Collections › Christmas Songs

Christmas Songs

145 songs · chronological · A–Z by artist
Annotations and notes by Justin A. Brummer
Entries are numbered (#1, #2 …) for reference on this page; the numbers shift when entries are added or split.
Johnny & Jon "Christmas in Vietnam" advert in Billboard, 25 November 19671
A collection of songs and spoken-word recordings referencing Christmas and the Vietnam War
This forms part of the larger Vietnam War Song Project, an interpretive examination of over 6,500 Vietnam War songs identified, revealing how the war's significance is represented through music. The project also collects spoken-word recordings about the conflict. This unique collection of voices advances scholarship by providing insights into people’s views about the war over time as represented in music, looking at diverse communities and vibrant music scenes. It is crucial in developing our knowledge of the war and the humanities, through the use of a digital research platform.
Note: The VWSP has identified, to date, 145+ Christmas songs about the war.
YouTube playlist: Vietnam Christmas Songs
Citation: Justin A. Brummer, Vietnam War Song Project (VWSP) — Christmas Songs, vietnamwarsongproject.com/list/christmas-songs, accessed 12 November 2026

Historical Context

Beyond Christmas, the songs in this collection most often also deal with: Home Front Perspective, Soldier's Perspective, Patriotic, Anti-War.
1 of 9
Christmas cartoon published in the 4th PSYOP Group's newsletter Credibilis, Vol. 2, No. 12, 10 December 1967, Saigon, Vietnam.1
Each holiday season galvanised sentiment on the home domestic front, with 145+ Christmas songs about the war. Many American musicians took tours of South Vietnam during Christmas to play for the GIs, such as Bob Hope.2 The most common association between Christmas and the Vietnam War was the controversial "Christmas Bombings", officially called Operation Linebacker which took place between 18–29 December 1972, when Nixon re-instated the US bombing campaign over Hanoi and Haiphong.

There are at least five songs with the title "Christmas in Vietnam", from as early as 1965. "Little Becky’s Christmas Wish" (1967), narrated by 6 year old Becky Lamb from Michigan, was one of dozens of child narrated Vietnam songs, which looked at the impact of war on young siblings. She plaintively requests "Santa… please bring Tommy home for Christmas". However, a K.I.A. telegram arrived. Becky sadly recalls Tommy’s favourite record: "a man was talking and said not what my country can do, but what I can do", a reference to JFK’s inaugural speech. It reached #2 in the Billboard Christmas chart.

War Years: 1960-1972

Bob Hope entertaining troops during the Vietnam War, which he did every year between 1964 and 1972.1
  • Pre-Gulf of Tonkin: 1960-1964
    While many of these early US songs may have been intending to refer to US troops in Germany, or Korea, or representing general Cold War fears, they were released in the run-up to the "Vietnam era" and the Gulf of Tonkin incident (1964), which led to a major escalation of US involvement in the conflict, and thus included in this list, as cultural perspectives. The criteria is the same as for the war years - the songs included mention Vietnam, or the lyrics deal with war-related themes, such as combat, the US draft, weapons such as napalm, prisoners of war, demonstrations, references to soldiers and veterans, war & peace, and expressions of patriotism.

  • War Years: 1964-1975
    Released during the key war years, the songs included mention Vietnam, or the lyrics deal with war-related themes, such as combat, the US draft, weapons such as napalm, prisoners of war, demonstrations, references to soldiers and veterans, war & peace, and expressions of patriotism.

1961

#1 Dorsey Burnette A Country Boy in the Army 1961 · Single · A Country Boy in the Army / Dying Ember · Dot # 45-16305 · USA
Notes
Country Boy in the Army (Burnette, Dorsey)

Traditional pop, Christmas song.
Soldiers with 3 days leave makes it home for Christmas day.
Spent all his money on presents for family and sweetheart.
Notes
Dot 45-16305 (MB-16365), "Ultra High Fidelity", black label; "A Country Boy in the Army" (Evans-Tobias), Lyle-Hollyjo Music, ASCAP, 2:11; Dorsey Burnette, arranged and conducted by Billy Vaughn; Dot Records, Inc., Hollywood, California, "A Division of Paramount Pictures Corporation". [From the record sleeve and labels]
#2 Phil Allen A Wish 1961 · Single · A Wish / Chestnuts Mister · Fargo # 1020 · USA
Notes
Wish, A (Allen, Phil)

Christmas. Cold War - pre-Vietnam
Peace message, to JFK, Kruschev, MacMillan, Castro, De Gaulle
Notes
Fargo Records preview copy, record no. 1020 A, 45 R.P.M.; "A Wish" (Allen-O'Regan-Towns), time 2:18, Instant Music Co. Inc. (BMI); arranged by Chris Towns. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#3 William B. Williams A World to Grow Up In 1961 · Single · A World to Grow Up In / It's Christmas · Dual # 503 · USA
Notes
- Christmas, traditional pop, narrative, peace, Cold War-era
- Letter to Santa, new big war is coming
- New super bomb (atomic)

- Red Dual label 503 (MO8W 3331); "A World to Grow Up In" (Eric Leiser-Bob Jaxon), time 2:35, Conquest Music Corp., ASCAP. [From the record sleeve and labels]

1962

#4 Rob Townsend Christmas Message From Space 1962 · Single · Christmas Message From Space / The Night Before New Year's · Minaret # 106 · USA
Notes
- Christmas novelty, spoken, peace/anti-war, Vietnam-era
- Space race, Cold War, best rocker, atomic

- Minaret Records Record No. 106, Minaret Records Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; teal, white and black label with minaret logo; producer Herb Shucher; Chu-Fin Music, Inc. (BMI). "Christmas Message From Space" (Duncan-Reed), 1:48, NV 6205; flip side "The Night Before New Year's" (Duncan-Reed-Townsend-Shucher), 1:48, NV 6206. [From the record sleeve and labels]

1963

#5 Toni Wine My Boyfriend's Coming Home for Christmas 1963 · Single · My Boyfriend's Coming Home for Christmas / What a Pity · Colpix # CP 715 · USA
Annotation
The song "My Boyfriend's Coming Home for Christmas" (Colpix Records # CP 715) does not actually mention the Vietnam conflict, but the narrator referred to her boyfriend being in the army. It reflected the situation of wives and girlfriends left on the home front. Toni Wine, born in New York in 1947, wrote and recorded this single in 1963 at the age of sixteen.1 By then, President Kennedy and Johnson had already begun to send small numbers of US troops and advisers to Vietnam, although the US also had a significant number of troops stationed in Germany. The single reached # 22 in the Billboard Christmas singles chart, on 28 December 1963.2 Jonie Taps and Harry Cohn founded the label Coldpix in 1958, a division of Columbia Pictures, which largely concentrated on music for TV and movies.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Colpix Records CP-715 (ZTSP-89942), gold label, "Colpix Records, a division of Columbia Pictures Corporation, New York, N.Y.", made in U.S.A.; "My Boyfriend's Coming Home for Christmas" (T. Wine), Screen Gems-Columbia Music - BMI, 2:44. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
I've written everyday since he's been away
And I've waited patiently...
I haven't seen my boyfriend in such a long time
You see, he is in the service...
I'm not really mad at Uncle Sam
He should understand we girls don't want to share our man with anyone else
Genre: ♪ Teen Pop
#6 Addis & Crofut 12 Days With Khrushchev 1963 · Single · 12 Days With Khrushchev / Goin' Home · Verve # 10281 · USA
Notes
12 Days With Khrushchev (Addiss and Crofut)

Christmas novelty about Khrushchev.
References Berlin, Castro, moon, Nasser, China.
General Cold War.
8th day: "we'll have Vietnam soon" .

On the album Such Interesting People.
Also released Vietnam single: A Ballad From Vietnam (The Rain on the Leaves) / Simple Gifts
Notes
Verve VK-10281 (62-VK-727), "Special Disc Jockey Record", MGM Records, a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., made in U.S.A.; "12 Days With Khrushchev" (Addis-Crofut), Heatherfield Music, BMI, 2:20; produced by Creed Taylor; arranged and conducted by Billy Mure. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#7 Nelson Young Home at Christmas 1963 · Single · Home at Christmas / Christmas Time Is Near · Ark # 302 · USA
Notes
Ark Records 302; published by Sheplan Music; pressed by Rite Record Productions (11317/11318). B-side "Christmas Time Is Near" (2:00).

Label: "Ark" Records, Cincinnati 6, Ohio; written by N. Young, J. Fee, G. Robison; Sheplan Music, BMI; 45 RPM, No. 11317; vocal with string band; Hi Fidelity; "An Ark Record Production". [From the record label]
Theme: Christmas

