My daddy was going to take me fishing and camping and boating...

He was even going to take me to some ball games this year

But now we can't go because the army asked for him instead

I don't even care about the darn old games, if I could just see him again

I know mommy misses him too, a terrible lot, she doesn't say so

But I know, I want you to know lord, I love her a lot, and try to be good to her and make her feel better

But after all she's only a girl...

I know you are busy lord so thanks for taking this time

I promise if you bring my daddy home I'll never ask for a present ever again

Show full lyrics (24 lines) ▾

Themes: Soldier's Perspective Religion Child

Genre: ♪ Narration

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#17 Dewey Jones Please Mr. Johnson 1967 · Single · Please Mr. Johnson / My Susanna · Diamond # D-219 · USA

Annotation

The song "Please Mr. Johnson" (Diamond Records Inc # D-219) featured the 11 year old Dewey Jones, protesting against the Vietnam War. Written and produced by Artie Wayne and sung to a mid-tempo pop tune. The narrator described how his brother fought in Vietnam, making his parents cry. So he decided to write a letter to US President Johnson, reminding him that "you said on television, it won't be long" and that "war's no fun, you can hurt someone" . The DJ copy of the single came with a promotional slip, that described Jones as a "11 year old Broadway star". It went on to claim "this is not a protest song. But rather the plea of a kid brother on behalf of his himself and his parents who are all lonesome for an anxious to see his brother again!!" Unable to verify any of this information, it may be constructed to sell more records.¹

Sources

1 Please Mr. Johnson (Dewey Jones) (PS) ↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Diamond Records Inc., 1650 Broadway, NYC, NY, D-219 (219-A), "Plug Side", "Not for Sale - Promotion Copy"; "Please Mr. Johnson" (Art Wayne), 2:30, Tattersall Mus. Co. (BMI); produced by Art Wayne for Shelby Singleton Productions, Inc. The picture sleeve shows a photograph of the young singer, billed as "Dewey Jones, 11 Year Old Broadway Star", prints the full lyrics under "Dewey Jones sings 'Please Mr. Johnson'", and states: "This is not a protest song but rather the plea of a kid brother on behalf of himself and his parents who are all lonesome for and anxious to see his brother again!!" [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Please Mr. Johnson, send my brother home

Mummy's crying every night since he's been gone

You said on television, it won't be long

So please Mr. Johnson, send my brother home

I know war's no fun, you can hurt someone

When my friend played war with me I fell

And hurt my knee, please Mr. Johnson...

Told mummy not to cry, when I'm grown I'll help him fight

Daddy started crying too

And so I wrote to you, please Mr. Johnson

Themes: Anti-War LBJ Child

Genres: ♪ Pop Narration

Also in: ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

#18 Little Betty Pruett Pray for the Boys in Vietnam 1967 · Single · Pray for the Boys in Vietnam / When the Sun Sets Over the Jordan · Arlee # 20967 · USA

Annotation

Little Betty Pruett, "aged 10" - as printed under her name on the record label - joined the group of children singing about political issues. The song "Pray for the Boys in Vietnam" (Arlee Records # 20967) took the religious route - asking for people to pray because "only god will help them win this war" . The song displayed support for the freedom argument: "they're dying so that we can keep our freedom" . Released in Hickory, North Carolina.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Arlee Records, Arlee Recording Co., Hickory, N.C., Side 1, 20967, blue label; "Pray for the Boys in Vietnam" (Dudley Watson - G. E. Shelton & Dean Smith), 2:10, Road Runner Pub.; The Gospel Hour, Valdese, N.C.; Little Betty Pruett, age 10. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

We prayed when the other war was over

That peace would come to all the world around

In Vietnam another war had started

Our soldier boys are falling to the ground

Pray for our soldier boys in Vietnam

Only god will help them win this war...

Prayer is all that keeps our nation strong

They're dying so that we can keep our freedom

The freedom we still have in our great land

Lets tumble down before god and ask him to hold our soldier in his loving hands

Pray for our soldier boys in Vietnam

Only god can help them win this war

Themes: Patriotic Child

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]▤ Puerto Rican Songs

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#19 La Lloroncita Papito en Vietnam 1967 · Single · Papito en Viet Nam · Pop Art # 112 · Puerto Rico

Credited on the record as La Lloroncita con Nieves Quintero y su Conj..

Annotation

Born Quetcy Alma Martínez De Jesús on 17 May 1956, in Arroyo, Puerto Rico, the track "Papito en Viet Nam" ( "Daddy in Vietnam" ) (Pop Art Records # 112) is probably the most well-known Vietnam War song from Puerto Rico. Known as La Lloroncita, she was around 10 or 11 years old when she released this record.² It appeared on the album Jibarita (Pop Art Records #LP 154). Both the single and album were released in New York, USA. The song was composed by Luz Celenia Tirado, born on 1 August 1928 in Puerto Rico. The song is in the Jibaro genre: "traditionally played by the eponymous mountain-dwelling Latin American culture that live primarily in Puerto Rico". Jíbaro is used in Puerto Rico to refer to the countryside people.² Needless to say, this is sung from the perspective of a child whose father is "fighting in Vietnam" . She referred to it as a "merciless war" and "terrible conflict" , thus leaning towards the anti-war side.

Sources

2 prpop.org: La lloroncita ↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Seis milonga, as printed on the label. Pop Art Records 112 (PAH-3060), gold and black label; A & R: J. Salguero, producer Jose I. Acosta; "Papito en Viet Nam" (Luz C. Tirado), time 2:56; La Lloroncita con Nieves Quintero y su Conj. Rim text: "Produced by Pop Art Records Interprise of N.Y." [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

I'm sad and desolate, almost orphaned I'll say

Because my daddy went off to the merciless war

Desperate situation is what I suffer

Blessed I beg the infinite to take care of all those who are in the Vietnam war where daddy is

How can I not cry every time I'm singing

If I keep remembering that I can't hug him

He doesn't come to caress me like he did every little while

He doesn't bring me toys

He doesn't sing to me

Because fighting in Vietnam is where you find your daddy today

I remember with sadness when I saw him in his uniform

With his soldier's clothes very upright in his head

He stared at me with a mocking smile

He said to me, heart you must pray to god that your daddy comes home from Vietnam

Lord god of great power hear my petition

Is my humble plea to return

Make him finish the troop of that terrible conflict

And come back healthy to kiss him again

I miss playing, bring my daddy from Vietnam

Show full lyrics (20 lines) ▾

Themes: Child Home Front Perspective

Genres: ♪ Hispanic Music Caribbean Folk Music Jibaro

#20 Barbara March Private First Class So and So 1967 · Single · Private First Class So and So / I'm Gonna Leave You · Wal Dee # WDR-45-7 · USA

Notes

Private First Class So and So (March, Barbara)

Teen pop, country style. Child / teenager? Draft.
Narrated by sweetheart of a man who received his draft card - classified 1A.
He went to training camp, and then overseas.
Papers reported a fire fight in the war.
She then received a telegram which said that he had been killed in action (KIA).

Notes

Wal-Dee WDR-45-7, Side A, yellow label with a shield-and-jet logo; "Private First Class So and So" (March-McGuire), 3:05, Waldee Publishing Co., BMI, and Thrush Music, BMI; arranged and produced by Robert Mersey. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Draft K.I.A. Soldier's Perspective Child

Genre: ♪ Teen Pop

Also in: ▤ Draft Songs ▤ US Combat Perspective Songs [War Years]

#21 Little Shirley What's It Like in Viet Nam 1967 · Single · A Little Bitty Girl / What's It Like in Viet Nam · Bolt # 70239 · USA

Credited on the record as Little Shirley & Her Wranglers.

Annotation

Little Shirley - born Maine, USA.
Rockabilly "What's It Like in Viet Nam"
Child singer?
Sweetheart's letter to soldier.
Hope he returns soon.
Proud of the soldier.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Bolt Records 70239 B, 45 RPM – 2002B, blue label, "Lone Star Ranch, Reed's Ferry, N.H."; "Whats It Like in Viet Nam" (Buzz Whittica - Buck Carney), "Time: 3 Min.", Reeds Ferry Music (BMI); Little Shirley & Her Wranglers. The purple picture sleeve shows a photograph of Little Shirley in a fringed western shirt with an acoustic guitar, titled "Little Shirley and Her Wranglers", "Little Bitty Girl" / "What's It Like in Viet Nam".

The back notes tell how Little Shirley, one of nine children born in a little town in northern Maine, won her first amateur contest at six singing "You Are My Sunshine", and that the Wranglers had played the Lone Star Ranch at Reeds Ferry, N.H., hotels along the Maine coast and lounges around New England; Bolt Records wishes the group "continued success". [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Well I've got you on my mind, I'm sending you this line

To let you know that everything is okay, though we had

To change our plans, you left for Vietnam

I'm praying he'll be home...Please take care and let me know

If there is anything you need, I don't have to tell you honey

That I'm proud of you indeed, won't you write me when you can

Theme: Home Front Perspective

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]

#22 Peter Robbins If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) 1967 · Single · If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) / Little Brown Mouse · RCA # 47-9653 · USA

Notes

If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) (Robbins, Pete)

Child narrator (born 1956, released 1967).
Anti-war, pop.
When I was two the world was just fun.
When I was four, my day went off to war.
Now I'm older: we must have peace

Notes

Child singer, famous for voicing Charlie Brown in the Peanuts animated specials. RCA Victor 47-9653, 45 RPM, yellow promotional label marked "Not for Sale", made in U.S.A.; "If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)" (Waltner–Cox), Wren Music Inc., BMI, matrix WPKM-3607, 2:22; producer Lindy Blaskey. Housed in a red RCA company sleeve printed "© 1985, RCA/Ariola International, New York, N.Y." [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Child Anti-War Home Front Perspective

Genres: ♪ Folk Folk Pop

Also in: ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

1968

#23 Becky Lamb Love, Tommy 1968 · Single · Love, Tommy / If I'm Elected President in 1968 · Warner Bros. # 7158 · USA

Annotation

Becky Lamb returned to the scene in 1968, a year after her hit "Little Becky's Christmas Wish" (see above). Billboard reported on 13 January that the "youngster scored heavily at Christmas with her initial outing 'Becky's Christmas Wish'. This follow-up carries the story line through to a patriotic climax. Well done and deserving of attention".¹ So the song "Love, Tommy" (Warner Bros. Records # 7158) started with a man, Tommy, narrating a letter to Becky from Vietnam: "Dear Becky, how could a guy be so lucky to have a wonderful sister like you. As you read this letter, I am thousands of miles from home" . Then Little Becky took over the narration (reading out Tommy's letter), in which Tommy explained that the US needed to fight the war in order to preserve freedom. Furthermore, Tommy argued that if the US failed, or people refused to fight (i.e. draft dodgers), then Americans might "never have another holiday" . Therefore, he felt "a wonderful feeling to wear the uniform of freedom" .

Sources

1 Billboard ↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Warner Bros. Records 7158, white promotional label marked "Promotion — Not for Sale", made in U.S.A.; Becky Lamb, produced by Dick Glasser, vocal supervision by Bill Lamb, arranged by Ernie Freeman. "Love, Tommy" (DeAngelo–Casabon), Carlman Music Co., BMI, 2:53, K16261, starred as the plug side; "If I'm Elected President in 1968" (DeAngelo–Casabon–Prince), Stinson Music Co., BMI, 2:20, K16262.

Housed in a Warner Bros. company sleeve with a pink triangle pattern. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

I am thousand of miles from home in a strange land I didn't even know existed a short time ago

I'm sorry I couldn't be home for the holiday and I guess my letter upset mum and dad a lot

But Becky, I have a very important job to do, a job that may not be fun, but a job that has to be done

You know, if we were all good and lived by the golden rule then soldiers would not be needed

But there are people that would take away our freedoms and the freedoms of others

That is why I won't be home...

If young men like me fail or if we refuse to do our duty to our wonderful country we might never have another holiday

Becky, it's the most wonderful feeling to wear the uniform of freedom

In this uniform I'm marching arm in arm with George Washington...

And all the great men that molded our nation

This is an important job little sister

I work shoulder to shoulder with fellows with different colours and different beliefs

But we all believe in America...

We have to do this, no soldier has ever let American down

And Becky, you are America, love Tommy

Show full lyrics (16 lines) ▾

Themes: Patriotic Child

Genres: ♪ Novelty Narration Christmas Music

Also in: ▤ Draft Songs ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#24 Becky Lamb If I'm Elected President in 1968 1968 · Single · Love, Tommy / If I'm Elected President in 1968 · Warner Bros. # 7158 · USA

Annotation

In the b-side song, "If I'm Elected President in 1968" , Becky set out her platform for the 1968 election, to the chants of "we want Becky, we want Becky" . She pledged to talk to Senator Everett Dirksen, a "gallant man" - a reference to his 1966 Grammy winning patriotic single Gallant Men (Capitol Records # 5805). She also wanted to cut the hair of Bobby Kennedy, and move the White House because she needed to stay within the perimeters of her parents yard.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Lyrics

English

I am thousand of miles from home in a strange land I didn't even know existed a short time ago

I'm sorry I couldn't be home for the holiday and I guess my letter upset mum and dad a lot

But Becky, I have a very important job to do, a job that may not be fun, but a job that has to be done

You know, if we were all good and lived by the golden rule then soldiers would not be needed

But there are people that would take away our freedoms and the freedoms of others

That is why I won't be home...

If young men like me fail or if we refuse to do our duty to our wonderful country we might never have another holiday

Becky, it's the most wonderful feeling to wear the uniform of freedom

In this uniform I'm marching arm in arm with George Washington...

And all the great men that molded our nation

This is an important job little sister

I work shoulder to shoulder with fellows with different colours and different beliefs

But we all believe in America...

We have to do this, no soldier has ever let American down

And Becky, you are America, love Tommy

My friend, our country is the greatest but there are some improvements we need immediately now

If I'm elected president, there will be no poverty

I'll plant the seeds for all we need and grow money trees

If I'm elected president, no war will ever be, cause if men fight I'll do what's right, and put them over me knee

I'll talk to Mr. Dirksen, I gallant man is he, he'll read us bed time stories coast to coast...

Soon as I can I'll find a man to cut Bobby Kennedy's hair

Lassie will be my running mate

We'll have to move the White House because I can't leave the yard

Show full lyrics (24 lines) ▾

Themes: Patriotic Child

Genres: ♪ Novelty Narration Christmas Music

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#25 Roger Jones Big Brother (Home for Christmas) 1968 · Single · Big Brother (Home for Christmas) / Three Little Monkeys · New Star # NS 129 · USA

Annotation

Just like the famous Becky Lamb, the song "Big Brother (Home for Christmas)" (New Star Records # NS 129) featured a child narrator whose older brother fought in Vietnam. The tune "Silent Night" played in the background. This can be classified as an anti-war song, as the child's mother prayed each night "to bring this terrible war to a close" and for god to "show our president the light" . The child also told the listener that his neighbour "burned his draft card under a...Christmas tree" - while the narrator did not state a view on this, it created an interesting image or symbol, possible leaning towards a message of protest. Released in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Written by J.L. Cook and Fern Gardner. Produced by Howard White.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

New Star NS 129 (65), "Manufactured by New Star Records · Goodlettsville, Tennessee · U.S.A."; "Big Brother (Home for Christmas)" (J. L. Cook & Fern Garner), 1:56, Pamper Music, Inc.–BMI; produced by Howard White. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Dear God, I pray to you tonight, please bring brother back from the war...

Mama said I shouldn't worry if she'd ask Santa Clause to hurry

Though she already made it clear that he may not bring to much this year

But that is alright with me, if he just puts big brother under our Christmas tree

I heard mama praying to you last night

Asking you to show our president the light

And to bring this terrible war to a close, so big brother can get home in time for the Christmas snows

You know you've already taken daddy away that just leaves me and mommy...

To get ready for Christmas Day....

I'm not asking too much, dear god, do you think?

My neighbor Susie used to call my brother...

I could feel the bright flashing, though I couldn't see when her Brother Jim burned his draft card under a...Christmas Tree...

Candy mean nothing to me, if...god and Santa can set our country free

Themes: Christmas Child Anti-War Draft Card Burning Home Front Perspective Religion

Genres: ♪ Traditional Pop Spoken Word

Also in: ▤ Christmas Songs ▤ Draft Songs ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

1969

#26 Tony Dean The Silver Star 1969 · Single · The Silver Star / I Wear the Shoes of a Man · Jubilee # 5620 · USA

Notes

The Silver Star
I Wear the Shoes of a Man (Dean, Tony)

Child narration, both sides. Father died in Vietnam. KIA.

Notes

Jubilee Record No. 45-5620, 45 R.P.M., white label marked "Advance Release – Disc-Jockey Record – Not for Sale"; vocal with inst. accomp., Tash Music/Jillbern Music (BMI); produced by Herb Bernstein & Tash Howard, arranged by Herb Bernstein. "The Silver Star" (T. Howard–B. Kiria), side JB-12776, time 2:39, marked "*Plug Side"; "I Wear the Shoes of a Man" (T. Howard–H. Bernstein), side JB-12777, time 1:58. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Soldier's Perspective Child K.I.A. Medals

Also in: ▤ US Combat Perspective Songs [War Years]

#27 Tony Dean I Wear the Shoes of a Man 1969 · Single · The Silver Star / I Wear the Shoes of a Man · Jubilee # 5620 · USA

Annotation: see “The Silver Star” above (same release).

Themes: Soldier's Perspective Child

#28 Little Kathy Hoffman Kathy's Letter 1969 · Single · Kathy's Letter / Kathy's Theme · Dial # 4091 · USA

Annotation

Little Kathy Hoffman, 6 years old as she told the listener, offered a pro-Nixon narration in the track "Kathy's Letter" (Dial # 4091). She started out by welcoming Nixon into his new job as President, noting the trouble in the world and that they could get "blowed-up" at any time. Later on she dealt with the issues of protesters and anarchy, and even though she "don't know what that means" and "can't even spell it" , she does know that it is causing a lot of trouble. She then implied that the protesters needed a spanking. In the final section, Little Kathy specifically mentioned the Vietnam War, noting the sadness of many mums and dad. She signed off with a "god bless you Mr. Nixon" . Written and produced by Dan Hoffman - presumably the father?

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Dial 45-4091 (DL-16529 SP), white promotional "Plug Side" label marked Vocal, "Dist. by Atlantic Recording Corp., 1841 Broadway, N.Y., N.Y."; "Kathy's Letter" (Dan Hoffman - Gary Edwards), Pub. Tree, BMI, time 4:36; arranged by Jay Collins, produced by Dan Hoffman. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Dear Mr. Nixon, I felt that I just had to say something even though I'm only 6 years old

I can't vote or maybe not even think too good

But I have feelings and mum and dad have taught me a lot of good things about America

You are our new leader at a time when there is a lot of trouble in this big old world and sometimes it looks like we are all going to get blowed-up...

I don't know why so many older kids are protesting these days, I'm not so sure what protesting means...

Maybe they haven't been taught right?...

I know there a lot of things wrong in our country today Mr. Nixon, but there's also a lot of things right too...

What we need to do Mr. Nixon is to get with it and work...

I heard someone talking the other day about anarchy

I don't know what that means, I can't even spell it

But mum and dad say it's bad and it's a time when folks disobey their leader and do what they please

I took part in anarchy in our house once when none of us went to bed on time and boy did we get a spanking

It did hurt a bit but it sure did make us feel bad

Even though there are a lot of sad mums and dads because of that war in Vietnam I somehow feel that that may get over with too

I know that everybody in our house is with you and every night I pray for you so that things will get better...

God bless you Mr. Nixon, Kathy

Show full lyrics (17 lines) ▾

Themes: Patriotic Child

Genres: ♪ Novelty Narration

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#29 Marc Copage Santa, Bring My Daddy Home for Christmas 1969 · Single · Santa, Bring My Daddy Home for Christmas / Santa, Please Repair My Toys for Christmas · Metromedia # MM-154 · USA

Annotation

The song "Santa, Bring My Daddy Home for Christmas" (Metromedia Records # MM-154), sung by the African-American 7-year old child star Marc Copage, of NBC's television program Julia, contained elements of patriotism, mixed with concern for the plight of the soldier and the family left behind. In the TV program, Julia, played by Diahann Carroll, was a single mother, whose fighter pilot husband died in Vietnam.¹²³ The magazine Ebony reported in December 1969 that Copage would feature as the poster boy of the Christmas Seal Campaign to fight lung disease.⁴ Copage narrated the song from the perspective of a child whose father was fighting in Vietnam "to keep our country free" . The child told Santa that his "daddy is a very important man of the United States army" .