1964

#8 Various Artists Joy to UC - Free Speech Carols 1964 · EP

1965

#9 Derrik Roberts There Won't Be Any Snow (Christmas in the Jungle) 1965 · Single · There Won't Be Any Snow (Christmas in the Jungle) / A World Without Sunshine · Roulette # R 4656 · USA
Annotation
Released in December 1965, the song "There Won't Be Any Snow (Christmas in the Jungle)" (Roulette Records # R 4656) reached # 10 in the Cash Box singles chart. Written by Lee Pockriss (born in Brooklyn, New York, 20 January 1924; died Bridgewater, Connecticut, 14 January 2011) and Paul Vance (born in Brooklyn, New York, 4 November 1929; last known location Boca Raton, Florida). Performed by Derrik Roberts (unknown biography), it offered a pro-war sentimental stance on the war. The narrator, a soldier in Vietnam, writing to his sweetheart, noted that the protesters back home "think we are fools to be here" . But the soldier declared that fighting compared to "taking out insurance for the future, our future, yours too" . Apart from a female background vocal harmony, the narrators largely spoke, along with sound effects of the jungle and war (such as gun shots). As the soldier wrote the letter, informing his girlfriend of the good news that "I'm coming home" , the listener heard a gunshot, thus indicating his death. His army friend found the letter, and sent it to the soldier's wife. George Goldner and Joe Kolsky founded the record label in New York, in 1956.1
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Roulette R-4656 (18654), 45 RPM; "There Won't Be Any Snow (Christmas in the Jungle)" (Vance-Pockriss), 2:44, Robbins Music Corp., ASCAP; "A Vance-Pockriss Production"; made in U.S.A. by Roulette Records, Inc. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
For it's Christmas in the jungle, and there won't be any snow...
My darling, it is almost Christmas and here I am
Thousands of miles away from you and everything else I love
I never thought Christmas could be so lonely
Everybody got packages from home
Today, it's kind of sad watching how some of the guys are putting up decorations
There's no tinsel, there's no fire and there isn't any mistletoe..
We've been reading about what's been going on at home
Some people think we are fools to be here...
But I feel my being here is taking out insurance for the future, our future, yours too
And if I can do this, it's worth it, even being away from you
Honey I just got the most wonderful news, I'm coming home
I can hardly believe it, before you know it I'll be...knocking on your door
The moment I see you I'll be [Gunshot]...
Dear Helen, I was a buddy of Johnny's and I found this letter
Amongst his things, I thought you'd like to have it
Show full lyrics (17 lines) ▾
#10 Don Vest I Want Daddy for Mommy (And Me This Christmas) 1965 · Single · I Want Daddy for Mommy (And Me This Christmas) / Santa's on the Roof Top · Farrall # FAR-45-698 · USA
Annotation
The country music song "I Want Daddy for Mommy (And Me This Christmas)" (Farrall Records # FAR-45-698) by Don Vest looked at the impact of the war at home. Released in Louisville, Kentucky in 1965 on Farrall, owned by Murrell Farmer and Thomas Allen. A man narrated a letter written by his grand-daughter to Santa Clause, asking him to bring home her father who was fighting in Vietnam "protecting mommy and me" - so it also included a small patriotic line about the role of the soldier. The girl pointed out that her father had already won a medal ( "he's even earned a star" ), and thus he had done his part. Written by Ellis W. Wilson.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Farrall Records FAR-45-698-A (FAR-45-111), blue label, K-W Enterprise of Louisville, Ky. 40207, P.O. Box 7192; "I Want Daddy for Mommy (And Me This Christmas)" (Ellis W. Wilson), B.M.I., time 2:45; Don Vest, vocal with string band. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
In my grand-daughter's room, this letter I found today
It was addressed to Santa Clause, and this is what she had to say:
I'm writing to you dear Santa, there is just one thing to say, I want daddy for mommy on this Christmas day
It's been so very long since daddy said to me they're sending me to Vietnam
He's protecting mommy and me
We have been so lonely for daddy, it's true
So please hurry Santa, I do believe in you
Daddy's fighting a war, a war he didn't start
He's even earned a star, I think he's done his part
I know he's not alone, there are others I can guess
They want to be home, especially this Christmas
So please hurry Santa, answer my plea, won't you bring daddy home
#11 Jim Franklin Is It Christmas Time in Vietnam 1965 · Single · Is It Christmas Time in Vietnam / You Took the Wind Out of My Sails · Jed # J-0017 · USA
Annotation
The country music song "Is It Christmas Time in Vietnam" (Jed International Records # J-0017) by Jim Franklin - the label was based Nashville, Tennessee. The narrator told that a child asked if Santa could send his father home from Vietnam. He also asked: "will he have a Christmas tree, with a star so bright" ?
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Jed International Records, Inc., 815 16th Avenue, South, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, Record No. J-0017-A, yellow label with red print; "Is It Christmas Time in Vietnam" (Jim Franklin), Cedarwood Pub. Co., Inc., time 3:10; "A Jed Record Production under the direction of John E. Denny"; "Distributed by Jed International". [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
I played the part of Santa Clause in a big department store
I talked with all the girls and boys that came to Santa's float
Some asked me for...games and teddy bears...
And then I saw this little boy standing all alone
The Christmas lights reflecting on his tears and when I asked him what was wrong...
He whispered in my ear, is it Christmas time in Vietnam, where my daddy is tonight?
Will he have a Christmas tree, with a star so bright
I wish you would bring him back, Santa, can't you see it won't seem like Christmas without daddy here with me
And then he climbed up on my knee
Although only a little child he spoke these words so tenderly
Brought a tear to my eyes
He said 'I don't want a lot of toys like the other children do
All I want is my daddy home so I'll be happy too
Is it Christmas time in Vietnam, where daddy is?
Show full lyrics (15 lines) ▾
Genre: ♪ Country
#12 Webb Pierce Christmas at Home 1965 · Single · Christmas at Home / Sweet Memories · Decca # 31867 · USA
Annotation
Popular honky tonk / country singer Webb Pierce, born 8 August 1926 in West Monroe, Louisiana, served in the US army during World War Two.1 He moved to Nashville in the 1950s, and released the track "Christmas at Home" (Decca # 31867) in November 1965, narrated from the perspective of a soldier heading out to war2 In San Francisco, the Christmas season had begun and "people are happy, there is holiday cheer" . However, the narrator said that "I'm shipping out tomorrow" , so for his Christmas present he wanted "last December" . The narrator also chose to focus on the discrepancy between the voting age and draft age: "they say I'm not old enough to vote, that I'm old enough to fight" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Decca record no. 31867 (116,568), pink promotional label, "Promotion copy – not for sale", Mfg'd by Decca Records, Inc., New York; "Christmas at Home" (Max Powell – Wayne Walker), 2:35; Cedarwood Publ. Co., Inc. (BMI); vocal with chorus and instrumental accompaniment. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Oh how I would loved to have spent it, Christmas at home
Here I am in San Francisco, and Christmas is here
People are happy, there is holiday cheer
I'm shipping out tomorrow and forever I may gone
Oh how I would loved to have spent it, Christmas at home
Here I am in San Francisco, and it's Christmas eve tonight
They say I'm not old enough to vote
That I'm old enough to fight
My ship will sail tomorrow, and forever I may be gone
Oh what I'd give if I could just spend one more Christmas at home
Give me last December for Christmas this year
For last December I was holding my darling
I'm shipping out tomorrow, and forever I may be gone
#13 Johnny Slate A Soldier's Christmas 1965 · Single · A Soldier's Christmas / Merry Christmas Darlin' · Showboat # 1511 · USA
Annotation
The song "A Soldier's Christmas" (Showboat # 1511) dealt with soldiers and Christmas in general, rather than specifically referring to the Vietnam War. But its release coincided with an increase in US military involvement in South East Asia, and thus included in this list. Released in Santa Claus, Tennessee on Ray Scrivner's Showboat record label.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Showboat No. 1511 (659), matrix SK4M-4736, yellow label with red showboat logo; "A Soldier's Christmas" (R. Scrivner–P. Henson), 2:10, Buna Music (BMI). "Showboat Records, Santa Claus, Ind." [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Christmas is in the air, what I would give to be home this year
But I'll be far, so far away, only god will know just where
I'll be spending a lonely Christmas over here...
Don't forget a lonely soldier in your prayers...
The son of god who died to pay for all our sins
As we try to understand why we are in these distant lands
Please ask god to bring us safely home again
Genre: ♪ Country
#14 The Shirelles (Mama) My Soldier Boy Is Coming Home 1965 · Single · Soldier Boy / (Mama) My Soldier Boy Is Coming Home · Scepter # SCE 12123 · USA
Annotation
The Shirelles song "(Mama) My Soldier Boy Is Coming Home" (Scepter Records # SCE 12123) released in 1965 can be viewed as an answer to their earlier 1962 hit "Soldier Boy" - in which the narrator promises to stay true to a young soldier heading off to war. In this track, the narrator "just got a letter" informing her that the soldier is returning him. She wanted to "jump and shout" with joy, that "Santa can skip my house" , and together "we'll have Christmas everyday" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Scepter Records SCE 12123 B (60546), Scepter Music Inc., New York, N.Y.; "(Mama) My Soldier Boy Is Coming Home" (A. Wayne), Flomar Music, Inc. (BMI), time 2:32. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Just got a letter today postmarked half a world away
I made me want to jump and shout the minute I found out
Mama, my soldier boy is coming home
I saved my loving just for him
Boys knocked on my door but none of them got in
I'd stay home every single night and prayed that he'll be alright
Mama, my soldier boy is coming home
I can't wait until he is safe in my arms again
I can't wait, I won't sleep a wink tonight
Santa can skip my house this year
Cause I'll hold my baby so near
He'll kiss me in that special way
We'll have Christmas everyday
#15 Ray Sanders Christmas Letter 1965 · Single · Christmas Letter / Missing Christmas Card · Stadium # 1115 · USA
Notes
- Soldier's perspective
- Christmas night - missing home

- Stadium Records 1115. A soldier on Christmas night, missing home. B-side "Missing Christmas Card" (1:15).
Genre: ♪ Country
#16 Allan Sherman Christmas '65 (Draft Cards) 1965 · Compilation · My Son The Box (Disc 5) · Rhino Handmade # RHM2 7891 · USA
Annotation
The song "Christmas '65 (The Draft)" (Rhino Handmade) was not released at the time, but was recorded in 1965. A comedy piece, it represents the prominence of the draft and the expansion of the Vietnam War in 1965, with references to "draft cards burning...protesters marching...rock and rolling silent night" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English
Draft cards burning on a burning fire
Protesters marching everywhere
Living costs getting higher and higher
Air pollution fills the air
Kids with too much hair....
Rock and rolling silent night
And of course there is that old Ku Klux Klan
They're hoping that Christmas will be white
Dear old red China has the bomb
There is also Castro, John Birch, and Vietnam...
Before we are blown away there is still time to say Merry Christmas to you
Also in: ▤ Draft Songs

1966

#17 Johnny & Jon Christmas In Viet Nam 1966 · Single · Christmas in Viet Nam / Why Did You Leave Me · Jewel [Shreveport] # 776 · USA
Annotation
Southern soul singers Johnny and Jon (aka John Wilson and John Wessler), wrote the song "Christmas in Vietnam" (Jewel Records # 776), recorded in 1965, and released in 1966, during President Johnson's troop escalation. No biographical details known about this duo. But the label Jewel Records, founded by Stan Lewis in 1962, was based in Shreveport, Louisiana. A spoken-word introduction told the listener that there are "two lonely soldiers, fighting a war; they won't be home for Christmas day" . The singing harmonies of Johnny and Jon kick-in - the soldier expressed sadness: "it won't be merry this year" . At the end of the song, the soldier shouted "Vietcong, everywhere I go" , a reminder that the soldiers faced an enemy while others celebrated Christmas back home.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Jewel Records 776 (TM 1808), © 1965, "Produced by Jewel Records – 728 Texas St., Shreveport, La."; Su-Ma – BMI; "Christmas in Viet Nam" (John Wilson – F. R. Lewis – John Wessler), 3:07; credited to Johnny and Jon. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
This is the time of the year that we love so dear
I want to heat jingle bells
Everybody was so happy
Everybody was so gay
It won't be merry this year...
I'm in a fox hole baby, everybody fighting madly
Will it ever end, and everyone will be free
I can't let it bother me, something I know we may never see
Maybe I won't be home this time...
I'll write to you everyday...Vietcong, everywhere I go
#18 Private Charles Bowens Christmas in Vietnam 1966 · Single · Rojac # Ra-111 · USA
Credited on the record as Private Charles Bowens & The Gentlemen From Tigerland.
Annotation
Another track with the name "Christmas in Vietnam" , but it is a different song to the Johnny & Jon single "Christmas in Vietnam" . It is credited to a "Private Charles Bowens", accompanied by the Gentlemen From Tigerland, and released on the New York based label Rojac (# RA-111). The song began with a military trumpet, and then a dark soul groove kicked in. In the chorus, the singer sadly moaned that "it's gonna be a dark, dark Christmas for me" . The soldier described his situation "in some foxhole, fighting the Vietcong" , and missing his sweetheart. He read her letter a "thousand times" . Even though the soldier missed home, he expressed support, or acceptance, of the official, government objective of the war: "I got to keep on fighting for liberty so that this world can stay free" . Composed by Jack Taylor.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Rojac RA-111 (1225), green label, "Printed in U.S.A.", Rojac Records, Inc., 417 West 126th Street, New York, N.Y. 10027; "Christmas in Vietnam" (Jack Taylor), 2:59, Streetcar Music, BMI; "A Gallo-Taylor Production", vocal; credited to Private Charles Bowens & The Gentlemen From Tigerland. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
I have to spend my Christmas here in Vietnam
Out in some foxhole, fighting the Vietcong
It's a war, it just won't end, looks like I won't see my friends again
It's going to be a dark, dark Christmas for me
God knows I hate to kill
But I have to do it to survive
Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if I'm I alive
I got to keep on fighting for liberty, so that this world can stay free
And I wish you a merry, merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
I'm sorry darling, but I can't be there
Even though we are many miles apart I can still feel your touch...
I received your letter baby, I've read it a thousand times
#19 Allen Orange V.C. Blues 1966 · Single · V. C. Blues / Where the Lonely People Are · Sound Stage 7 # SS45-2573 · USA
Annotation
A 1960s/70s blues singer, well-known for his collaborations with Allen Toussaint, under the name .... He founded the record label House of Orange in Nashville, Tennessee. The song "V.C. Blues" (Sound Stage 7 # 2573) took the perspective of a soldier in Vietnam, speaking to his loved ones back home. He informed her that the "V.C. is shooting at me" and that he really wanted to return to "the good old USA" . "V.C." referred to the Viet Cong - the political and military (mainly guerrilla) resistance to the US and South Vietnamese government from within South Vietnam. The soldier expressed a degree of patriotism: "I love...my country, for this I don't mind dying" . He also recalled various events that he would miss out on: "I won't be home this Christmas...and Thanksgiving...4th of July" . Produced by J.R. Enterprises. Composed by Orange/Terry.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Sound Stage 7 45-2573 (S-544), white label marked "Disc Jockey — Not for sale"; "V. C. Blues" (Orange-Terry), time 2:16, Cape Ann Music, BMI; produced by J. R. Enterprises; "A division of Monument Record Corp." [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Stay home girl for you will be safe in your mother's arms
Because I'm over here in Vietnam baby and the V.C. is shooting at me
I want you back in the good old USA...
I won't be home this Christmas darling
And Thanksgiving may pass me by over here
There are a lot of fireworks and it's not the 4th of July...
If I don't live to see you, remember that I love you
And my country, for this I don't mind dying
#20 Sue Simpson Soldier in Viet Nam 1966 · Single · Soldier in Viet Nam / The Great Tornado · Blake # 2-216 · USA
Annotation
The track "Soldier in Viet Nam" took a pro-government position - released by an obscure country artist called Sue Simpson, recorded on the Memphis label Blake Records (# 2-216), owned by John Cook. It is narrated from the perspective a Vietnam soldier's sister, showing the impact of the war on families: "things get pretty lonely without a big brother" . She hoped that her nineteen year old brother would "be home in time for Christmas" . But the narrator also sought to justify her brother's role, who fought in Vietnam "to keep his country free" . Moreover, she attacked the protest movement and divisions in the US. According to the sister, those who were "burning their draft cards and declaring they won't fight for their country" had a negative impact on her brother and the other soldiers: "he doesn't understand how Americans can act this way" . So the sister called on Americans to unite, so that when the soldiers returned "they'll be proud to come back" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Blake Records 2-216-A, brown and yellow label; "Soldier in Viet Nam" (S. Simpson), John Cook Music, BMI, time 3:03; Blake Records, 3291 Park Ave., Memphis, Tenn. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
He's a soldier in Vietnam today
Fighting to keep his country free
And he knows we respect him in every way
And we are waiting for his return some day
When my brother left for the army he was just 19
He must of believed there was some good reason
For fighting and perhaps to die for his country
The only thing he ever complained about were these boys over here burning their draft cards
And declaring they won't fight for their country
For him, this is destroying what he and boys like him are fighting and sometimes giving their lives to keep free
He doesn't understand how Americans can act this way
Now only he has five months to go
And he is hoping to be home in time for Christmas
We haven't seen in in almost a year and a half
And things get pretty lonely without a big brother...
I believe that we, the people of America, should get together
And quit fighting among ourselves
So our boys in Vietnam will have a home they'll be proud to come back to
So each day I hope and prayer that god will bring all the boys safely home
Show full lyrics (20 lines) ▾
Genre: ♪ Country
#21 Simon & Garfunkel 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night 1966 · Album · Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme · Columbia # CS 9363 · USA
Annotation
The song "7 O'Clock News / Silent Night" is the well known Christmas hymn with a monologue of the news bulletin from 3 August 1966 played in the background. It included several references to Vietnam, in particular a speech by Richard Nixon. Officially out of politics since losing the 1960 presidential election, in 1966 Nixon re-emerged from the political wilderness, in an attempt to run for the presidency in 1968. He attacked the anti-war movement, as being unpatriotic and the "greatest single weapon working against the U.S." He also expressed fear that the war could go on for a significant period of time. Released as a single in Europe, in the US it featured on the 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (Columbia Records # CS 9363).
Covers
The Hopeful - 7 O'Clock News (Silent Night) (Mercury Records # 72637).
The Shurfine Singers – Silent Night & the 11 O'Clock News (Josie Records # 969)
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English
In Washington the atmosphere was tense today as a special subcommittee of the House Committee on Un-American Activities continued its probe into anti-Vietnam war protests
Demonstrators were forcibly evicted from the hearings, when they began chanting anti-war slogans
Former vice-president Richard Nixon says that unless there is a substantial increase in the present war effort in Vietnam the U.S. should look forward to five more years of war
In a speech before the convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in New York, Nixon also said opposition to the war in this country is the greatest single weapon working against the U.S.
#22 Barry Sadler I Won't Be Home This Christmas 1966 · Single · I Won't Be Home This Christmas / A Woman Is a Weepin' Willow Tree · RCA Victor # 47-9008 · USA
Annotation
Barry Sadler - born in New Mexico (November 1940), he joined the US Air Force in 1957, and served in Vietnam with the 7th Special Force Group (the "Green Berets"), as a medic. Wounded in the Central Highlands southeast of Pleiku, he returned to the US. In 1966 he released the famous single The Ballad of the Green Berets (RCA Victor # 47-8739) which reached # 1 in the Billboard charts and stayed there for 5 weeks. The single, together with the album, sold over 9 million copies. He offered a military take on the Christmas song, in the track "I Won't Be Home This Christmas" (RCA Victor # 47-9008). The soldier told the listener that with "the jungle all around...I sit here in my foxhole" . He missed his loved one, and sent her a message: "merry Christmas from Vietnam" . He described how the soldiers made a Christmas tree and decorated it, with the sounds of war in the background.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
RCA Victor 47-9008, 45 RPM, matrix TPKM-6672, 2:14; "I Won't Be Home This Christmas" (Leonard Whitcup–Barry Sadler), Music, Music, Music, Inc., ASCAP; arranged and conducted by Sid Bass, producer Andy Wiswell. The white promotional label is marked "Plug Side" and "Not for Sale" (made in U.S.A.); the red stock label is "Made in Canada by RCA Victor Company, Ltd."