Sources

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Metromedia Records MM-154 (ZTSP 222173), white label marked "Radio Station Copy Not For Sale" and "Plug Side"; stock copy on blue label as MMS-154 (ZTS 222217), stereo, in a blue Metromedia company sleeve with a ring of "M" logos. "Santa, Bring My Daddy Home for Christmas" (R. Freed, G. Saxon), Sunny Skies Music Co. (ASCAP), 2:12; produced by Ron Kramer, arranged and conducted by Jack Smalley; "A Metromedia Company". [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Santa, bring my daddy home for Christmas

He's been away from us for almost a year

Mum says he's across the sea, hoping to keep our country free

Gee I wish he could do it over here

I'd love to get a bicycle for Christmas...

But if you bring my daddy home for Christmas I wouldn't need those other things at all

The other night I saw my mummy crying

She wouldn't say why, but I sure knew

So Santa bring my daddy home for Christmas so mum can have a merry Christmas too...

Santa, you know something? My daddy is a very important man of the United States army

He's a soldier...

Mum says he can't come home yet

But Santa, she never thought of asking you

Themes: Christmas Patriotic Child Home Front Perspective

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ Christmas Songs ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

Also in: ▤ Christmas Songs ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#30 Starla Parrish & the Parrish Bros. Is There a Santa Claus in Vietnam 1969 · Single · Is there a Santa Claus in Vietnam / Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy · Parrish · USA

Annotation

Starla Parrish took the lead vocal on the song "Is There a Santa Claus in Vietnam" , one of the children of The Parrish Brothers, a group with a strong following in the local music scene of Rochester, Minnesota since the 1960s. The record is credited to Shirley Barrett. The very young Starla narrated a letter to Santa Clause, wondering if he visited Vietnam. She thought that her father, fighting over there "may have to die for me and you" . Thus it took a patriotic theme. In a spoken-word section, Starla told the listener that she prayed everyday for her father.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Parrish, red label, 45 RPM, no catalogue number printed; "Is There a Santa Claus in Vietnam" (Shirley Barrett), Parrish Music, BMI, time 3:05; credited to Starla Parrish and the Parrish Bros. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Dear Santa I'm writing this letter to you, I hope it gets there okay

There is something I'd like to know, I'd like to know right away

Is there a Santa Claus in Vietnam?

Does he look like you?

Does he have reindeer and a sleigh?

Can he fly through the air like you do?...

For I know that daddy would like a nice gift, he needs a Santa Claus too

I know that he fights in the jungles, he may have to die for me and you

Well Santa I'm tired and a bit sleepy too, I'll close my letter to you

I guess you are wondering why I want to know, my dad, he's over there

Oh he won't be home for Christmas, this holiday we cannot share

Oh I miss him more and more everyday and I don't forget to pray

Oh god please bring my daddy home safely, I can hardly wait for that day

Themes: Christmas Child Home Front Perspective Jungle

Genre: ♪ Country

#31 Nancy I Promise I'll Wait 1969 · Single · I Promise I'll Wait / Like You Do · Mercede # 2727 · USA

Annotation

The song "I Promise I'll Wait" (Mercede Records # 2727) sung by Nancy, a young teenager, in which the narrator took the role of a soldier's sweetheart, hoping to see her man again. Nancy also released records under the names Nancy and Her Sixth Street Boogle and Nancy and the Kintwetts, but her surname is unknown. The label based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida apparently took its name from its building: The Mercede Building, 2727 East Oakland Park Boulevard. At the beginning of the song Nancy dedicated it to "all the prisoners of war and their families" - also written on the front cover of the picture sleeve. The label had printed on it "Nancy sings for P.O.W.". The narrator hoped to "meet again" her sweetheart and promised to "wait until then" , and thus this looked at the impact of the war at home (in the US). Word, music, and arrangements by Billi Welles. Produced by John & Dee Mercede. Background vocals by Kin Twetts.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Mercede Records 2727-A, 45 RPM, stereo, white-and-pink label with a photo of the singer; 2430 E. Commercial Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Tel. (305) 771-0757. "I Promise I'll Wait" © (words, music & arr. by Billi Welles), pub. by Power of Music, BMI, 2:08; Billi Welles Outer Realm, Unlimited; background vocals Kin Twetts; produced by John & Dee Mercede. The pink-tinted picture sleeve is headed "Nancy sings for the prisoners of war and their families" and shows the young singer seated on the bonnet of a Mercedes car under trees, with both titles "I Promise I'll Wait" and "Like You Do". [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

I'd like to dedicate this song to all the prisoners of war and their families

Dear, I hope we meet again but can't say when

Who can say when, but if we ever meet again

I promise I'll wait until then

We never know what tomorrow may bring

It might bring happiness...

Love is strange so they say....

We'll have all day

Themes: Soldier's Perspective P.O.W. Child

Genre: ♪ Pop

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs

#32 Ron Marshall What Can I Wish You My Son 1969 · Single · What Can I Wish You My Son / Let Me Be Free · Intrepid # 75004 · USA

Notes

Traditional pop, toy soldier, child narration at end of the song.
Boy lying asleep in world of sorrow, give him a toy gun.
Toy turned into hate, like the gun that killed me, I'll never see my son.
Child: please god send my daddy home.
B-side: generic call for freedom.

Notes

Intrepid 75004 (1-45616), white-label promotional copy, not for sale; (R. Marshall); Twill Music Co. / Young Proud, Inc. (ASCAP), 3:15; arranged by Dean Christopher - Art Wayne; produced by Art Wayne for Alouette Productions, Inc. & Young Proud, Inc. Discogs dates it August 1969; B-side "Let Me Be Free" (L. MacKenzie & R. Marshall). [From the record label]

Themes: Child Toy Soldier K.I.A. Anti-War

1970

#33 Raymond Myles Prayer From a Twelve Year Old Boy 1970 · Single · Prayer From a Twelve Year Old Boy / You Made a Man Out of Me, Baby · Kent # 4541 · USA

Notes

Prayer From a 12 Year Old Boy (Myles, Raymond)

Soul, child, religion, anti-war
People fighting all over the world
Pray for god to bring peace

Notes

Kent KS 4541, "The Original Blues Label", white promotional label marked "Promotional Not for Sale", stereo, Side 1; "Prayer From a Twelve Year Old Boy" (A. Ford), 3:00, Modern Music, BMI; produced by Albin Ford, arranged by Wardell Quezergue; "Released through the courtesy of Peek-A-Boo Records, New Orleans, La."

The picture sleeve front shows a head-and-shoulders portrait of the young Raymond Myles in suit and tie, b/w "You Made a Man Out of Me, Baby".

The back (Kent KS-4541, stereo; Kent Records, 5810 S. Normandie Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90044; photo by Tipery) prints the full text of the spoken prayer, beginning "Dear Lord, what is our world coming to? We have wars in every country". [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Dear Lord, what is our world coming to?

We have wars in every country; People fighting all over the world;

Children crying, fathers dying, mothers moaning, sweethearts hoping

Themes: Child Home Front Perspective Anti-War Generation Gap

Also in: ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]▤ Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs

1971

#34 The Truehart Kids If Your Dad Were a Prisoner of War 1971 · Single · Mallard # MR-4 · USA

Annotation

The country pop song "If Your Dad Were a Prisoner of War" (Mallard Records Inc. # MR-4), by the The Truehart Kids, looked at the plight of the P.O.W.s and the impact it had on the families of the prisoners. It also leaned to the anti-war side of the debate, concluding with the line "pray for peace" . The main narrator claimed to be a 9 year old girl, who told the listener that her father, captured in the war, "don't have much food to eat, sleeping on the floor" . Meanwhile, her mother spoke a lot about him so that "we won't forget our dad" . The young girl's 4 year old brother "wrote the North Vietnamese" asking for their father's release.

In fact, the actually children narrating this record, Renee (11 years old), and Jeff (10 years old), were the two children of country singer Nelson Truehart, who released the Vietnam / William Calley song "Morning in My Lai" in 1971. At the time of this recording, they lived in Nashville, Tennessee. On 17 July 1971 Billboard ran the headline that "Nelson Truehart Gets P.O.W. Backing". The article went on to report that "Nelson Truehart...has recorded a prisoner-of-war song with the backing of military officials and a women's organisation. Truehart used his two children, Rene, 11, and Jeff, 10, for this session, which he produced independently here at Spar...the session is being featured in a network documentary and got widespread press coverage here. In attendance were some members of the National Women's League of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action. According to Truehart these woman, from all over the nation, will distribute the records by hand to disk jockeys, complete with a brochure outlining the prisoner problem. The song was written by Truehart, who reportedly called officials at the Pentagon and got their blessing for the song. 'I did not want to do anything to offend the military,' he said. Instead, they gave it enthusiastic reception".¹² Released on Guy Drake's country, Nashville-based label Mallard Records Inc., he also produced the record. The above article said that Truehart wrote the song, but the actual record credited G. Johnson (either for the lyrics, the composition, or both).

Sources

1 Billboard, 17 July 1971 ↩
2 Billboard, 4 September 1971 ↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Mallard Records, Inc., P.O. Box 490, 1012-17th Ave. S., Nashville, Tenn., MR-4 (10016), maroon label with a mallard-head logo; "If Your Dad Were a Prisoner of War" (G. Johnson), Big Country Boy Music / Yall Rite Music, ASCAP, 2:25; produced by Guy Drake; marked "Other Side Mono". [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Its been a long time since daddy come home

He's been in a foreign land

Mamma talks about him every night, so we won't forget our dad

Well you don't know what we're going through...

Yes my dad is a prisoner of war

I've been waiting for his release

Let's all get together now, and pray for peace

Won't somebody get our daddy home

Been captured in this war, they don't have much food to eat, sleeping on the floor

Little Brother Bobby wrote the North Vietnamese

I'm sure they're finally see that there's hundreds of little boys and girls like Bobby and me...

Bobby is four, and I am nine

In this house I'm a man...

Pray for peace, pray for peace

Show full lyrics (15 lines) ▾

Themes: P.O.W. Anti-War Child

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

#35 Eve Plumb How Will It Be? 1971 · Single · How Will It Be? / The Fortune Cookie Song · RCA # 409 · USA

Annotation

Eve Plumb, born on 29 April 1958, in Burbank, California, a childhood star of the TV program The Brady Bunch (playing the role of middle sister Jan Brady) released the single "How Will It Be" (RCA Records # 0409) at the age of 12. Her father Neely Plumb (a jazz saxophonist) arranged, conducted, produced and co-wrote the record. On 20 February 1971 Billboard reported on the new single below a picture of Plumb: "KMPC's Jim Lange introduced new RCA artist, Eve Plumb, on a remote broadcast from Universal Studios in Hollywood, with the young performer coming out to talk about her single, 'How Will It Be' and her role in the TV series The Brady Bunch".¹The single took an anti-war position. The narrator, who had just turned twelve, imagined what the world would look like when she entered her twenties, including the possibility of being recruited to fight in a war: "by 22 I could be a soldier, when they run out of boys I guess they'll have to start taking girls too" - which reflected the high number of US deaths in Vietnam by the time of this record in 1971. She then recalled seeing her sister's friend on TV protesting the war: "I saw...Carrie...on TV once carrying a big sign, it said 'give peace a chance'" . Unfortunately Carrie died, killed in a protest, a parallel to the Kent State demonstrations: "why didn't they give Carrie a chance, in six days she would have been 22" . She concluded by questioning whether she wanted to bring children into the world because of all the violence and hate.

Sources

1 Billboard, 20 February 1971 ↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

childhood star of the TV program The Brady Bunch (playing the role of middle sister Jan Brady) RCA 74-0409 (ZPKS-9140), stereo, yellow "Not For Sale — Plug" promotional label; "How Will It Be?" (Kramer-Plumb), 3:25, intro :06, end: cold, E. H. Morris & Company Inc., ASCAP; arranged, conducted and produced by Neely Plumb; IMC Productions, Inc.; "RCA Corporation — Made in U.S.A." [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

I had a birthday the other day, I'm 12 years old

Julie, Diane and I, they're my best friends

We made a secret promise that on my 21st birthday we would all get together right here on this very spot

No matter how far we had to travel, boy a lot can happen...

How will it be when I'm 21, what will the future bring

Will everybody love everybody or will it be a ? dream

Will I be any fun when I'm 21

How about when I'm 22

By 22 I could be a soldier

When they run out of boys I guess they'll have to start taking girls too

Of course, then again, I might be in college when I'm 22

My sister's friend Carrie was in college until last year

I saw her on TV once carrying a big sign, it said 'Give peace a chance'

Why didn't they give Carrie a chance

In six days she would have been 22

How will it be when I'm 23

What will the years reveal

Will there be flowers and summer shadows...

And then I'll be 24, boy that is nearly middle-aged

I could have ten children by then, well, two at least

Of course right now I wouldn't want to have any children

There's too much bad in the world for children to see

But maybe when I'm 24 people will be friends again

They better be friends, they better learn to share as well...

How will it be when I'm 25, will anyone still be alive?

Show full lyrics (26 lines) ▾

Themes: Child Anti-War Demonstration Kent State

Genre: ♪ Pop

Also in: ▤ Kent / Jackson State Songs ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

#36 Tom Clay The Victors 1971 · Single · What the World Needs Now Is Love · MoWest # MW5002F · USA

Notes

What the World Needs Now Is Love / Abraham, Martin and John (Clay, Tom)
Victor (Clay, Tom)

Soul. Motown sub-label MoWest - Los Angeles, California, USA.

A-side: civil right, MLK, JFK, RFK, Christmas reference, Vietnam reference. Child featured.
B-side: names of people killed in WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam from all sides.

Also on:

Vietnam War: Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs
John F. Kennedy (JFK) Songs
Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Songs

Notes

MoWest MW 5002 F, sunset-over-the-sea label, "A trademark of Motown Record Corporation", © 1971; both sides "In Album MW-103L 'What the World Needs Now'" and produced by Tom Clay. "The Victors" (Tom Clay), time 4:31, Jobete Music Co., BMI (P-4260-60468-2B). Flip: medley "What the World Needs Now Is Love" (H. David/B. Bacharach), Blue Seas Mus., Inc. & Jac Music Co., Inc., ASCAP, and "Abraham, Martin and John" (D. Holler), ASCAP, time 6:10 (P-4261-60460-1B); arranged by Gene Page, vocal accompaniment The Blackberries. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Anti-War WW1 WW2 Korea VC Soldier's Perspective

Also in: ▤ Christmas Songs ▤ Civil Rights Songs ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]▤ Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs

#37 Tom Clay What the World Needs Now Is Love - Abraham, Martin and John 1971 · Single · What the World Needs Now Is Love · MoWest # MW5002F · USA

Annotation: see “The Victors” above (same release).

Themes: Anti-War Child Civil Rights Christmas JFK RFK

Also in: ▤ Christmas Songs ▤ Civil Rights Songs ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]▤ Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs

#38 Greg Crosby I Know the Lord Will Make a Way 1971 · Single · I Know the Lord Will Make a Way / We'll Be Together Again · Rimrock # RS 332 · USA

Notes

I Know the Lord Will Make a Way (Crosby, Greg)

Country female vocalist. Religion. Teenager / child??

Notes

Rimrock Records RS 332 A, yellow stag-and-mesa label, "Rimrock Records .... Concord, Arkansas"; "I Know the Lord Will Make a Way" © (B. Valentine) 1971, Brumley & Sons, SESAC, Tm. 2:19; Greg Crosby, vocalist. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

In Vietnam there's a simple cross of a brave American GI

He gave up his home and all that he owns, he did it for you and I

If America would see in this land of the free the importance

To know how to pray the wars would all cease

And love would increase, the lord would make a way

Themes: Patriotic Religion

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#39 Bob Necaise & 'Lil' Gary D Mr. Where Is Viet-Nam 1971 · Single · Nu-Fax # 101 · USA

Credited on the record as Bob Necaise & 'Lil' Gary D with the Delta Sho-Men.

Annotation

The track "Mr. Where Is Viet-Nam" (Nu-Fax # 101) recorded at Faxs Recording Company, Houma, Louisiana, featuring the country singer Bob Necaise and the very young child "L'il Gary Dee" - probably around three or four years old by the sound of the child's voice. In fact, the adult narrator, Bob Necaise, said the line "a little boy not yet four years old" . The single labeled the artist as "Bob Necaise and 'Lil' Gary D with the Delta Sho-Men". He released a very similar sounding record in 1972 called "My Daddy Is a Prisoner (Somewhere in Viet Nam)" (Renegade Records # 5608), under the name Little Gary Dee - see below.Necaise performed the verses in which he described seeing a young child at a playground, looking very sad. The child explained that "my daddy is in Vietnam...gone since Christmas" . The child expressed concern for his mother who cried a lot. He asked the man if he could take him to Vietnam to visit his father. 'Lil' Gary D only sung the chorus, posing the question "mister where is Vietnam, is it very far away, I want to see my daddy, will you take me there someday" . At the end of the song, the man did not know how to react, so he walked away. This provided an interesting reflection of the impact of a soldier heading out to war on a young child, who did not know or understand the situation in Vietnam.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Nu-Fax 101-A (SH-1079), red label; "Mr. Where Is Viet-Nam" (Bob Necaise), Faxs Pub., ASCAP, 3:09; Bob Necaise & 'Lil' Gary D with the Delta Sho-Men; producer Ed Still; recorded at Faxs Recording Co., Inc., 814 E. Main, Houma, La. 70360. [From the record sleeve and labels] Date: 1971 – both sides copyrighted by Robert Necaise 10 June 1971 (EU259064 / EU259065) and SH-1079 places the pressing c.1971 (45cat discussion); the 1963 date in Keesing and the Bear Family "Next Stop Is Vietnam" booklet came from a later interview with Necaise.

Lyrics

English

I was passing by a playground just the other day

And I spied a little boy sitting all alone while the other kids laughed and played

At once he drew my attention and when I asked him what was wrong and in a sad little voice kind of way, my daddy is in Vietnam

'Mr. where is Vietnam, is it very far away? I want to see my daddy, will you take me there today'

You see mister, he's been gone since Christmas, do you think that he's been shot

I know that mommy is awfully worried because she sits and cries quite a lot

So if you take me to see him mister I will gladly pay

Cause you see I have three pennies, is it very far away

'Mister where is Vietnam, is it very far away, I want to see my daddy, will you take me there someday'

I didn't know what to say to him

His words had stopped me cold and I knew that this world's troubles were on the shoulders of a little boy not yet four years old

So with head bowed down, I turned around and slowly walked away

What would you have done in my place if you had heard that little boy say

'Mr. Where is Vietnam, is it very far away, I want to see my daddy

Show full lyrics (15 lines) ▾

Themes: Child Christmas Home Front Perspective

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ Christmas Songs

1972

#40 Little Gary Dee My Daddy Is a Prisoner (Somewhere in Viet Nam) 1972 · Single · Renegade # 5608 · USA

Annotation

In 1972 Little Gary Dee also released the P.O.W. song "My Daddy Is a Prisoner (Somewhere in Viet Nam)" (Renegade Records # 5608). As noted above this artist also released the single "Mr. Where Is Viet-Nam" (Nu-Fax # 101) with Bob Necaise, credited to "Bob Necaise and 'Lil' Gary D with the Delta Sho-Men", released around the same time. The song described the narrator as "a little boy not yet four years old" according to the lyrics. In that song a man spotted a young child in a playground crying because he missed his father, fighting in Vietnam. He wanted the man to help him visit his father in the war zone, while not really understanding the conflict in Vietnam or even the location of the country. The narration switched between the adult, Bob Necaise, and the child, Little Gary Dee.