The picture sleeve front shows a photograph of "S/Sgt. Barry Sadler" in Special Forces beret and uniform under the RCA Victor "His Master's Voice" logo.

The back, headed Christmas "Special", lists 47-9008 "I Won't Be Home This Christmas" (2:14) and "A Woman Is a Weepin' Willow Tree" (2:28), with notes in English and French describing the A-side as the ballad of a soldier writing a letter to his family, sung by Sadler "who has lived the experience", and the backer as folksy. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
I won't be home this Christmas, I'll be so far away but
With this load I'm sending you my love on Christmas day
Yes Christmas here is different
The jungle all around
I sit here in my foxhole and hear the war sounds
We made a little Christmas tree and decorated it with bits of spring...
And tiny silver bells
Just remember me this season and all my love is true
And if god is good next Christmas I will be home with you
Your picture I put next to my heart and with it I'll never part
So across the sea a stretch my hand
Merry Christmas, merry Christmas from Vietnam
#23 Loretta Lynn Christmas Without Daddy 1966 · Album · Country Christmas · Decca # DL-74817 · USA
Annotation
Country singer Loretta Lynn included the Vietnam track "Christmas Without Daddy" (Decca Records # DL 74817) on her festive album. It is narrated from the perspective of a soldier's wife. She said that Christmas would be "sadness mixed with joy...blue and all alone" . The soldier's son "wrote to Santa" , asking for his father to be sent home, as him present. Thus, this song represented the impact of the war on families in the US.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English
Christmas Day is getting closer but there's sadness mixed with joy
Every day a few more questions from our little girl and boy
Not alone but there'll be lonely for their daddy won't be here...
We'll send a prayer and all our love to you so far away
Your son just wrote to Santa asked him to send you home
Yes Christmas without daddy we'll be blue and all alone
#24 Steve Bledsoe Send a Christmas Card to Joe 1966 · Single · Send a Christmas Card to Joe / Lead on Mr. President · KāHill # K-1051 · USA
Annotation
US country singer Steve Bledsoe released a dozen or so records from the 1950s up to the 70s.12 He also went under the name Steve Bledsoe and the Blue Jays. Released in 1966 on an Arlington, Illinois based label, the song "Send a Christmas Card to Joe" (KāHill # K-1051) sought to raise the spirits of the troops fighting in Vietnam by encouraging people in the US to send them a Christmas card. The single featured Don Barnett on guitar.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Grey-and-red KāHill label, K-1051, 45 rpm, "KāHill Recording Co., 301 E. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights, Ill." Side 1 (SK4M-6130): "Send a Christmas Card to Joe" (Kummerle), Lake Front Music-BMI, time 3:17, with Don Barnett on guitar. Side 2 (SK4M-6131): "Lead On Mr. President (We're With You)" (Kummerle), marked "Traditional", time 1:30. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Send a Christmas card to Joe, you forgot last year...
You really broke his heart that day...
Christmas can be lonely far away
A Christmas card can be a handshake...
So don't forget this greeting to Joe somewhere, someplace
It wouldn't take much time and a card just cost a dime
Genre: ♪ Country
#25 Steve Bledsoe Lead on Mr. President (We're With You) 1966 · Single · Send a Christmas Card to Joe / Lead on Mr. President · KāHill # K-1051 · USA
Annotation
The song "Lead on Mr. President" took a patriotic position. Narrated in the role of "a common man" , the singer confirmed that he voted for the president, and encouraged him to "lead on...with liberty and justice for all" . He re-assured the president that he "won't burn my draft card" . If called to go to war, the common man would "do what's right, if you say fight, I'll fight" . Therefore, it provided a representation of a law-abiding citizen, who followed presidential foreign policy. This fitted a general trend in public opinion polls: while mass public opinion increasingly became disenchanted with the war from 1965-1971, they continued to support presidential policy on escalation, and later on withdrawal.3
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Grey-and-red KāHill label, K-1051, 45 rpm, "KāHill Recording Co., 301 E. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights, Ill." Side 1 (SK4M-6130): "Send a Christmas Card to Joe" (Kummerle), Lake Front Music-BMI, time 3:17, with Don Barnett on guitar. Side 2 (SK4M-6131): "Lead On Mr. President (We're With You)" (Kummerle), marked "Traditional", time 1:30. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Well, hello there Mr. President, I know you've never heard of me
I'm just a common man, I voted for you, yes sir
I won't burn my draft card, I'll do what's right
If you say fight, I'll fight...
I believe you mean everything you say
I'm with you Mr. President, all the way
We all need you Mr. president because you'll never let our great nation fall
Lead on Mr. President, with liberty and justice
Genre: ♪ Country
#26 Susan Wheeler A Christmas Prayer 1966 · Single · A Christmas Prayer / Carols for Christmas · Country Corner # 45-804 · USA
Annotation
The song "A Christmas Prayer" (Country Corner Records # 45-804) referenced the Vietnam War. Like the well-known Becky Lamb (discussed above), a young Susan Wheeler sung this track - although Wheeler is older, 12 at the time of recording. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported on 7 October 1967, a year after this record, that: "Susan recorded two songs on Country Corner label, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," and "A Child's Request." So far, this record has been played on WCLU, WZIP and WMOH. Although she does sing mostly religious music, Susan likes "almost any kind," including rock'n' roll....A freshman at Greenhills, Susan hopes to "keep on singing and recording and possibly attend a school of music after graduation"....teenager, Susan Wheeler, 13, believes in accentuating the positive. The youngest of nine children, Susan was a polio victim. However, she didn't let this setback discourage her. When misfortune comes along, Susan believes, "You shouldn't let it bother you or get you down. Just keep on going." At six, Susan started taking singing lessons, and one of her first public appearances was on the Skipper Ryle show when she was seven or eight. She frequently sings at local churches and performs at charity drives".1 The song started out with sound-effects, of bombs dropping, and then a man speaks, narrating from the perspective of a soldier who told the listener that he "had to go to Vietnam" - presumably because of the draft. The lyrics did not contain any political position. Then the girl jumped in with her song. She prayed to god "please bring daddy home for Christmas" . Lyrics credited to Wayne-Barnett. Released in Cincinatti, Ohio.
Sources
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Country Corner Records 45-804, side 1, matrix 1335-45-804-A, black label with silver print; "A Christmas Prayer" (Wayne-Barnett), 3:02, Jimmie Skinner Music, BMI. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
I had to go to Vietnam just one year ago
It was a round Christmas and my heart was full of tears and joys
And a vision just last night I saw my family there
And my precious baby girl was kneeling down in prayer
Dear god up there in heaven bring my daddy home
We miss him since he went away to fight in Vietnam
Other kids have their daddy's, god I wish I had my...
Bring daddy home for Christmas so he can be with me
To help me hang my stocking and help us trim our tree
You know I love my daddy and miss him all the time
Dear god, please bring daddy home for Christmas time
Dear god its been so lonesome with daddy gone so long...
When mummy sees his picture she just has to cry
Genre: ♪ Country
#27 Ted Hart Christmas Flowers 1966 · Single · Christmas Flowers / The Christmas Letter · Hartco # TH-001 · USA
Annotation
The song "The Christmas Letter" (Hartco Records # TH-002), narrated by Little Teresa Ann, also 6 years of age, like the famous Becky Lamb, dealt with the Vietnam War. The label, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, released song-poems - song lyrics that have been set to music for a fee.1 Sam Mattie wrote the lyrics. The girl told the listener that her father fought in Vietnam: "daddy left us a year ago to fight in Vietnam...dodging bullets and grenades" . While the other kids wrote to Santa Clause asking for toys, Teresa Ann only wanted "daddy by my side" . So this provided another representation of how the war impacted on the children and families of soldiers away from home. And once again, it displayed the exploitation of a child for commercial advantage. Produced by Ted Hart, presumably the owner of the record label.
Sources
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Hartco Records, 307 N. Blvd., Baton Rouge, La., yellow label with heart logo; Hartco Pub., BMI; prod. by Ted Hart; "Christmas Flowers" (Sam Mattie), Ted Hart, 2:58 (TH-001, 236-1984); flip "The Christmas Letter" (Sam Mattie), Little Teresa Ann, 3:04 (TH-002, 236-1985). [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
All I want for Christmas is daddy home with me...
Dear Santa, while all the other kids are writing letters to you for all their Christmas toys
I decided to write a letter to you too...
Daddy left us a year ago to fight in Vietnam
And he's been dodging bullets and grenades and many other kind of bombs
And as I sit here crying with tears in my eyes all I want for Christmas is daddy by my side Santa
I am only six years old
And daddy's 24, but I'd give up all the toys in this world if he'd walk through our door
I know I am sort of selfish and jealous...
But Santa clause, I love my dad, and I'll love him to the end....
I want to thank god for keeping him safe and sound and for maybe he'll be home next year when Christmas comes around...
I want you to know that I am happy in just a little childish way
For even if daddy is not with us like other dads I see, I know his love is with us
#28 El Indio de Bayamón La guerra en Vietnam 1966 · Album · Navidades con el Indio de Bayamón · Alma # LP-114 · Puerto Rico
Annotation
Puerto Rican artist ("The Indian of Bayamon"), also known as Juan Ortiz Vargas, released the song "La guerra en Vietnam" ( "The War in Vietnam" ) (Alma # LP-114) on the album "Christmas with the Indian of Bayamón" - Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coastal valley. Many war songs are released during the holiday season, when families often come together. 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
Sources
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Alma LP-114, "Navidades con El Indio de Bayamón", acompañado por Sor Angel Torres y su Conjunto Típico, High Fidelity, cream label; Lado A track 3: "La Guerra En Viet Nam" – Aguinaldo Cagueño (Felipe Vazquez Villega). [From the record sleeve and labels]
#29 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
Genre: ♪ Country
#30 Abe Abraham Mail Call in Viet Nam 1966 · Single · Honk Bing / Mail Call in Viet Nam · Royce # 5119 · USA
Notes
Mail Call in Viet Nam (Abraham, Abe)