This song took an identical format, and mirrored the same story. A man walking through a "sleepy Southern town" saw a little boy whose "eyes were big and sad". The boy explained that his "daddy fights for freedom and keeps things safe for me". However the North Vietnamese "keep them locked up". So the boy took a political position on the objectives of the war, and thereby displayed an understanding of the conflict, not present in the previous version. The boy also explained how the situation affected the family: "my mummy is always crying". This song represented the plight of a P.O.W.'s family, especially on a young child, as well as containing some patriotic / pro-government sentiment. Released in Nashville, Tennessee, on Chuck Chellman's country label - he also produced the record.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English

I was walking down a street today in a sleepy southern town

Things were quiet and peaceful and the sun was just going down

Then I saw a little boy whose eyes were big and sad

I asked why he was crying, he looked up at me and said

My daddy is prisoner somewhere in Vietnam

I wished that I could see him and send my daddy home

I need somewhere to play with me and tuck me in tonight

My mummy is always crying and tell her it's alright

Some people say that prisoners must never be let out

They're are murderers and robbers and they shouldn't walk about

But daddy fights for freedom and keeps things safe for me

Why do they keep them locked up

Set him free

The little boy then walked away and it left me with a chill

I knew I couldn't help him but some day someone will

We can only hope and pray that soon they'll all be home

Then mommies will stop crying and little boys wont be alone

My daddy is a prisoner...

Show full lyrics (19 lines) ▾

Themes: P.O.W. Child Home Front Perspective

Genre: ♪ Country

#41 Tammie McCarroll Man in Vietnam 1972 · Single · Man in Vietnam / Crazy Indian · Log Cabin # LC3873 · USA

Credited on the record as Tammie McCarroll and the McCarroll Family.

Annotation

Tammie McCarroll, born 1959, wrote and recorded the Vietnam / P.O.W. song "Man in Vietnam" (Log Cabin Records # LC3873) in 1972, at the age of 11-12, while still in junior high school. She grew up in Lenoir City, Tennessee, and came from a long line of country and bluegrass musicians, in the Cumberland Plateau region of Tennessee. Her father Tom McCarroll played the fiddle, guitar, and banjo, recording several records and playing in the local music scene. Her grandfather, Jimmy McCarroll, a famous fiddler, led the traditional country group Roane County Ramblers, which released six singles in the late 1920s on Columbia Records.¹²³ This song focused on the impact that a US P.O.W. had on the soldier's family back home. The narrator of the song said that she had "been waiting for a man in Vietnam...in a prison" . But she soon revealed that her sweetheart's name appeared on television with the "ones that have been freed" , and so she expected to see her loved one again soon. Released in Ohio, on Rusty York's country label. Produced by Frank White. The label credited the backing band to "The McCarroll Family", which included Tom McCarroll on rhythm guitar and Polly McCarroll on bass.

Sources

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Log Cabin Records LC3873-1, black and silver label, 45 RPM, "Producer Frank White"; "Man in Vietnam", written and vocal by Tammie McCarroll, credited to Tammie McCarroll and the McCarroll Family; credits: Tammie McCarroll, vocal and rhythm guitar; Tom McCarroll, rhythm; Glenn Presley, steel guitar; Polly McCarroll, bass; Larry Presley, bass guitar. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Yes I'm a girl that's been waiting for a man in Vietnam

So long ago he left me to serve the USA

He served in Vietnam but I've been left to wait

He left me in the summer and he said he won't be too long

I'm a girl that's been waiting for a man in Vietnam

Now they've got him in a prison, somewhere in a foreign land

And I'm the girl who has been waiting for a missing man

I saw his name on TV with the ones that have been freed

And I know that he's coming home to live again with me

He's coming down the runway now and I know I miss him

So I want to hug and kiss him and never let him go

Themes: Patriotic P.O.W. Child

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#42 International Children's Choir It's Up to You and Me 1972 · EP · Songs for a Peaceful World · UNICEF · USA

Notes

Unicef children's choir, Vietnam War-era generic peace songs.

Theme: Anti-War

Genre: ♪ Pop

Also in: ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

#43 International Children's Choir Let There Be Peace on Earth 1972 · EP · Songs for a Peaceful World · UNICEF · USA

Theme: Anti-War

Genre: ♪ Pop

Also in: ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

#44 Andrea McArdle A Christmas Wish 1972 · Single · A Christmas Wish / Myrtle the Turtle · English Village # SR-4502 · USA

Notes

- Christmas, child, end the war in Vietnam
- Home front perspective

- English Records SR-4502. A child's Christmas wish for the war in Vietnam to end.

Label: English Village Records SR-4502-A, time 2:54; written by W. Jason – H. Toback; Phillips Pub., BMI; Warren Jason Productions; this copy carries a "1972 XMAS" sticker. [From the record label]

Themes: Christmas Child Peace

Also in: ▤ Christmas Songs ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

#45 Lucky Peterson Daddy Come Home for Christmas 1972 · Single · Daddy Come Home For Christmas / Florene · Today # T-1517 · USA

Notes

- Soul, Christmas, Child
- please come home daddy
- 3 years since you went away
- My mama don't understand, doing best she can
- It does not mention war, possibly Vietnam-related?

- Producers David Jordan, Patrick Adams; Written-By, Arranged By James Peterson. Published by Patrick Bradley Music Corp. (BMI); Record company Perception Ventures, Inc.; (P) Today Records, Inc. Matrix: T-1517A 11-22-72 / T-1517B 11-22-72.

Also track B5 on James & Lucky Peterson LP 'The Father The Son The Blues' (Today, 1972) per soulbluesmusic.com. Today Records T-1517-A, red and yellow peace-sign "Promotion Copy" label; Patrick Bradley Music Corp. (BMI), time 3:10; ℗ 1972 Today Records, Inc., a subsidiary of Perception Ventures Inc. [From the record label]

Themes: Christmas Child Home Front Perspective Coming Home

Also in: ▤ Amerasians, Orphans & Vietnamese Children ▤ European Songs ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]▤ Vietnamese Refugees & Boat People

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ Christmas Songs ▤ Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs

1973

#46 Der Naher Kinderchor Die schönsten Kinderlieder (Friedenshilfe Vietnam) 1973 · Album · Die schonsten kinderlieder: Friedenshilfe Vietnam · Metronome [Hamburg] # TDH 7501 · Germany

Credited on the record as Hans-Joachim Kulenkampff präsentiert für Terre des Hommes: Der Naher Kinderchor.

Quote

"The most beautiful children's songs: Peace aid Vietnam"

Charity record.
Children
Vietnamese refugees

Notes

Terre des Hommes "Friedenshilfe Vietnam" benefit LP presented by the television host Hans-Joachim Kulenkampff: 16 German folk and children's songs (Volksweisen, arr. Bernd Popp); the back sleeve describes Terre des Hommes' work with 1,500 Vietnamese orphans, its Saigon clinic, the 172 sick and wounded children flown to West Germany 1967-70 and the 20 paraplegic children at its Bad Oeynhausen centre; cover photo Lummer/Schuster, wheelchair photo Georg Fischer.

No song is about the war. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Vietnamese Children Refugees Peace Child Benefit Record

Genres: ♪ Folk Traditional Folk

#47 Rusty Daymon He Didn't Bring Daddy Home for Christmas 1973 · Single · He Didn't Bring Daddy Home for Christmas / That's the Way Kids Are · Multi Media # MMM-1201 · USA

Notes

- Child, Christmas, traditional pop
- Santa didn't bring daddy
- Does not mention the war, but could be related - ??

- Multi Media Records MMM-1201 (NR4100-1), stereo, time 3:02; (Les Ledo); Wound Sound Music - BMI; arranger Bernie Hoffer; producer Les Ledo; studio The Sound Hut, engineer Mike Falzone; (c)1973 Multi-Media Music Enterprises. Sleeve: "Season's Greetings - Hope Santa brings you all you want for Christmas. Rusty, the artist in this record wasn't so lucky. That's why he sings the first and only After Christmas-Christmas Record ever made... Suitable for play BEFORE & AFTER Christmas." [From the record label and sleeve]

Themes: Christmas Child Home Front Perspective

Also in: ▤ Amerasians, Orphans & Vietnamese Children ▤ European Songs ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

Also in: ▤ Christmas Songs

#48 Kim Whittington Welcome Home Daddy 1973 · Single · Please Let Me Die / Welcome Home Daddy · Sun Down # 02 · USA

Notes

Welcome Home Daddy (Whittington, Kim)

Country, child, home front perspective, P.O.W.
Mississippi, USA.
Hello daddy, been so long since I've seen you.
Held in a prison camp in Vietnam

Notes

Sun Down, side 2, #02-2, stereo, time 2:36, BMI; (Vern Pullens); published by Pontchartrain Music Co., Rt. 1, Box 258, Carriere, Miss. [From the record label]

Themes: P.O.W. Child Homecoming

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs

1974

#49 Kinder des SOS-Kinderdorfes Saigon Lied des SOS-Kinderdorfes Saigon 1974 · EP · Kinder singen für sie · Hermann-Gmeiner-Fonds Deutschland # TST 77 442 · Germany

Credited on the record as SOS-Kinderdorf Saigon, Vietnam.

Notes

German charity record - SOS Children's village
Humanitarian assistance.
Featuring Vietnamese children - impact of the Vietnam War.

Notes

"Kinder singen für Sie" — 7" 45 EP of the Hermann-Gmeiner-Fonds Deutschland e.V. (Munich), the German support association of the SOS Children's Villages, produced by Tonbild München; given for a DM 8 donation; side B track 3 sung by the children of the Saigon village (with Concepción, Greensfields/India and Imst). Fold-out insert "100 SOS-Kinderdörfer in 46 Ländern" with the world map of villages (Vietnam: one built); cover drawing Karl Hössl, Vienna.

The 1974 reissue cover reads "25 Jahre SOS-Kinderdörfer in aller Welt 1949-1974". [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Vietnamese Children Orphan Child Vietnamese Perspective Benefit Record

Genres: ♪ Vietnamese Music Vietnamese Folk Music

1976

#50 Kinder des SOS-Kinderdorfes Saigon Lied des SOS-Kinderdorfes Saigon (2. Teil) 1976 · EP · Kinder singen für sie, 2. teil · Hermann-Gmeiner-Fonds Deutschland # 76.10 003 · Germany

Credited on the record as SOS-Kinderdorf Saigon, Vietnam.

Notes

German charity record - SOS Children's village
Humanitarian assistance.
Featuring Vietnamese children - impact of the Vietnam War.