Country. Christmas.
Notes
Royce Records 5119, ZTSC-107113, turquoise label, 109 E. Main St., Oblong, Illinois; "Mail Call in Viet Nam" (Abe Abraham), 2:39, Salute Publishing Co., BMI. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#31 Marc Field Christmas in Vietnam 1966 · Single · Christmas in Vietnam / Sing a Christmas Song · Bolsound # BD-101 · USA
Credited on the record as Marc Field & The Singing Sergeants.
Annotation
Notes
Christmas in Vietnam
Sing a Christmas Song (Field, Marc)

Both sides.
Reference to the songwriter and probably owner of the label: Official Program of Democratic National Convention 1968.1
Sources
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Bolsound Records BD 101-A / BD 101-B, 45 RPM, blue label with silver print; both sides words and music by Bolek Dzikowski, published by Bolsound Enterprises, BMI. Side A, "Christmas in Vietnam", is credited to Marc Field & The Singing Sergeants, 2:40; side B, "Sing a Christmas Song", to Marc Field alone, 3:15. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#32 Marc Field Sing a Christmas Song 1966 · Single · Christams in Vietnam / Sing a Christmas Song · Bolsound # BD-101 · USA
Annotation: see “Christmas in Vietnam” above (same release).
Theme: Christmas
#33 The Hopeful 7 O'Clock News (Silent Night) 1966 · Single · 7 O'Clock News (Silent Night) / 6 O'Clock News (America the Beautiful) · Mercury # 72637 · USA
Notes
Mercury 72637, produced by Artie Kornfeld. "7 O'Clock News (Silent Night)" (YW1-39092), adapted by P. Simon, Electric Music (BMI), 1:54, newscast by Frank Costa; "6 O'Clock News (America the Beautiful)" (YW1-39093), adapted by A. Kornfeld, MRC Music, Inc. (BMI), 2:12. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#34 The Hopeful 6 O'Clock News (America the Beautiful) 1966 · Single · 7 O'Clock News (Silent Night) / 6 O'Clock News (America the Beautiful) · Mercury # 72637 · USA
Annotation: see “7 O'Clock News (Silent Night)” above (same release).
#35 Billy Smith Letter to the President 1966 · Single · Jack O' Diamonds # 1001 · USA
Notes
Letter to the President (Billy Smith)

Country narration. Patriotic, and peace. Also Christmas.
Letter from a soldier to the president.
Proud to fight for a just cause , but please end the war.
Soldier in combat - wounded or killed while writing the letter.
Notes
Jack O'Diamonds 1001 (SoN 39621), gold label, 1314 Pine St., Nashville, Tenn., marked "Not For Sale"; "Letter to the President" (Alex Zanetis), 2:00, Court of Kings / Jack O'Diamonds Pub., BMI; produced by Ben Keith; "Dist. by Sound of Nashville, Inc., 160 2nd Ave. S., Nashville, Tennessee." [From the record sleeve and labels]
Genre: ♪ Country
#36 Homer 'T' Thru a Soldier's Eyes 1966 · Single · Thru a Soldier's Eyes / It's Santa Clau · Raven # RI 2315 · USA
Notes
Thru a Soldier's Eyes (Homer 'T')

Country, anti-protest, patriotic, Christmas
Father's narration to son. When a soldier, you find out what's important
Spend Christmas overseas as a soldier.
Christmas lights at home, out there they pray for peace
May you never have to see your buddy die as I have
People who cricise govt. and country don't know a soldier's perspective
Notes
Raven Records, "A product of House of Sound, Danville, Va.", RI 2315 A (HOS-45-2008A), 45 RPM; "Thru a Soldier's Eyes" (B. Adkins), 2:18, Choptank Music (BMI). [From the record sleeve and labels]
Genre: ♪ Country
#37 Allen and the Lads Homemade Christmas Card 1966 · Single · Homemade Christmas Card / Legend of Old St. Nick · Secret # 8698 · USA
Credited on the record as Allen and The Lads featuring Larry Crippen.
Notes
Homemade Christmas Card (Allen & The Lads)
Notes
Secret Records Incorporated 8698, pink label, stereo; "Homemade Christmas Card" (Yates), 2:30, Veraco Music, BMI; Allen and The Lads featuring Larry Crippen. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Genre: ♪ Pop
#38 Judy Lynn Transistor Tape Recorder 1966 · Single · Transistor Tape Recorder / That Was in the Deal · Musicor # MU-1183 · USA
Credited on the record as Judy Lynn with Benny Barnes.
Notes
Transistor Tape Recorder (Lynn, Judy)

Country, home front / soldier's perspective
Christmas reference
Transistor tape recorder for Christmas present
Now I can hear you say "I Love You" from Vietnam
Notes
Musicor MU 1183 (ZTSP-122079), white promotion copy ("Promotion Copy", "Not for Sale"); "Transistor Tape Recorder" (M. Kliewer - J. Lynn), Glad Music Co., BMI, time 2:38; Judy Lynn with Benny Barnes; produced by "Pappy" Daily & Tommy Jackson. Musicor Records, a division of Talmadge Productions, Inc., New York, N.Y. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#39 The Singers Johnny's Noel 1966 · Single · That's What Christmas Is / Johnny's Noel · Date # 2-1540 · USA
Notes
- "Johnny's Noel - to the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home"
- Battle continues, he won't be home

- Date 2-1540; published by Plymouth Music Co. and Music, Music, Music Inc. Sung to the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home": the battle goes on and Johnny will not be home for Christmas.
#40 Little Teresa Ann The Christmas Letter 1966 · Single · Christmas Flowers / The Christmas Letter · Hartco # TH-002 · USA
Notes
Hartco Records, 307 N. Blvd., Baton Rouge, La., yellow label with heart logo; Hartco Pub., BMI; prod. by Ted Hart; "Christmas Flowers" (Sam Mattie), Ted Hart, 2:58 (TH-001, 236-1984); flip "The Christmas Letter" (Sam Mattie), Little Teresa Ann, 3:04 (TH-002, 236-1985). [From the record sleeve and labels]

1967

#41 Jimmy Neil My Letter to Santa 1967 · Single · My Letter to Santa / I Overlooked the Orchid · Martin # MR-101 · USA
Credited on the record as Jimmy Neil (The Singin' Schoolteacher) and The Jimmy Neil Trio.
Annotation
Jimmy Neil - also going under the name The Jimmy Neil Trio and The Singin' Schoolteacher released the track "My Letter to Santa" (Martin Records # MR-101), narrated from the perspective of a child (but actually sung by an adult - the schoolteacher). Not only did the child ask Santa to bring home his father for Christmas, but he also politely asked: "please end this long battle" and "make this the land of the free" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Martin Records MR-101-A, BMI, time 2:19; "My Letter to Santa" (J. Neil); Jimmy Neil (The Singin' Schoolteacher) and The Jimmy Neil Trio; produced by Charles Mikelson, arranged by Jimmy Martin. Green label. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
I just wrote my letter to Santa
Here is the list that I wrote
I asked him to bring home my daddy
Cause we love our dear daddy so
Our Christmas won't be very happy with daddy away
Don't you see oh Santa, please bring home my daddy
For we need our dear daddy so
Dear Santa, please end this long battle
Please make this the land of the free
Genre: ♪ Country
#42 Soul Searchers Christmas in Viet Nam 1967 · Single · Christmas in Viet Nam / Lord Help Me · Songbird # 1187 · USA
Annotation
The song "Christmas in Vietnam" (Songbird Records # 1187), released in 1967 by the Soul Searchers, is fairly similar to the Johnny and Jon track. Written by A. Pointer, this gospel / soul song starts with a talking intro, telling the listener that "a lonely soldier laid dying in a foxhole in Vietnam" . Thinking about Christmas back home in the US, the soldiers start singing - group harmonies enter at this point, moaning "jingle bells" . Released in Houston, Texas on Don D. Robey's gospel record label, founded in 1963.1
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Songbird 1187 (LRS 11408), "Promotional record", 2809 Erastus St., Houston, Texas 77026, "World's greatest spirituals – Division of Peacock Records"; "Christmas in Viet Nam" (A. Pointer), 2:45; Lion Publishing Company, Inc., BMI. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
A lonely soldier laid dying in a foxhole in Vietnam
A friend of his walked over and knelt down beside him
Did you know its Christmas back home
What we should do here today is have Christmas in Vietnam
Slowly they began to sing a song, that goes something like this
Jingle, jingle bells, jingle, jungle bells, what do you know
It's Christmas in Vietnam, merry Christmas
#43 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.
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) ▾
#44 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
#45 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
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
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) ▾
#46 Rusty Wellington No Christmas Tree in Vietnam 1967 · Single · No Christmas Tree in Vietnam / Blue Christmas · Arzee # RZ-105 · USA
Annotation
Rusty Wellington, a Canadian country singer born in 1925, who parents moved to the US. He started singing at the age of 13, going on tour with Tex Ritter. Despite coming from Canada he produced one of the most patriotic Vietnam Christmas records with the song "No Christmas Tree in Vietnam" (Arzee # RZ-105) - this fitted perfectly into the country music genre which largely contained pro-Vietnam songs. The song focused on the soldiers "fight for liberty" against "evil communism" during Christmas time, while back on the home front people took "advantage of our precious freedoms" . The narrator pointed out that the soldiers "in Vietnam won't have a Christmas" , and thus he sent out a prayer to them.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Arzee RZ-105-X (66912), 1739 N. 3rd St., Phila., Pa. 19122; "No Christmas Tree In Vietnam" (Rusty Wellington), 2:37, Rex Zario Music (BMI); produced by Lucky Steel. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
While were sitting here at home in peace and comfort
Our boys are fighting in a foreign land to halt the flow of evil communism
If we don't fight they will take the upper home
We take advantage of our precious freedoms
The little things in life that are so grand
Preparing for another jolly Christmas
But I wonder if a Christmas tree grows in Vietnam
For our boys in Vietnam won't have a Christmas
There will be no Christmas lights upon a tree
Our boys will see it's just another day for battle
God bless these boys who fight for liberty
#47 The Sullivan Family Merry Christmas From Vietnam 1967 · Single · Merry Christmas From Vietnam / Lonely, Lonely Road to Calvary · Loyal # LR-226 · USA
Annotation
The Sullivan Family - a bluegrass gospel group from Alabama, which started performing around 1949. Similar to Rusty Wellington above, the track "Merry Christmas From Vietnam" (Loyal Records # LR-226) took a patriotic position, praising the boys for "fighting...to keep us free" . It was narrated from the perspective of a soldier: "so lonely in this foxhole where I am, merry Christmas from your boy" . Once again, it picked up on sentimental themes, such as the Christmas tree and gifts, unavailable to the soldiers in Vietnam. The song also had strong religious content.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Loyal Records LR-226 (UK4M-3346), 45 RPM, red label, Box 586, Birmingham, Ala.; "Merry Christmas From Vietnam", "A Jerry Sullivan Song", 2:00, Wal-Fran Music, BMI. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Hello mum, merry Christmas to you
Sorry I can't send a gift like I wanted to
There is no place to buy a gift here where I am
But I send you all my love from Vietnam
Christmas morning when you gather around the tree
When the gifts are passed around think of me
So lonely in this foxhole where I am
Merry Christmas from your boy in Vietnam
Mummy please keep praying for me while I'm fighting here to keep us free
Mum you know that god will not let us down
So ask him to protect his boys in Vietnam
#48 Anita Bryant Do You Hear What I Hear? 1967 · Single · Do You Hear What I Hear? / Away in a Manger · Columbia # 4-44341 · USA
Annotation
This is an Anita Bryant cover of the song "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (Columbia Records #4-44341), composed by Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne Baker, said to have been written as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.1 The song has sold millions of records, covered by hundreds of artists, such as Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Glen Campbell, Whitney Houston, and Mahalia Jackson. Anita Bryant was a traditional pop artist, born on 25 March 1940, in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, USA. This record, and the LP it featured on, called Christmas With Anita Bryant (Columbia Records #CS 9520) received a couple promotional references in Billboard, in November & December 1967, which said that she would be performing songs on television.23 Also in 1967, Bryant released the patriot, pro-government Vietnam song This Is Worth Fighting For (Columbia Records # 4-43823). She also released the patriotic record Battle Hymn of the Republic (Word Records # WST 8571) in 1973. The picture sleeve of this version showed Bryant performing to US troops abroad, with the description referencing Vietnam and President Johnson:
Sleeve notes
Anita Bryant has traveled 150,000 air miles with Bob Hope's annual U.S.O. Christmas tour. Each year she has taken time away from her family to travel to such places as Guantanamo Bay, Korea, Japan, Okinawa, Greece, and Vietnam. In a recent personal letter to Anita, President Johnson expressed his gratitude for her continued volunteer work overseas for the United States troops: "I know how many hearts you have lifted in Vietnam - and god will surely bless you for bringing such hope and comfort to your fellow man".
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Columbia 4-44341 picture sleeve, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" backed with "Away in a Manger". The photograph, repeated across front and back, shows Anita Bryant on an open-air stage, arm raised, singing to a large crowd of uniformed troops below a hillside.

The front prints a note that she had travelled 150,000 air miles with Bob Hope's annual U.S.O. Christmas tour to places such as Guantanamo Bay, Korea, Japan, Okinawa, Greece and Vietnam, quoting a personal letter from President Johnson: "I know how many hearts you have lifted in Vietnam—and God will surely bless you for bringing such hope and comfort to your fellow man." Back: "Manufactured by Columbia Records/CBS, Inc./51 W. 52 Street, New York, N.Y.", printed in U.S.A. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Anita Bryant has traveled 150,000 air miles with Bob Hope's annual U.S.O. Christmas tour. Each year she has taken time away from her family to travel to such places as Guantanamo Bay, Korea, Japan, Okinawa, Greece, and Vietnam. In a recent personal letter to Anita, President Johnson expressed his gratitude for her continued volunteer work overseas for the United States troops: "I know how many hearts you have lifted in Vietnam - and god will surely bless you for bringing such hope and comfort to your fellow man".
#49 Paul von B & Dave Block Images of Napalm on Christmas Eve 1966 1967 · Single · Cataclysm, Conquest & Catharsis..Now! · Breakthrough # 10012 · USA
Notes
Images of Napalm on Christmas Eve 1966 (Block, Dave & Paul von B.)
#50 Mark Dauler Letter From a Boy in Vietnam 1967 · Single · Letter From a Boy in Vietnam / Something to Remember · Parkwood # 100 · USA
Notes
"Letter From a Boy in Vietnam" (Parkwood Records # 100).

Spoken-word, to traditional-pop background, 'American the Beautiful'.
Narrated from perspective of a soldier.
Patriotic, attacked the protest movement, draft card burning. Warned against the 'evils' of communism, its threat to the American way of life (religion, schools, freedom of press, holidays). Supported government position in Vietnam and Cold War.
Reference to Christmas.
Notes
Blue Parkwood Record Co. label, 100-A; "Letter From a Boy in Vietnam" (M. Daulerio), Daulerio Music BMI, time 2:55. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Dear mom and dad, as I'm sitting here writing this letter
I'm beginning to realise the sadness this war has brought you
I try to remember that I'm part of a big job that must be done
And when it's over we're all have many years to spend together
There are a lot of people these days marching, protesting, criticising our government
Asking what are we doing over here and what are we fighting for
Well, we're fighting to stop the spread of communism, we're fighting for an American way of life
I know how you both like to keep up with the latest news...
In a communist takeover you never know what it is to read the truth in a daily newspaper
Or whatever you read or hear on the radio are just communist lies
The guys over here were talking about some of the things going on back home
Like draft card burning, sign carrying, sit-ins
I wonder if they knew that in red China they'd be executed fro criticising the government...
Some of the other things we're fighting for
Is to go to church on Sunday, be able to read the holy bible, send our children to the schools of our choice
We're also fighting to save our American calender, save our holy days and holidays
Can you imagine not being able to celebrate Christmas, not being able to tell the story of the birth of Christ
Not being able to see your children's eyes sparkle when they open their gifts on Christmas morning
In a communist country there is no Christmas, no thanksgiving day, and no Easter Sunday
We'll also fighting to keep the American way of family life
Because the manifest of the communist party is to abolish the family
This means as soon as the little ones are born mothers will have to give them up
You see they are afraid you might teach them to be kind, considerate, generous
Or you may ever tell them such things as, 'there's a god'
A lot of boys have died here mom, but remember they haven't died in vain
And if all you remember all of us in your prayers we'll all be home real soon
Show full lyrics (27 lines) ▾
#51 Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Merry Christmas, My Darling 1967 · Single · Merry Christmas, My Darling / Sleigh Ride - Jingle Bells · Capitol # 2022 · USA
Credited on the record as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
Notes
Capitol 2022; producer Ken Nelson; published by Paramount-Roy Rogers Music Co. and Mills Music. Also on the LP "Christmas Is Always" (Capitol T/ST 2818, 1967).
Genre: ♪ Country

1968

#52 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
#53 The Shurfine Singers Silent Night & the 11 O'Clock News 1968 · Single · Silent Night & the 11 O'Clock News / Go Tell It On the Mountain · Josie # 969 · USA
Annotation
The song "Silent Night & the 11 O'clock News" (Josie Records # 969) from gospel/soul singers Shurfine Singers takes a very similar approach to the well-known Simon & Garfunkel single 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night, playing the Christmas hymn "Silent Night" with a a news monologue in the background. Like that track, this news report is also from 1966, starting with an item about the Beatles proclaiming to be "more popular than Jesus". The Vietnam section included news from Saigon, saying that the recent deaths took "the total number of American soldiers killed in Vietnam to over 5,000" - by the end of 1966 the official statistic was 6,143 combat deaths. By 1968 (the release date of this record), the total number of combat deaths had more than doubled to 16,592, a reminder to the listeners that so much had changed in two years.1
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Josie Record No. 45-969 (Joz-570), "A Product of Jay-Gee Record Co., Inc., N.Y."; "Silent Night & the 11 O'Clock News" (Wendell Parker), Benell Music Corp. - Bold Lad Music - Cape Ann Music (BMI); vocal with inst. accomp.; produced by Wendell Parker. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
In Saigon the fighting continues heavy in Vietnam
American headquarters in Saigon announces today that there were 93 American killed in combat last week, this bringing the total number of American soldiers killed in Vietnam to over 5,000
A spokesman for the Pentagon said the US may have to send up to 2 million troops in to end the war within five years, he also stated that the war could drag on for 20 years unless troop commitments are raised
#54 Floyd Dakil Merry Christmas Baby (I'm Coming Home) 1968 · Single · Merry Christmas Baby (I'm Coming Home) / One Girl · Pompeii # 45-66687 · USA
Annotation
Texan musician Floyd Dakil released the song "Merry Christmas Baby (I'm Coming Home)" (Pompeii Records # 45-66687) which fits into the patriotic war song category. Narrated from the perspective of the soldier, Dakil sung that "men must die that freedom might live" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Pompeii 45-66687 (PP-15618 SP), white label marked "Plug Side"; "Merry Christmas Baby (I'm Coming Home)" (Floyd Dakil), vocal, 3:08, Pub. Pompeii, BMI; produced by Darrell Glenn; "Dist. by Atco, Div. of Atlantic Recording Corp., 1841 B'way, N.Y., N.Y.". [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
I sending you all my love
And I'm hoping your Christmas isn't blue
And I'm wishing that I were home with you
Merry Christmas baby, I'm all alone
Life if dreary baby, so far from home
But men must die that freedom might live
And at Christmas time it is better to give
Night are long, days are too
When a love so strong is so very far from you
Merry Christmas baby, tears in my eyes
Oh how I miss you baby, you can't realise
But I'm coming home, I'm coming home
If it takes a million years I'm coming home
#55 Johnny Selph Soldiers' Christmas 1968 · Single · Soldiers' Christmas / All I Want for Christmas Is My Baby · Bion # 4 · USA
Annotation
Country singer Johnny Selph's 1968 song "Soldiers' Christmas" (Bion # 4), took the perspective of a soldier away at war, writing to his mother that he will not be home for Christmas: "I'm a fighting man...there is a job here for me" . It did not take a pro or anti line, so a plight of the soldier song.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Bion Record No. 4, Side 2, blue-and-silver label with heart border; "Soldiers' Christmas" (Johnny Selph), 1:50, Claus Music, BMI; produced by Bob Angel. "Bion Record Co., P.O. Box 15428, Orlando, Fla. 32808." [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Dear mum, I won't be home for Christmas
Please give broth and sis from me a hug and kiss
And tell them I'll miss them this Christmas
I hope they'll understand that I'm a fighting man
It sure would be grand to be home this Christmas
There is job here for me but some day there won't be
And then I'll see you all for Christmas
Somebody has to be here...
Maybe next year I'll be home for Christmas...
From the boys over here Merry Christmas and a happy new year
Genre: ♪ Country
#56 Joyce Brown Christmas in Viet Nam 1968 · Single · Christmas in Viet Nam / You Just Played for Fun · Drew-Blan # 1017 · USA
Annotation
Released in 1968, the song "Christmas in Vietnam" (Drew-Blan Records # 1017), by the obscure country singer Joyce Brown on a Morgan City, Louisiana based record label, dealt with the plight of the soldiers and their families. It did not take a pro or anti line. This song title would be used by at least four different artists, although most of them were different songs, discussed above. The narrator recalled her son as a little boy, singing Christmas carols and opening presents, but who would be "alone this Christmas eve in a foreign land" . She pondered on the discrepancy between the voting age and the conscription age: "still not old enough to vote, he is fighting for our land" - a familiar topic in Vietnam War songs, mentioned by Barry McGuire on "Eve of Destruction", and several others, and thus also a draft inequality song.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Drew-Blan Records no. 1017, 45 RPM (LH-4888), stamped "Not for sale"; Pelican Music, BMI, 1620 Federal Ave., Morgan City, La.; "Christmas in Viet Nam" (G. Giroir), 2:14. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Our little boy is spending Christmas in Vietnam
It seems that only yesterday he was four years old
And we'd give out the presents wrapped in green and gold
We'd go out on the lawn and sing carols...
Now our little boy is spending Christmas in Vietnam
To us he is still a little boy, to Uncle Sam a man
I can still remember when I held his little hand
To cross the street and climb the stairs...
Still not old enough to vote, he is fighting for our land
He will be alone this Christmas eve in a foreign land
Genre: ♪ Country
#57 Hà Thanh, Duy Khánh & Hương Lan Lá thư trần thế (Letter From This World) 1968 · EP · Lá Thư Trần Thế / Tà Áo Đêm Noel / Mùa Thu Trong Mưa / 7 Màu Vàng · Việt Nam # M.3565 · Vietnam
Credited on the record as Hà Thanh, Duy Khánh, Hương Lan.
Notes
South Vietnamese
Notes
Việt Nam M.3565 (cover misprints the number as M. 6565-66); music by Văn Phụng. A1 sung by Hà Thanh, Duy Khánh and Hương Lan; the EP also has "Tà Áo Đêm Noel" (Duy Khánh), "Mùa Thu Trong Mưa" (Lệ Thu) and "7 Màu Vàng" (Nhật Trường). Vietnam Records, Suite L 32, 1222 North Main Street, San Antonio, Texas. [From the Rate Your Music label page]
#58 The Salem Travelers A Letter for Christmas 1968 · Compilation · A Christmas Dedication · Checker # LPS 10050 · USA
Annotation
Notes
Letter for Christmas, A (Salem Travelers) (Checker Records # LPS 10050) 1968

The Salem Travelers. Various artist compilation.
Christmas. Soul
Formed 1962, Chicago, IL, United States

1

"I received a letter from my brother fighting
Over in the war, he wrote me brother, I want
To come home, but tell the family I'm just too
Far, tell mama I want to come home, tell her
I wish I could come home for Christmas
Wish I could be there, he wrote it's bad living
Here, everyday your'e living in fear, knowing
When you lay down at night, in the morning
You might not be here, I wish could come home
Wish I could make it home, wish I could make it
For Christmas...this is between you and I, I might
Not see the family again...tell them I said goodbye

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

1969

#59 Dick Jonas A Fighter Pilot's Christmas 1969 · Album · FSH Volume 1 · Goldust # LPS156 · USA
Annotation
Dick Jonas, from Florida, US, served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War, taking part in 125 missions, and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters and the Air Medal with 12 clusters.1 While in Vietnam, Jonas wrote songs and played guitar for the US troops there and as part of pacification programs. Some of these recordings were captured in the General Edwin Lansdale Collection of Vietnam War Songs - 6 ten inch tapes of one-hundred-sixty songs by American military personnel in Vietnam - stored at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center.23

Jonas returned from Vietnam in 1969 and recorded the album FSH Volume I (Goldust Records # LPS156), a collection of contemporary folk songs, influenced by US folksong revival of the 1960s.4 He also recorded during the Vietnam War years the 1971 album FSH Volume II - "YGBSM" (Goldust Records # LPS157) and the 1973 album Two Sides of Dick Jonas (Goldust Records # LPS-162). Included on this 1969 album was the song "Fighter Pilot's Christmas" in which the narrating soldier sent a Christmas message home to his family. A re-recorded version appeared on the 1991 compilation In Country: Folk Songs of Americans in the Vietnam War (Flying Fish Records # # FF 70552), part of the Vietnam Veterans Oral History and Folklore Project.5 Also note that on his 1971 album FSH Volume II - "YGBSM" he wrote the song "Battle Hymn of the Red River Rats" which referenced P.O.W.s, see:
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Goldust LPS156 (labels: LPS-156, Side 1 / Side 2), stereo, 33⅓ RPM; Goldust Records, P.O. Box 998, Mesilla Park, New Mexico 88047.