Notes

"Kinder singen für Sie, 2. Teil" — 7" 33 rpm stereo EP of the Hermann-Gmeiner-Fonds Deutschland e.V., produced by Tonbild München (76.10 003-00-1); side 1 track 2 by the children of the Saigon village (after Altmünster, before Bicesse and Novi Sad); the Austrian opener "Junge Freunde" is by Julia Wurth, the Yugoslav song "Dečjeg sela" by Arsen Dedić. Sold for donations toward a new village in Asia, Africa or South America. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Vietnamese Children Orphan Saigon Vietnamese Perspective Benefit Record

Also in: ▤ Amerasians, Orphans & Vietnamese Children ▤ European Songs

1979

#51 1. Vietnamesischer Flüchtlings-Chor Europas Meine Heimat Ist Vietnam 1979 · Single · Reich mir die hand / Meine heimat ist Vietnam · Columbia # 1 C 006-45 900 · Germany

Notes

Reich mir die hand (Vietnamesischer Flüchtlings-Chor Europas) (Vietnamese Refugee Choir Europe)
Meine heimat ist Vietnam (Vietnamesischer Flüchtlings-Chor Europas)

German, post-war 70s.
Vietnamese children refugees from the war. Now living in Germany.

Notes

B side; music Wolfgang Dyhr, text Sigi Freymann, arranged Dyhr; 3:14; ℗ 1979 Compact Musikverlag; Columbia 1 C 006-45 900. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

I'm a little Vietnamese girl

A child in a foreign land

They say this is your home now

I wish for lots of nice friends

My little heart I give to you

We want to laugh and forget

Give me your hand, say yes to me

Give me your hand to a new life

Give me your hand, say yes to me

Brotherhood, let us cherish it

Brotherhood there and here, there and here

I'm a little Vietnamese girl

A child in a foreign land

We don't speak the same language

But I know that we two are kin

For you, like me, we hope and pray

In a world full of the turmoil of war

Join in with me, say yes to life

Give me your hand, I'll give you mine

German

Ich bin eine kleine vietnamesin

Ein kind in einem fremden land

Es heibt hier ist jetzt dein zuhause

Ich wunsch mir viele nette freunde

Mein kleines herz das schenk ich dir

Wir wollen lachen und vergessen

Reich mir die hand sag ja zu mir

Reich mir die hand zu einem neuen leben

Reich mir die hand sag ja zu mir

Bruderlichkeit lab sie uns pflegen

Bruderlichkeit da dort und hier dort und hier

Ich bin eine kleine vietnamesin

Ein kind in einem fremden land

Wir sprechen nicht dieselbe sprache

Doch ich weib wir beibe sind verwandt

Denn du wei ich wir hoffen bitten

In einer welt voll kriegsgewirr

Stimm mit mir ein sag ja zum leben

Reich mir die hand ich reich sie dir

Show full lyrics (41 lines) ▾

Themes: Refugees Vietnamese Children Vietnamese Perspective Child

Genre: ♪ Schlager

Also in: ▤ Amerasians, Orphans & Vietnamese Children ▤ European Songs ▤ Vietnamese Refugees & Boat People

#52 Vader Abraham Boote ohne Hafen 1979 · Single · Boote ohne Hafen / O, Julia · Philips # 6832 188 · Netherlands

Credited on the record as Vader Abraham und "Der erste vietnamesische Flüchtlingschor aus Frankfurt/Main".

Notes

Boots ohne Haffen (Abraham, Vader)

1 DM per record was donated to the Vietnamese refugee help project of the German Red Cross.
Lyrics on B-side.
German language. Dutch artist

Notes

Philips 6832 188 (GEMA; ℗ 1979 Dureco B.V., an original Dureco production; made in Germany; Phonogram), 4:11: "Boote ohne Hafen" — boats without a harbour — music Pierre Kartner, German text Michael Kunze, sung by Vader Abraham with "Der erste vietnamesische Flüchtlingschor aus Frankfurt/Main" (the first Vietnamese refugee choir of Frankfurt), B side "O, Julia"; the front also carries the Vietnamese title "Thuyền không bến".

DM 1 from each copy went to the German Red Cross account 41 41 41 for Vietnam refugee aid (sleeve seal "Spende für die Vietnam-Flüchtlingshilfe · DRK").

Cover: the choir of young Vietnamese in yellow áo dài on a lawn, Vader Abraham inset. Full German lyric on the back: boats without a harbour drifting far out at sea, without water, rice or bread, full of people in need who stretch out their hands and cannot understand that we sleep content while they perish; nowhere are they let ashore; "open all your hearts, don't leave them in the lurch — people without a homeland now hope in me and you; we with our small worries in the rich part of the world have in abundance everything they lack". [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Boats without a harbor

Drifting out upon the sea

Boats without a harbor

They come from far away...

Open up your hearts

Do not forsake them

People without a homeland

Now place their hope in you and me

German

Boote ohne Hafen

Treiben draußen auf dem Meer

Boote ohne Hafen

Sie kommen von weit her...

Öffnet alle eure Herzen

Laßt sie nicht im Stich

Menschen ohne Heimat

Hoffen jetzt auf mich und dich

Show full lyrics (19 lines) ▾

Themes: Boat People Refugees Vietnamese Perspective Red Cross

Genre: ♪ Schlager

Also in: ▤ European Songs ▤ Vietnamese Refugees & Boat People

Unknown date

#53 Brenda Gail Foss Where There'll Be No Vietnam Single · Where There'll Be No Vietnam / There Is Nothing Like the Love of God · New Hope · USA

Annotation

The country track "There There'll Be No Vietnam" (New Hope Records), written by Mrs. S. H. Brackins, featured the child singer Brenda Gail Foss. This song reflected on how a M.I.A. soldier caused uncertainly for a soldier's family, and in this case, on a child. She started by explaining that her father served in the US army: "he is fighting for our country over there in Vietnam" . He frequently wrote a letter to his daughter and she and her mother prayed for his safe return home. However, she recalled receiving a letter from the army, with the information that her "dad was missing over there in Vietnam" (in other word, 'missing in action' - M.I.A.) The army later informed the family that he had in fact been killed in action (K.I.A.). As Brenda Gail Foss explained, "he has gone to heaven" , and so away from the Vietnam War, which explained the title of the song. Unknown date and location.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

New Hope Records, RT #3, Johnson City, Tenn.; Side 2, 45 RPM; "Where There'll Be No Vietnam" (Brenda Gail Foss); label also prints "Brenda Gail Foss, Rt. 5 Johnson City Tenn." and "Author Mrs. S. H. Brackins; Acc. Joe Foss, Chas. Murr, Kenneth Brackins". No catalogue number or time printed. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

My daddy is a soldier in a uniform

He is fighting for our country

Over there in Vietnam

He writes us a letter almost everyday

But still I miss my daddy...

Kneel and prayer, our lord take care of daddy and bring him safely home

Mummy and me are together

But we still seem all alone

We know that he is needed over there in Vietnam

But we are still praying that he will come back home

Mummy received a letter, it was from a strange man

It read that dad was missing over there in Vietnam

But now we know that daddy is safe from all harm

For he has gone to heaven

Show full lyrics (15 lines) ▾

Themes: Patriotic Child M.I.A. K.I.A.

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#54 El Paso High School Varsity Choir Vietnam Christmas Single · Vietnam Christmas / Hallelujah Chorus · Linjo # 112 · USA

Annotation

"Vietnam Christmas" (LinJo Records # LINJO 112) - a song performed by the varsity choir of El Paso High School, Texas.¹ Musically this track would fit nicely into a church service and Christmas carol rendition. The choir sent out a prayer to those fighting in the war, as well as those "who died...in Vietnam" .

Sources

1 Wikipedia: El Paso High School ↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

LinJo Records LINJO 112-A; "Vietnam Christmas" (Rene Guijarro), time 3:30, Linjo Music (BMI); El Paso High School Varsity Choir, directed by Frank Odom, soloist Teresa Gonzales. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

This child of love will hear the prayers and cries

From those who fight and have been wounded in Vietnam

This child won't hesitate to bless

All those who died while fighting in Vietnam

Themes: Christmas Child Religion Soldier's Perspective

Genres: ♪ Western Classical Music Choral Church Music

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ Christmas Songs

#55 Earline Head & Little Rhonda My Daddy Is a Soldier Single · Whispering Breeze / My Daddy Is a Soldier · Master # M-1086 · USA

Credited on the record as Earline Head with Little Rhonda and The Flint River Boys.

Annotation

The song "My Daddy Is a Soldier" (Master Records # M-1086) featured a collaboration between country singer Earline Head and the child Little Rhonda, maybe six years old. It started with the young girl telling the listener that her father "is a soldier, fighting across the sea" . She expressed some minor patriotic sentiments: "he's fighting for our country, but most of all for me" . However, her mother entered the narration, saying that she had received a "message from Uncle Sam" notifying her of the father's death. The mother did not have the heart to tell the child. Written by Clayton Head, and issued in Stone Mountain, Georgia. According to some sources, this may have been a record label dedicated to song-poems - song lyrics, sent to specialist publishing and recoding companies, usually in response to an advertisement, that have been set to music for a fee (around $200-400).¹

Sources

1 Song Poem Music ↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Master Records, Box 725, Stone Mountain, GA; M-1086 (MR-10862); "My Daddy Is a Soldier" (Clayton Head), Jakmo Music, BMI, 2:36; Earline Head with Little Rhonda and The Flint River Boys. Purple and silver label. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

My daddy is a soldier, fighting across the sea

He's fighting for our country, but most of all for me

He said the day he left us he'd soon be home to stay

Me and mum are waiting for that happy day /Those are the words I hear her say while crying all alone

How can I tell my little girl her daddy won't come home /I just can't break her little heart, she loves her daddy so

As she talks I hold her close and pray...

Don't you see, if I tell her now about the message from Uncle Sam

How much grief is in my heart since I got the telegram

She'll only have to share the pain with me each night and day

Themes: Soldier's Perspective Patriotic Child Song Poem

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ Song Poems ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#56 Bobby Flores M.I.A. (Missing in Action) Single · M.I.A. (Missing in Action) / Spin the Bottle · Joey # JOEY-5003 · USA

Credited on the record as Bobby Flores & Country Gentleman.