The front cover shows an engraved eagle over a Stars-and-Stripes shield on a blue panel beside the title "FSH Volume I", with a Liberty Bell device. All selections written by Richard E. Jonas and published by Enchantment Music Co., BMI; musicians Jake Brooks (drums), Jim Bob Sedgwick (guitar) and Emmit Brooks (bass); recorded at Emmit Brooks Recording Studio, Mesilla Park, New Mexico, engineer Emmit Brooks.

The back carries a photograph of "Capt. Richard Jonas" in flight suit playing guitar beside an aircraft, with a note that he has flown the Phantom II over three continents and flew one hundred combat missions over North Vietnam. A signed dedication by Dick Jonas "To the 433D Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, United States Air Force" speaks of flying "one hundred times into the enemy's homeland", of being one of Satan's Angels and of the Wolf Pack, and ends "I salute you, brave comrades, and I bid you God Speed."

Side 1: Tales That I Can Tell, The Ballad of Robin Olds, Little Town Up North, Son of Satan's Angels, Thud Pilot;
Side 2: Yankee Air Pirate, Will There Be a Tomorrow, Banana Valley, The MiG-21, A Fighter Pilot's Christmas. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Merry Christmas Mom, Merry Christmas Dad
Merry Christmas to my love, merry Christmas to the sweetest little girls that ever came
From God above, wish I could be home with the ones I love
It's a long time since I've gone
Santa take this heart of mine and tie it up...
And take it to the folks back home
#60 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" .
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
#61 Mike Tuttle A Letter to Santa Clause 1969 · Single · A Letter to Santa Clause / Can Johnny Come Over for Christmas · Spots # 13351 · USA
Annotation
The track "A Letter to Santa Clause" (Spot Records # 13351), released in 1969 by another obscure, unknown artist, also asked Santa Clause (similar to "Dear Mr. Santa Clause" by Chi Chi Wilson, discussed below) to send daddy home for Christmas as "he is fighting somewhere, way across the sea" . The track does not actually mention Vietnam. Possible sung by a teenager or older child.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Spots Records, red label, Side 1 (PRP 13351), 45 RPM; "A Letter to Santa Clause" (Mike Tuttle), time 2:27, Clay Music BMI; arranged by Harry Neal. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
I don't want any toys like other girls and boys
Just send my daddy home to me
He's been gone since May, he is so far away
He is fighting somewhere, way across the sea
I always mentioned him every night in prayer
And prayed that when I awake he'll be standing there
When he left he told me to do the best I can
He said remember son, you're daddy's little man
Mother wrote and told him everything is alright
Then I heard her cry in the middle of the night
We all miss him so, why did he have to go
Just bring my daddy home to me
Genre: ♪ Country
#62 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
Genre: ♪ Country
#63 Jack Cardwell Christmas in Vietnam 1969 · Single · Christmas in Vietnam / Christmas Wedding · Astro # JR-39-110 · USA
Annotation
Another song called "Christmas in Vietnam" (Astro Records # JR-39-110), this time by country singer Jack Cardwell, recorded on a Mobile, Alabama record label, and released in 1969. The track was a word-for-word cover of "Merry Christmas From Vietnam" by The Sullivan Family. It took a patriotic perspective. The narrator, a soldier in Vietnam, particularly missed his home during the festive season: "Christmas morning when you gather around the tree...it's so lonely in this foxhole where I am" . However, the soldier took comfort in fighting for a cause that he believed in: "I'm fighting here to keep our country free" . The song also included a religious element, as the soldier asked his mother to prayer for him and all the boys fighting over in Vietnam.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Astro Records JR-39-110-A, white label with red print and star design; "Christmas in Vietnam" (Sullivan), 2:55, Walfran, BMI; produced by Jimmie Rodgers. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Hello mum, merry Christmas to you
Sorry I can't send a gift like I wanted to
But there is no place to buy a gift here where I am
So mum I'll send you all my love from Vietnam
Christmas morning when you gather around the tree
When the gifts are passed around think of me
It's so lonely in this foxhole where I am
Merry Christmas, from your boy in Vietnam
Mummy, please keep praying for me while I'm fighting here to keep our country free
You know that god has never ever let us down
So ask him mum to protect us boys here in Vietnam
#64 Miss Sza'vee A Prayer for Christmas 1969 · Single · Soular # S-501 · USA
Annotation
The song "A Prayer for Christmas" (Soular # S-501) by Miss Sza'Vee - she also released a garage rock record under the name Cidney Sza'vee & The Rain, called Marianna. It was recorded on a label based in Hollywood, California. The picture sleeve read: "dedicated especially for our men in Vietnam, season's greetings to all".1 The narrator's Christmas gift for the soldiers was "just a prayer" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Soular S-501 (S-501-A), P.O. Box 841, Hollywood, Calif. 90028, grey label with a large yellow hand design; "A Prayer for Christmas" (Jaramillo - Sza'vee), 2:50, Aleph Baze Music (BMI); arranged by Carter-Jaramillo, produced by Soular Records. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
My gift for Christmas is just a prayer
No gift is greater to show I care
You won't be with us to share this Christmas
But I will pray this holiday
This prayer I'm sending is filled with love
You'll see it glowing from up above
No greater treasure could ever measure
To show I care that just a prayer
#65 Jackie Sule Bring My Baby Home (What Good Is Christmas Alone) 1969 · Single · Bring My Baby Home / I Found Someone · Big Town # BTR 101 · USA
Notes
Bring My Baby Home (What Good Is Christmas Alone) (Sule, Jackie)

Soul, Christmas. New York City, USA
Mr. President, I want my baby home this Christmas
I understand when you were called, but now I need you
What good is Christmas alone
Notes
Big Town Records BTR 101 (X4KM-1597), Big Town Records Inc., 2 Pennsylvania Plaza, N.Y.C.; "Bring My Baby Home (What Good Is Christmas Alone)" (Keith Paris), Big "S" Music/Keith Music, ASCAP, 2:52; engineer Bud Stockham, produced by Keith Paris Productions. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#66 Big Joe Williams Army Man in Vietnam 1969 · Album · Thinking of What They Did To Me · Arhoolie # 1053 · USA
Annotation
Big Joe Williams (1903-1982), delta blues guitar player, born Joseph Lee Williams, in Crawford Mississippi, used a nine-string acoustic guitar, giving his delta style an interesting, unique sound. In the track "Army Man in Vietnam" (Arhoolie Records # 1053) he expressed a desire to "stop the war in Vietnam" because he feared that the government might "drop that atom bomb" , a reflection of Cold War tensions. The song also showed concern for young men, at the age of eighteen, drafted into the army and given a gun. Note the minor reference to Christmas: "some will be home for Christmas, some will hurt real bad" .

Chris Strachwitz (founder of Arhoolie) recorded the song on 14 December 1969 at Arhoolie House in Berkeley, California. It featured Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica.1 This song is an updated version of his 1962 track "Army Man Blues" on the album Blues for Nine Strings (Bluesville Records # BV 1056) which referred to being "in the European country" , rather than Vietnam.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English
Well I heard a voice one morning I'd never heard before
Uncle Sam called me boy, said boy get ready to go the army man...
When your son is 18 years old put a gun in his hand...
I got six boys and two of then on the front line...
If we don't stop the war in Vietnam I believe we'll drop that old atom bomb
Everybody will be on the street crying...
Some will be weeping, some will be mourning, some won't be home for Christmas, some will hurt real bad

1970

#67 Rev Oris Mays Another Christmas Without My Son 1970 · Single · Another Christmas Without My Son / Stand Still · Jewel [Shreveport] # 155 · USA
Annotation
The track "Another Christmas Without My Son" (Jewel Records # 155) is a monologue by Rev. Oris Mays, backed by a gospel choir. Oris Mays, born in Lambert, Mississippi, 1935, moved to Memphis, Tennessee where he worked at the Boston Street Baptist Church. In Memphis he fronted the first African-American TV gospel program. He died in Memphis on 21 April 1996. In 1966, Oris Mays released the patriotic Vietnam record "Tribute in Prayer (From a Soldier in Viet Nam)". However, by 1970 Rev. Oris Mays' views on Vietnam had taken a radical change, presented here from the perspective of a father who lost his son in the war. He particularly considered the discrepancy between the draft and voting age: "he was just eighteen when they took him away, he couldn't even vote" , and thus posed the question to the politicians: "will Congress do something to right these wrongs?"
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Jewel Records "Devotional Series", Jewel 155, SL 1735; "Another Christmas Without My Son" (Rev. O. Mays-J. Wyatt), Su-Ma, BMI, time 2:45; produced by Rev. Oris Mays. Stock copy on a light-blue label ("Produced by Jewel Records - 728 Texas St., Shreveport, La."), shown in a Ronn/Jewel/Paula Records company sleeve, "A Product of Jewel Records, 728 Texas St., Shreveport, La."; the promotional pressing is a white label marked "DJ Copy" with the number Jewel DS 155. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
His room is entry, his closets is bare
Because of the cloths he could no longer wear
The things we used to were so much fun
But now another Christmas without my son
He was just eighteen when they took him away
He couldn't even vote, he had nothing to say
They rushed him off to a lonely field
Placed a gun in his hand and taught him to kill
I wonder will there ever come a time when are young sons will have something to say
About all the evil existing in our country today?
Or will they have to stand by and wait until they are 18...
Will Congress do something to right these wrongs?
And safely send our sons back home
#68 Laura Nyro Christmas in My Soul 1970 · Album · Christmas and the Beads of Sweat · Columbia # KC 30259 · USA
Annotation
Singer/songwriter, born 18 October 1947, Bronx, New York, USA, died 8 April 1997, Danbury, Connecticut, USA, released this Christmas-themed album, which included the song "Christmas in My Soul" (Columbia Records # KC 30259), an anti-Vietnam war song. It expressed patriotism, while criticising the war: "I love my country as it dies, in war" . It contained the line "Black Panther brothers bound in jail...Chicago Seven and the justice scale" - clearly both a reference to those arrested in Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, and the Black Panther Bobby Seale, gagged and chained at the original trial of the Chicago Eight, and so a Civil Rights message.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English
I love my country as it dies, in war and pain before my eyes
I walk the streets where disrespect has been
The sins of politics, the politics of sin, the heartlessness that darkens my soul...
Black Panther brothers bound in jail, Chicago Seven and the justice scale
Homeless Indian on Manhattan Isle
All God's sons have gone to trial and out of style on Christmas
#69 Eugene McDaniels Silent Majority 1970 · Album · Outlaw · Atlantic # SD 8259 · USA
Annotation
Anti-Nixon, anti-war track "Silent Majority" (Atlantic # SD 8259), a reference to Nixon's Vietnam War speech on 3 November 1969: "and so tonight—to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans—I ask for your support".1 The lyrics contained a minor anti-war Christmas reference: "war in, war out, they peddle Christmas trees, gaggin' on their own hypocrisies" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English
The silent majority is calling out
To you and me, I said the silent
Yeah, yeah, yeah majority is calling out to you and me...
Silent majority, not so silent
Far as I can see, war in, war out
They peddle Christmas trees
Gaggin' on their own hypocrisies
Death comes round, you find
Them on their knees, yeah
Vocal minority, heeding the lessons of history
Knowing the logical choice to be
To stand up tall for democracy
To heed the call to humanity
#70 Stan Rogers Here's to You, Santa Claus 1970 · Single · Here's to You, Santa Claus / Coventry Carol · RCA Victor # 57-1056 · Canada
Notes
Christmas novelty. Canada
21 off to war, napalm, land mines
I'm an all American kid killing communists
Notes
RCA Victor 57-1056 (RCA Limited, Canada); a Sun-Bar Production, producer Bill Misener; published by Dunbar Music. B-side "Coventry Carol" (traditional). Christmas novelty: 21 and off to war, napalm and land mines.
#71 Gary Edenfield Christmas Peace 1970 · Single · Christmas Peace / The Happiest Time of the Year · Jim-Jack # JJ 70-01 · USA
Notes
Jim-Jack Records JJ 70-01-A (turquoise label); "Christmas Peace" (Jack Hennessey, Jim Freund), Hennessey & Friend, ASCAP; arrangement by G. Edenfield. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#72 H. I. Dailey Merry Christmas From Vietnam 1970 · Single · Merry Christmas From Vietnam / The Paul Brown Get a Way · Dailey # A-1005 · USA
Notes
Christmas, country
Notes
Dailey Records A-1005; music by the Nokes Bros.; mastered at Tracy-Val Corporation, pressed by Precision Record Pressing (PRP 24681).

Label: Dailey Records, Woodbury, Tenn.; 45 RPM, (PRP 24681), A-1005, time 3:00; "Music by Nokes Bros." [From the record label]
#73 Al Homburg Soldier Joe 1970 · Single · Teacher's Lament / Soldier Joe · Panorama # PR-1008 · USA
Notes
Country, home front perspective, K.I.A., Christmas
18 years old, a soldier today in a land far away.
Why? It's Christmas time, decorations are up
Looking forward to his homecoming. But killed in action
Notes
Panorama PR-1008 (October 1970); producer John Shiriram. Eighteen and a soldier far away at Christmas; the decorations are up for his homecoming, but he is killed in action.

Label: PR-1008B; Pano Pub. Inc., ASCAP, 2:36; mfg. by Panorama Recording Corp., 1819 Broadway, Nashville, Tenn. 37203. [From the record label]
Genre: ♪ Country

1971

#74 Don Mason Here's Wishing You a Merry Christmas 1971 · Single · Here's Wishing You a Merry Christmas / Shepherd Boy · Scepter # S12372 · USA
Annotation
The song "Here's Wishing You a Merry Christmas" by Don Mason, a "special release courtesy of Scepter Records for P.O.W.-M.I.A. and their families", as written on the record label. Mason came from Western New York. In 1976 Governor Hugh Carey selected his song "Little People" as New York State's official Bicentennial song.1 Earlier, in 1960, he released a campaign single for Richard Nixon - We Need Nixon / National Republican Theme. Narrated from the perspective of a P.O.W.'s partner, she had the presents, decorations, and tree ready, and had friends and family around. However, she wished she could spend Christmas with her partner. Composed by Don Mason and Antoni Sperry. Arranged by Ben Lanzaroni. Produced by John Abbott. Engineered by John Casali.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Scepter S12372A, "Special Release Courtesy of Scepter Records for P.O.W.-M.I.A. and their Families"; "Here's Wishing You a Merry Christmas" (music by Don Mason-Antoni Sperry), 3:36, ASCAP; arranged by Ben Lanzaroni; produced by John Abbott; engineer John Casali. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Here's wishing you a merry Christmas
You'll find presents by the tree
And folks from all around will send you season's greetings
Bringing you the happiness with the yuletide feeling
There will be many loved ones all around you making every Christmas dream come true
So there is one more wish to make
It's just to be with you
To have a merry Christmas with you
I still recalled the promises I made you
That we'll be together Christmas eve, we can be with silver tinsel, bright and glowing
Looking out the window you can see it snowing
The angel on the treetop looks familiar, no wonder she reminds me dear of you
For there is one more wish to make before the year is through
To have a merry Christmas with you...to have a merry Christmas
Show full lyrics (15 lines) ▾
#75 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.
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]
#76 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).
#77 L.E. White and the Bob Whites Jimmy Gets a Gun (For Christmas) 1971 · Single · Jimmy Gets a Gun (For Christmas) / Christmas Won't Be Christmas Anymore · Music City # MC-45-107 · USA
Notes
Jimmy Get a Gun (For Christmas) (White, L.E & the Bob Whites)
Christmas Won't Be Christmas Anymore
Notes
Music City Records MC-45-107-A, yellow and black label, 1215 17th Ave. So., Nashville, Tenn.; "Jimmy Gets a Gun (For Christmas)" (L. E. White–Betty Jo White), published by Music City Tunes, BMI, 2:45. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Christmas
Home Front Perspective
Anti-War
Religion
#78 Victor Buono Suffer the Children 1971 · Single · Suffer the Children / I Trust You'll Treat Her Well · Family # FPA 0905 · USA
Annotation
Notes
Suffer the Children (Buono, Victor)

Christmas. Anti-war.
Billboard advert, 18 December 19711 Christmas singles spotlight, 11 December 1971.2
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Family Productions FPA-0905 (MB 26407-M), mono, green constellation label marked "Promotional Copy Not For Sale"; "Suffer the Children" (V. Buono), Rippartha Music/Buono Music Co., ASCAP, intro :20, time 2:22, end fades; produced by Al Kasha, arranged by Roger Kellaway; distributed by Famous Music Corporation, New York, N.Y., a Gulf + Western Company. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#79 Don Gully & Buster Turner I Won't Be Home for Xmas 1971 · Single · I Won't Be Home for Xmas / Tragic Xmas · Ebb-Tide II # 102470 · USA
Credited on the record as Don Gully & Buster Turner and The Big D & B Band From Tennessee.
Notes
I Won't Be Home for Xmas (Gully, Don & Buster Turner)

Christmas Vietnam.
Country.
Label Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Musicians from Tazewell, Tennessee.
Notes
Ebb-Tide II Records, P.O. Box 2544, Baton Rouge, La., yellow label; "I Won't Be Home for Xmas" (Clay Webb), Jimmy Price Music, BMI, time 3:00, "Another Golden Production", N.R.P.S. No. 102470-B, E.T. No. 144; Don Gully & Buster Turner and the Big D & B Band from Tennessee, "Dedicated to our boy's in Viet-Nam", recorded at Columbia Studios in Nashville, Tenn.; producers Ebb-Tide, Jimmy Angel and Clay Webb, arranged by Ebb-Tide and Clay Webb.

The stereo picture sleeve (#145) reads "'Ebb-Tide II Record's' presents 'Clay Webb'", with the title and "Merry Christmas" framing a photograph of two soldiers in a sandbagged trench, one writing on a helmet across his knee, "Dedicated to: (Our Boys in Viet-Nam)" and "The Big D. & B. from Tennessee". A typed letter from Clay M. Webb, 1005 East Mariposa, Phoenix, Arizona, dated November 22, 1971, to the Billboard Record Review Department encloses the Christmas single for review, describing Don Gully (a D.J.) and Buster Turner as new artists with many years of musical experience who reside at Tazewell, Tennessee and have done much radio and television work in and around Knoxville. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Genre: ♪ Country
#80 May Blitz The 25th of December 1969 1971 · Album · The 2nd of May · Vertigo # 6360 037 · UK
Notes
25th of December, the (Blitz, May)

Minor Christmas reference. Anti-War. UK.
Lyrics
English
It was Christmas day in North Acton
And the turkey promised a treat
But unfortunately stayed in his wrapping
In the butchers just over the street
My cooker, you see, was too tiny
To taste such traditional fare
And I'm not really a bit eater
And there was nobody present to share
It was Christmas day in North Africa
But Nigeria had forgotten the date
Sanctioned myrrh from all mankind
They delivered the presents of hate...
It was the day after Christmas Khe Sanh
And relatives out in the crowd
Shared a final family reunion
Boxing the dead in white shrouds
Show full lyrics (17 lines) ▾
#81 Mission Possible Bring My Daddy Home for Christmas 1971 · Single · Bring My Daddy Home for Christmas / You're Still Free · Gale # 1014 · USA
Annotation
Notes
Bring My Daddy Home for Christmas (Mission Possible)

Traditional pop. Christmas. P.O.W. / M.I.A.
Please Santa bring daddy home for Christmas.
Billboard - song dedicated to prisoners of war.1

Sources
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Gale A-1014, Side 1 (10394), 45 RPM, Box 122, Midway, Ga.; "Bring My Daddy Home for Christmas" (John Murat), Gale Music, ASCAP, 3:00; produced by Midway Productions. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#82 Johnny Sablan Christmas Odyssey in Viet Nam 1971 · Album · Hafa Adai, Todo Maulick - How Are You? · Hafa Adai # HALP 3305 · Guam
Notes
Christmas Odyssey in Viet Nam

Released in Guam.
Notes
Hafa Adai Records HALP 3305, stereo, "The Voice of Micronesia", yellow label with the latte-stone-and-ancient-islander logo, P.O. Box 2890, Agana, Guam 96910; "Primero" (side one), arrangements by Johnny Sablan & Harold De Leon, Chamorro Music (ASCAP), side one total time 16:28; "Christmas Odyssey in Viet Nam" (Johnny Sablan), 7:50.

The back cover (Hafa Adai Records, P.O. Box 1983, Agana; US representation 1560 N. La Brea, Suite M, Hollywood) describes the track as "Johnny Sablan's story of his Christmas visit to Viet Nam with Governor Camacho as they greet and entertain the Chamorran servicemen stationed there". Bert Unpingco (Director of Guam Visitors Bureau) writes that Governor Carlos G. Camacho made the 23-year-old Sablan Honorary Ambassador of Guam, that for the second straight year he had just returned from entertaining Guamanian troops in Viet Nam, that the song was first presented on television in Guam, and that this fourth LP is sung in English on one side and Chamorran on the other, highlighted by the "eight minute vocal narration of his tour of Viet Nam".

Photographs show "Johnny Sablan entertaining Guamanian troops stationed in Viet Nam"; all songs copyright 1971 by Chamorro Music (ASCAP); accompanists Johnny Sablan (guitar), Harold De Leon (piano, organ), Jimmy Dee (electric guitar), Woody Duenas (bass), Ken Babal (drums), Dick Ricardo (conga, percussion), Marc Angel (vocal harmony); produced by Johnny Sablan; engineers John Anderson & Dave Wiechman; mastering Fern Dorrell; front cover photo Elmer Lince "Glimpses of Guam"; layout/design/notes Art Benson.

The back is headed "Oh my Marianas, I love the heritage you've given me. I am today and will be tomorrow a proud Chamorran!" [From the record sleeve and labels]
#83 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) ▾
Genre: ♪ Country
#84 The Jason Garfield Blessed Are the Protesters 1971 · Single · Blessed Are the Protesters / Ship of Freedom · Kef # 4451 · USA
Notes
Blesses Are the Protesters (Jason Garfield, The)

Psychedelic pop, bubblegum. Anti-war. Religion
Tribute to the protesters, hippies, and dissenters.
Need to change the status quo.
Following the example of the one born on Christmas day.
Notes
Kef Records 4451 (2615), green and pink label with fez logo; "Blessed Are the Protesters" (Jack Fine-E. Chiprut), 2:52, Kef Music, Inc.-ASCAP; "A Kef Production", produced by Elliot Chiprut. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#85 Podipto Karen's Song 1971 · Single · Karen's Song / (Lola) You Ease My Achin' Heart · GRT # 36 · USA
Notes
Karen's Song (Podipto)
Notes
GRT 36 (GC 1-294 M), mono, white "Promotion Not For Sale" label, "A GRT Record Group Co. • Div. of GRT Corp."; "Karen's Song" (J. S. Collins), 2:35, "From the GRT Album GRT 30002 'Podipto'"; produced by Elliot Abbott for Abbott 11 Prod. Inc. Issued in a black GRT Records company sleeve, 1301 Avenue of the Americas, N.Y., N.Y. 10019. [From the record sleeve and labels]

1972

#86 Tex Morton & Sister Dorrie The Widow Next Door 1972 · Single · I Like Country Music / The Widow Next Door · RCA Victor # 102109 · Australia
Annotation
Country music collaboration, featuring the well-known Tex Morton, born Robert William Lane on 30 August 1916 in Nelson, New Zealand. He died 23 July 1983 in Sydney, NSW, Australia.1 He released several records under the nickname The Yodelling Boundary Rider. Sister Dorrie, born Dorothy May Ricketts in Warragul, Victoria, Australia on 8 January 1910, died 19 April 1992, toured with Tex Morton in the 1930s and 1940s. Also noted that Tex Morton released the Vietnam War song "21st Birthday" (Columbia (EMI) # DO-4785) in 1967.