Annotation

Bobby Flores, a Mexican-American from San Antonio, Texas, started his career as a child performer, said to be aged of 9 in 1970, around the time that this record was probably released.¹² The song "M.I.A. - Missing in Action" looked at the P.O.W. issue, narrated by the son of the captured soldier. The soldier asked his son to look after the family while he was away. The son said that his father was in Vietnam "to preserve the right of freedom for people" , thus taking a patriotic perspective.

Sources

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Joey JOEY-5003-B, blue and silver label, stereo, "English Series", 6711 W. Commerce, San Antonio, Texas 78228; "M.I.A. - Missing in Action -" (Bobby Flores), Elzaz Music, BMI; Bobby Flores & Country Gentleman; "Distributed by Rangel Record Dist." [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Just before my daddy left to go to war

He told me son don't worry for me anymore

Just wait and I'll be back again someday

Take care of the family and yourself

While I'm away, that was the last we heard of him since he's been gone

How much longer can we last without him home

He sought to make a living without his love

I miss our daddy and the family does to

We're still leaning on his words that he'll be back some day

Mommy got a phone call from D.C. today

The words she heard made tears fall down

Her face, then later she told us, dad's an M.I.A.

He left knowing what he had to do

To preserve the right of freedom for people...

And I know I'll wear this bracelet until my daddy comes back home

I know god will bless him for the courage he has shown

Show full lyrics (17 lines) ▾

Themes: P.O.W. M.I.A. Child

Genres: ♪ Country Honky Tonk

Also in: ▤ Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs ▤ P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#57 Little Debbie Duncan The Vietnam Song Single · The Vietnam Song / Forget All Your Troubles · Haven # HM-101 · USA

Credited on the record as Little Debbie Duncan and Her Twilights.

Annotation

The track "The Vietnam Song" (Haven Records # HM-101) by the young child Little Debbie Duncan and Her Twilights - song composed by Bill Duncan - her father? This might be a song-poem record label. The track started with a group chorus, introducing the listener to the little girl. Then Debbie Duncan started telling the listener "about her real daddy" , recalling that her father went off to war. However, she said that her "daddy...had been killed at some place called Vietnam" . This had a a huge impact on her family situation - in the second set of verses, Debbie Duncan started speaking about "her foster daddy" . The narration took a darker turn: "I have a new daddy, he drinks a lot...we don't get to go places and have fun" . She concluded the song by wondering how many other children had a difficult family situation as a result of the war. Thus, this song provided a different perspective on how the death of a soldier rebounded on a child and the family.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Haven Records HM-101, yellow label; "The Vietnam Song" (Bill Duncan), 2:40, Ranchette Pub., BMI; Little Debbie Duncan and Her Twilights; produced by Dick Michaels, engineer Norman Goodman. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

A little girl with the lovely curls, her eyes shine brighter than all the stars at night

Her smile was so pretty, it was such a pity when she started telling us about her real daddy

I remember the day my daddy went away

I didn't know he would come back again

One day mommy told me my daddy won't come home to us anymore

I didn't understand what she said

He had been killed at some place called Vietnam

A little girl with the lovely curls, her eyes shine brighter than all the stars at night

Her smile was so pretty, it was such a pity when she started telling us about her foster daddy

Things have changed around our house, we don't get to go places

And have fun, way we did before

Cause you seen now I have a new daddy

He drinks a lot and smokes a lot

When I'm in my room at night I can hear them talking

I know they are talking about me, I wonder how many boys and girls have the kind of problem I've got

Oh lord will you shine your light on all the broken hearts tonight

And bless our boys who are in Vietnam tonight

Show full lyrics (18 lines) ▾

Themes: Soldier's Perspective Child Patriotic Song Poem K.I.A.

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ Song Poems ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#58 Donna Sands Bring My Daddy Home Single · Bring My Daddy Home / Squattin' Little Squillit · Sanfris # SF-62 · USA

Notes

Bring My Daddy Home (Sands, Donna)

Child narration. Pop, home front perspective. Released New York.
Dear god - bring my daddy home from Vietnam

Notes

Sanfris SF-62-A, 1674 Broadway, N.Y.C.; "Bring My Daddy Home" (L. Hevia – R. Kent), Sanfris Music Co., Tithonus Music Co. (BMI), 2:40; arranged and conducted by Ron Dulka, produced by Sanfris Productions. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Home Front Perspective Child

Genre: ♪ Pop

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]

#59 Steve Dorrier Letter to the President Single · Letter to the President / What's the Matter With Mommie · Major # MS 1007 · USA

Notes

Letter to the President (Dorrier, Steve)

Child narration. Father died in Vietnam, asked president to end the war. Peace / anti-war, but also patriotic sentiment.
Waynesboro, VA
Major Records (# MS 1007). Label founded by John Major, owner of two other Virginia labels - Lark Records (which released the Vietnam song To Vietnam by the The Currence Brothers), and MRC (which released Go Where the Action Is by George Winn and The Bluegrass Partners).

Notes

Major Records MS 1007, blue label, P. O. Box 2072, Waynesboro, Va., "A Major Studio Production"; A-side "Letter to the President" (Minnie T. Bransford), time 2:45, BMI – Dooms; B-side "What's the Matter Mommie" (Minnie T. Bransford), time 2:50, BMI – Dooms. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Child Home Front Perspective K.I.A. Fighting For Anti-War

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#60 Steve Dorrier What's the Matter Mommie Single · Letter to the President / What's the Matter Mommie · Major # MS 1007 · USA

Annotation: see “Letter to the President” above (same release).

Themes: Child Home Front Perspective K.I.A. Anti-War

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#61 Tom Scott Letter to the President Single · Letter to the President / New World Tomorrow · MRC # MRC-1142 · USA

Notes

Letter to the President (Scott, Tom)

Child narration, 'America the Beautiful'.
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA.
Letter to president: father away to war. Need to look after mum.
KIA letter arrived: can you help other boys from losing their dads?

Notes

MRC (Major Recording Co.), Waynesboro, Virginia, MRC-1142, black-and-cream label; "Letter to the President" (M. Bransford), time 2:20, Dooms Music BMI. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Child Home Front Perspective Anti-War K.I.A. Fighting For

Genres: ♪ Pop Spoken Word

Also in: ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

#62 Troy & Kim Crane Valley of the Brave U.S.A. Single · Valley of the Brave U.S.A. / Texas Huntsville Prison Blues · Oak · USA

Credited on the record as Troy Crane, Kim Crane — 4 Years Old (Pledge of Allegiance).

Notes

Valley of the Brave U.S.A. (Crane, Troy)

Country, patriotic. Abilene, Texas, USA
Features a child narrator - Kim Crane (his daughter?). 4 years old.
In war we never give up, but we strive for peace.
Also released Springtime Down in Texas (Soldiers Last Dream in Viet Nam) / The Gypsy Song

Notes

Oak Records, Abilene, Tex., white label with no catalogue number printed; "Valley of the Brave U.S.A." (Troy Crane), time 2:30, Oakcrest Music, BMI; credited to Troy Crane with "Kim Crane — 4 Years Old (Pledge of Allegiance)". [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Child Patriotic

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#63 The Singing Burris Family My Country, I'm Proud of You Single · My Country, I'm Proud of You / The Waltz of the Chattahoochee · Shur # JS-45-C-106 · USA

Notes

My Country, I'm Proud of You (Singing Burris Family, The)

Country, patriotic. Child choir. Georgia, USA.
Pray for the US forces who keep us free and safe

Notes

"Custom Recording by Disco, Division of Shur Productions", 1121 Second Avenue, Columbus, Georgia 31901; JS-45-C-106; "My Country, I'm Proud of You" (Shirley Burris), 1:55. White and red label, pressed on blue vinyl. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Child Patriotic

Genres: ♪ Country Bluegrass

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#64 Pam Gilbert What Has the World Done to My Baby Single · I'm Movin' On / What Has the World Done to My Baby · Stop # ST 155 · USA

Notes

What Has the World Done to My Baby (Gilbert, Pam)

Teen pop, home front perspective, child
14 year old
You're not the same - because of war?

Notes

Stop ST 155, 45 RPM, matrix ST 5152; "What Has the World Done to My Baby" (J. Rhodes), 2:57, Window Music—BMI; Pam Gilbert (Vocal); "Pro. By C. Eastman", "Arr. Pete Drake"; "Distributed by Stop Records, 809-B 18th Ave., S. Nashville, Tenn."; white label with red stop-sign logo. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Home Front Perspective Protest Child

Genres: ♪ Country Teen Pop

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]

#65 100 Vietnamese Orphans God Bless America Single · Foster Parents' Plan Vietnamese Shoe Campaign · Foster Parents' Plan # None · USA

Notes

Charity record - sung by 100 Vietnamese orphan children
Shoe campaign
Sung in English and Vietnamese

Notes

Foster Parents' Plan - Vietnamese Shoe Campaign, 45 RPM; "God Bless America" sung by 100 Vietnamese Orphans in English and Vietnamese. No catalogue number, writer credit or date on the label (song by Irving Berlin). [From the record label]

Themes: Orphan Vietnamese Children Child Benefit Record Patriotic

Genres: ♪ Western Classical Music Choral

Also in: ▤ Amerasians, Orphans & Vietnamese Children

#66 Gateway 1000 Just Remember Single · Just Remember / God Bless the Women of the Men Who Died in Viet Nam · Catch Em # REC0759 · USA

Notes

Just Remember (Gateway 1000)
God Bless the Women (Of the Men Who Died in Vietnam) (Jones, Buffalo T.)

Post-war, 80s, pop rock, includes child narration, treatment of veterans
A-side: impact of war on veteran - country different, you were lost but found your home.
B-side: home front - she dreams of when she was young - the soldier boy promised he'd be home.
Un-credited child narration - from the fictional daughter of the couple, that could have been.

Notes

Catch Em Records REC0759A, 45 R.P.M.; (R.J. Luisi, R. Kauffman, G. Vahamonde); P.O. Box 299, Bellrose, N.Y. Sleeve: "Dedicated to the men and women who served in a war we all tried to forget. Let's hope this recording will ease some of the pain for all Vietnam Veterans and to help the world to Just Remember." Bob Durnak (bass), Ray Luisi (guitar, vocals), Carrie McQuade (vocals), Paul Niederaur (lead, acoustic & synthesizer guitar), George Vahamonde (drums); additional vocalists Marianne Moyes, Jeff Herbst, Joe Scollo, Bob Strano, Laura Kaye, Chuck Vanhouten, John Rosenbaur, John Fox, Marc Gershuny. Music Ray J. Luisi; lyrics R.J. Luisi, Rob Kauffman, George Vahamonde; executive producer Bruce Rollins; produced by Gateway 1000; arrangements Paul Niederaur & R.J. Luisi; recorded at Rockin' Reel Recording Studio (Bob Lessick), mixed at Tiki Recording Studio (Bob "Fuji" Fudjinski). No date on label or sleeve. [From the record label and sleeve]

Themes: Vet Mistreatment of Vet Child

Genres: ♪ Rock Pop Rock

#67 Buffalo T. Jones God Bless the Women (Of the Men Who Died in Vietnam) Single · Just Remember / God Bless the Women of the Men Who Died in Viet Nam · Catch Em # REC0759 · USA

Notes

Catch Em Records REC0759B, 45 R.P.M.; label title "God Bless the Women of the Men Who Died in Viet Nam"; (G. Jones, D. Casale); P.O. Box 299, Bellrose, N.Y. Sleeve: music and lyrics G. Jones, D. Casale; recorded and engineered at Don Casale Recording Studio; Buffalo T. Jones (vocal), Des Burke (drums, bass, guitar), James Ahrenel (all keyboards); thanks to Jerry Busic of the Suffolk County chapter of the Vietnam Veterans and to Bruce Rollins; sponsors Roe Agency, Auto Aid, Clare Rose, Marlboro, Lightning Sound. No date on label or sleeve. [From the record label and sleeve]

Themes: K.I.A. Home Front Perspective Vet

Genres: ♪ Rock Pop Rock

#68 Cindy Allen Santa Don't Forget My Mommy Single · Santa Don't Forget My Mommy / Her Wedding, Not Mine · Town & Country # TC-1036 · USA

Notes

Christmas, Child narration, country music.
Home front perspective - Santa don't forget my mummy
She's been crying since the mailman brought a letter with medals (K.I.A.)

Notes

T/C Town & Country Recordings TC-1036-A (U4KM-4609); "Santa Don't Forget My Mommy" (Hauty Bell Eason), Star-Fire Music ASCAP, 2:25; produced by Suwanee Songs, Lenoir City, Tenn. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Christmas Child Home Front Perspective Medals

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ Christmas Songs

#69 The New Hope Quartet God Send My Daddy Home From Vietnam Album · Keep-a-Moving · Perfection Sound # Plp 5103 · USA

Notes

God send My Daddy Home From Vietnam

Country gospel, religious. Featured 7 year old Renee Jenkins.
About father killed in action in Vietnam - received a Purple Heart.

Notes

Perfection Gospel Sound Studios Plp-5103, "Compatible Stereo", Side 1 matrix HY-1123, 109 N. Atlanta St., Smyrna, Ga.; back cover "Record #5103". "God Send My Daddy Home From Vietnam" (Don McHan), 2:56, is track 6 of side 1.

The back-cover note by J.W. Crisp, Perfection Sound Studio, Smyrna, Georgia, calls this the group's third album after "More Like Him" and "At Home", and names the members: Hall Jenkins (manager, tenor), his wife Eloise (piano and lead voice), Priscilla Phillips (alto), Gerald Phillips (bass), Rena Phillips (featured on "I'm Longing For Home") and Jimmy Sharpe (lead, director of the New Hope Youth Choir); the Jenkinses' daughter Renee, age seven, "is featured on 'God Send My Daddy Home From Vietnam'".

Records were to be ordered from Hall Jenkins, Route 1, Box 172, Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771.

Credits: piano Eloise Jenkins, organ J.W. Crisp, bass guitar Jerry Rogers, steel guitar James Thomas, engineer Donnie Sherman, produced by Perfection Sound, photography R.L. Crisp, cover by Tibbitts Printing, Dallas, Ga.; recorded at Perfection Sound Studios, Smyrna, Ga. 30080.

The cover photograph shows the group beside their white van lettered "New Hope Quartet Gospel Singers, Robbinsville". [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Child Patriotic Religion

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#70 Mike Franklin A Boy's Prayer Single · A Boy's Prayer / Construction Man's Son · Z/V # ZB-10001 · USA

Notes

Boy's Prayer, A (Franklin, Mike)

Notes

Z/V Records ZB-10001 (SoN 111781), stereo, 45 RPM, light blue label; "A Boy's Prayer" (Mike Franklin), 3:32, Z/V Pub. Co., ASCAP; produced and arranged by Bill Goodwin and Dave Barton, National Sound Studio, Nashville, Tenn. The yellow picture sleeve shows a sepia photograph of Mike Franklin, billed as "The Colorado Kid", in a western suit and neckerchief standing with an electric guitar, and lists both sides, "A Boy's Prayer" and "Construction Man's Son", with the Z/V Records logo. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Lyrics

English

Plight

Child

Religion

Patriotic

Themes: Soldier's Perspective Child Religion Patriotic

Genre: ♪ Country

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#71 The Richard Wolfe Children's Chorus A Generation of Peace Single · A Generation of Peace / Susquehanna Moon · Admiral # AD 800 · USA

Credited on the record as The Richard Wolfe Children's Chorus and Friends.

Notes

- generic Vietnam-era plea for peace
- child chorus

- Admiral AD 800, 45 R.P.M.; (Richard Wolfe); Bayberry, BMI; "Hastings". No date on the label. [From the record label]

Themes: Peace Child

Genres: ♪ Western Classical Music Choral

Also in: ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

#72 Irwin Levine & The American Children Let's All Sing a Song About America Single · Red White & Blue # RWB-1776 · USA

Notes

- Probably released for the Bicentennial, but no date on record
- "Levine said that during the 60s, he and Russell wrote a song about patriotism, "Let's All Sing a Song About America." But he said that because of the Vietnam War and anti-American feelings being expressed here, "they laughed us out of the office. 'Who's going to buy it?'." they asked us." (Marshfield (WI) News-Herald, 2 Feb 1981)
- Traditional pop, featuring children's choir
- You're free to knock this land if you want, but let's be patriotic

- Red White & Blue Records RWB-1776, P.O. Box 105, Whippany, New Jersey 07981; same track pressed on both sides (3:40); (Irwin Levine & L. Russell Brown), Irwin Levine Music (BMI) and Larball Music (BMI); produced by Irwin Levine and Jimmy Wisner; title printed "Lets All Sing a Song About America". Blue label, silver print. No date on the label. [From the record label; Discogs]

Themes: Patriotic Child Bicentennial

Genre: ♪ Pop

Also in: ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#73 Harry Burgess Chicago Policeman Single · Chicago Policeman / Foreign Policy · Swank # 167 · USA

Lyrics

English

When I was a boy I wanted to be a policeman in my community, to wear a star and a uniform, and to have a car with a big loud horn

This was the life for me I thought

Back when I was a boy I went to school and studied hard

I wanted to learn the rules to guard

When I grew up they let me in and gave me a place as one of them

I had reached my lifelong plan, to become a policeman

My first big job was the convention the Democrats held for their nomination

There was trouble expected, we knew

From hippies and Yippies and communist too

They'd take over, and void they would, they were after our blood

The hippies were dirty, the Yippies were vile

The commies were there to keep the riled

The mayor didn't want Chicago ruined and that's what they were intending on doing

They hate America and all that's good

But they call it love, they raise the flag of the Vietcong

How could these kids have gone so wrong, to aid the communists killing their brothers

This tearing us within our borders

They hit us waves with their weapons of war, with spikes, bottles, blades

Our flesh they tour

We herding then down Michigan L

It's a good thing rioting equipment we had

We were trained to handle such mobs, that is part of our job

Police brutality was their own, joined by...viewers at home

They know police got to go, so their leaders can seize control

We do our job the best we can as Chicago Policeman

Your help to the police is really needed

If the laws are to be headed, mobs like these we can't let roam, to ruin our country, churches and homes

Americans all across the land, support your local policeman

Show full lyrics (29 lines) ▾

Themes: Song Poem Chicago Seven Demonstration Counter-Culture & Hippies Yippies Communism

Also in: ▤ 1968 Chicago Seven / Eight Songs ▤ Song Poems ▤ US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]

#74 Valerie & Everett Hull Foreign Policy Single · Chicago Policeman / Foreign Policy · Swank # 167 · USA

Notes

- "Foreign Policy "

Lyrics

English

- Performed by Valerie and Everett Hull

- Valerie - a child, asking father a questions

- Isolationist, anti-war narrative

- Anti-War

Child

Eisenhower

Isolationism

George Washington

Song Poem

Themes: Anti-War Child Eisenhower Isolationism George Washington Song Poem

Genre: ♪ Narration

Also in: ▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]▤ Song Poems

#75 The Texas Girls' Choir Come Caroling With Us EP · Century # 25507 · USA

Annotation

Christmas songs - reference to Vietnam on the back of the picture sleeve.

"This modern sleigh is not only a joy to choir girls as Santa steps out but us a joy to the boys in Vietnam when help comes when peace is absent. This modern sleigh will not bring Santa to the boys in Vietnam but it will bring a gift from home and the memory of Christmas tide and carols"

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Century 25507. Back of the picture sleeve: "This modern sleigh will not bring Santa to the boys in Vietnam but it will bring a gift from home and the memory of Christmas tide and carols."

Picture sleeve: front "Come Caroling With Us", Texas Girls' Choir, Shirley Carter, founder and director, with Santa Claus and a Bell Helicopter. Back: side I — I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas (Berlin), Carol of the Drum (Davis), Silent Night (Gruber), We Wish You a Merry Christmas; side II — Jingle Bells (Pierpoint), Up on the House Top (Hanby), Here We Come A Caroling, O Come All Ye Faithful (Ann Everard, TGC Piano Contest winner), Christmas Eve (Grofe). Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas (staff: Shirley Carter, Elizabeth Barney, Beverly Thompson, Beth Henry); "In co-operation with Leonards"; Century Custom Recording. [From the record sleeve]

Themes: Christmas Home Front Perspective