Together, they released the song "The Widow Next Door" (RCA Victor # 102109), which started with a narrative from a widow, noting that "the fighting is over" and the "boys will be home... for Christmas" - and thus another song about the holiday season. However, the narrator said that while "your boy will be home... not mine" , as her husband was killed in action (K.I.A.). The second part of the song took a strong anti-war position, criticising politicians for sending the young to war: "in Canberra... you make him a soldier, and send him to war" , where he died, and they send an "insult that you call the pension" . The narrator pondered that the anti-war movement may have been on the correct side: "maybe those students were right after all" , and she declared that "I'll never shall vote for no man evermore" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English
Oh say have you heard, the fighting is over
How our great boys will be home anytime
Home once again with their families for Christmas
Maybe your boy will be home, but not mine
See how they stand and salute their dead comrades
See how they pay their respects at the shrine
See how they turn and march into their futures
Maybe your boy has come back, but not mine
So I send his clothes to the Salvation Army
Give all his toys to the kiddies next door
Only old teddy, I'll keep to remember
The smiling young boy you sent off to the war
If you've lost a loved one, by horse or by tractor
As I lost my husband out there on our land
You know the grieving, you know the sorrow
Only the lonely could ever understand.
You can tell those big men when you're down in Canberra
I don't hold no grudge, for the lives that they took
How they framed the words that turned the heads on the youngsters
Now she is alone and I'll never grow old
So send all my clothes to the Salvation Army
Maybe those students were right after all
Only old teddy she have, and a picture of a smiling young fool you sent off to the war
I sent back the insult that you call the pension
I am the widow you chose to ignore
A two worded telegram, no intervention
Now it's too late, I don't care anymore
So I'll move away, I'll go over the mountain
Don't wonder me, just the widow next door
Maybe in time I'll learn to stop the grieving
I'll never shall vote for no man evermore
So I'll send his clothes to the Salvation Army
Here are some toys for the kiddies next door
Oh teddy bear, I'll treasure forever
My darling, my baby, you were sent to your war
You make him a soldier, and send him to war
Show full lyrics (37 lines) ▾
#87 Marvin Gaye I Want to Come Home for Christmas 1972 · Archival · Unreleased · Not On Label · USA
Annotation
As discussed above, Marvin Gaye, born in Washington D.C. (2 April 1939), helped shape the sound of the Detroit-based Motown Records in the 1960s, and thus he became one of the most influential soul singers of the era. In the early 1970s with the album What's Going On, which included the Vietnam War songs "What's Happening Brother" and "What's Going On" , he worked on his own production, breaking away from the Motown team. It introduced the concept album to R&B, while it contained innovative music, using gospel, jazz, soul, and classical orchestration, as the songs flowed seamlessly together. Note that Gaye also released the Vietnam-related song Soldier's Plea (1962).

In 1972 Marvin Gaye and Forest Hairston wrote the wonderful song "I Want to Come Home for Christmas" . Originally intended for release as a single on Tamla Records # 54229, backed by the song "Christmas in the City", Motown cancelled it. The song only appeared on a handful of compilations, such as Christmas in the City. It is written from the point of view of a 'prisoner of war' (P.O.W.) - military classification for those held captive in Vietnam, also having the status of 'missing in action' (M.I.A.). The US government currently reports 1,608 people as P.O.W. or M.I.A. in Southeast Asia.1 This issue grew in importance in the early 1970s as peace negotiations took place between the US and North Vietnam in Paris. The narrator dreamed of Christmas back home: the "little Christmas tree...to see Santa Claus...to hear jingle bells" . The P.O.W. knew that he would not make it home, but if people tried to "stop this fight" his spirits would be lifted, and therefore the song took an anti-war perspective.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English
I'd give anything to see a little Christmas tree
And to hear the laughter of children playing in the snow
To kiss my baby under the mistletoe
But I can't promise...
Unless they stop the fight
Cause I'm a prison of war
Lying here with myself
Hoping my family is well
Wish the wouldn't so much...
Just try to get us home in time for the Christmas tree...
I want to see Santa Claus, I want to hear jingle bells...
If I can't make it home in time I know you'll be keeping my spirit bright...
By trying to stop this fight
#88 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]
#89 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]

1973-1975: Paris Peace Accords to the Fall of Saigon

South Vietnam 1969, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry, at Patrol Base Kotrc, near the Cambodian border. 1
Key EventsThe Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam was signed at the International Conference Centre in Paris on 27 January 1973. The final US troops left Vietnam, and the draft was official ended. American Prisoners of War (POWs) also started to return to the US under Operation Homecoming. The Congress passed further legislation to prevent the use of US military forces in Southeast Asia, even if North Vietnam violated the ceasefire agreement. Throughout 1974 North Vietnam breaks the peace agreement, but the US expressed reluctance to get involved. A final offensive by the North in 1975 sees the North and South unified.
  • 23 January 1973: Nixon announces peace agreement: 'peace with honor'.
  • 27 January 1973: Paris Peace Accords signed.
  • 27 January 1973: Draft official ended in favour of voluntary enlistment.
  • 12 February 1973: Operation Homecoming.
  • 29 March 1973: Final US troops leave Vietnam.
  • 30 April 1973: Halderman and Ehrlichman resign over Watergate.
  • 19 June 1973: Case-Church Amendment.
  • 14 August 1973: Cambodia bombing halted, in compliance with Congressional ban.
  • 7 November 1973: Congress passed War Powers Act.
  • 9 August 1974: Richard Nixon's resigns as president. Gerald Ford takes over.
  • 13 December 1974: North Vietnam violates peace agreement.
  • 10 March 1975: North Vietnamese offensive on South.
  • 30 April 1975: US Embassy in Saigon fully evacuated.

1973

#90 Joan Baez Where Are You Now My Son? 1973 · Album · Where Are You Now, My Son? · A&M # SP-4390 · USA
Annotation
In 1972 Baez traveled to North Vietnam during Nixon's controversial "Christmas Bombings" on Hanoi and Haiphong (official named Operation Linebacker II).1 Baez produced this protest album about that trip, released in 1973. She was also involved in other forms of protest, such as Martin Luther King's March on Washington in 1963 and the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam on 15 October 1969; the Draft Resistance, an organisation run by her then husband David Harris. Moreover, from 1964, Baez refused to pay 60% of her taxes, which she claimed went towards armaments, and the Vietnam War.2. The country singer Bill Anderson attacked Baez for this in the song "Where Have All Our Heroes Gone". Also see the Baez song "Saigon Bride" released in 1967.

The title track "Where Are You Now, My Son?" (A&M Records # SP-4390) included a poignant reference to the Christmas holiday. Firstly, Baez recalled the soldiers "sheepishly" asking her on Christmas eve to sing an old folk song. Then the group - the French, the Poles, the Indians, the Cubans, the Vietnamese, and the Americans - turned to the "familiar psalms" of Christmas, but the singing "was shattered by the bombs" , reminding then that they were in the middle of a war zone.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English
The preacher read a Christmas prayer and the men kneeled on the ground
Then sheepishly asked me to, sing, 'They Drove Old Dixie Down', yours was the righteous gun, where are you now, my son?
We gathered in the lobby celebrating Christmas Eve
The French, the Poles, the Indians, Cubans and Vietnamese
The tiny tree our host had fixed sweetened familiar psalms, but the most sacred of Christmas prayers was shattered by the bombs
#91 Beulah Christmas America Is Proud of Nixon 1973 · Single · Christmas America Is Proud of Nixon / Santa Clause Kissed Me · Beulah # 901 · USA
Notes
Vietnam, Nixon, Kissinger, Peace, patriotic, Christmas, spoken
Vote for 18 year-olds
Opened up China and deal with Russia - Cold War
Ended the war in Vietnam, brought the soldiers home, Kissing diplomat, peace-maker
1973 - post war period
Notes
Beulah Records 901, pressed by Houston Records (LH-11181/2). Discogs credits Beulah Kershaw. Spoken tribute to Nixon for ending the war, the Kissinger peace deal, the vote for 18-year-olds and the China and Moscow visits.
Lyrics
English
Christmas America, is proud of Nixon
Nixon has the courage and wisdom to bring the Vietnam War to an end
To get our beloved soldiers home
A helping hand he did lend
He helped out for what was right, a warm pride in our hearts we feel
He sent the great diplomat Kissinger to make a peace deal
He is invisible
He gave our 18 year old the right to vote
Our loved ones he sent home on a plane
We are safe, we hope
We respect the rights of other nations to be different and still be there friend
He went to Moscow and China and brought tensions to an end
So impressive, his faith in god
Brought hope of peace to the world
He never gave up
We are free from the terrible world being hurled
With his beautiful wife he has done so much for the USA
This Christmas we wish you luck Mr. President
You made it our lucky Christmas day
Show full lyrics (20 lines) ▾
#92 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]
#93 Avi Sagild Hanoi Julen 1972 1973 · Album · Vi har den samme fjende · Demos # Demos 12 · Denmark
Annotation
Danish theatre group Skifteholdet, reciting 28 poems related to the Vietnam War on this LP, edited, arranged, and directed by Avi Sagild, born 22 February 1933 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, died 19 September 1995, Denmark.1 Tracks include "Hanoi Julen 1972" ("Hanoi Christmas 1972"), "Indberetning i mørket fra den sidste marine i Vietnam" ("Report in the Dark From the Last Navy in Vietnam"), and "Rotterne i Vietnam" ("The Rate in Vietnam"). Full track list:

A1 General Ky´'s Morning Motto / A2 Gale Dick / A3 Hanoi Christmas 1972 / A4 Free the South / A5 Debt of the Revolutionaries / A6 Come My Fatherland / A7 The Price of the Revolutionary / A8 General Ky´'s Dream / A9 Summer in Grand Rapids / A10 Report in the Dark from the Last Navy in Vietnam / A11 USA / A12 German Margins / A13 The Price of Dialectics / A14 Song to Fidel / A15 Questions About Totur / A16 The Rats in Vietnam / B1 Song of Thanks / B2 I Want to Ride the Storm / B3 A Mother's Assignment / B4 Night Farewell in Hanoi / B5 My Husband Can Not Come Back / B6 By the Fire / B7 Seriously Ill / B8 Red Flowers / B9 Night Crossing / B10 School Book Leaves / B11 The Only Way / B12 Liberate the South
__________
Danish: A1 General Ky´s morgenmotto / A2 Gale Dick / A3 Hanoi Julen 1972 / A4 Befri syden / A5 De revolutionæres gæld / A6 Kom Mit Fædreland / A7 Den revolutionæres pris / A8 General Ky´s drøm / A9 Sommer i Grand Rapids / A10 Indberetning i mørket fra den sidste marine i Vietnam / A11 USA / A12 Tyske marginalier / A13 Diallektikkens pris / A14 Sang til Fidel / A15 Spørgsmål om Totur / A16 Rotterne i Vietnam / B1 Takkesang / B2 Jeg vil ride på stormen / B3 En mors opgave / B4 Natlig afsked i Hanoi / B5 Min mand kan ikke komme tilbage / B6 Ved bålet / B7 Alvorligt syg / B8 Røde blomster / B9 Natlig overfart / B10 Skolebogens blade / B11 Den eneste vej / B12 Befri Syden
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Whole LP is a 28-poem Vietnam War spoken-word/sound-poetry record. Texts by: Armando Tejada Gómez, Bertolt Brecht, Ernesto Che Guevara, Chính Hữu, Chế Lan Viên, Ebbe Kløvedal Reich, Erik Knudsen, Giang Nam, Ho Chi Minh, Jesper Jensen, Le Tan Loi, Mette Krag, Nam Ha, Nguyễn Đình Thi, Noel Cobb, Otto René Castillo, Thanh Hải, Trieu, Wolf Biermann. Producer: Karsten Sommer; recorded by Freddy Hansson at Rosenberg Studio.

Voices: Avi Sagild, Eva Krogh, Ida Krag, Jens Nordsø, Jesper Milsted, Klavs Nordsø; vocals incl. Anne-Marie Nielsen, Hanne Betzer, Leif Monnerup etc. Electric guitar: Kim Sagild, Mikkel Nordsø.

Cover: Jens Nordsø. Made in Denmark. One of 28 Vietnam War poems recited by Skifteholdet on the LP, with texts by writers including Ho Chi Minh, Bertolt Brecht, Che Guevara and Wolf Biermann; produced by Karsten Sommer.

1975

#94 Noralee Dahl Merry Christmas Uncle Sam 1975 · Single · Merry Christmas Uncle Sam / This Christmas · PMP # 779 · USA
Annotation
Notes
- "Merry Christmas Uncle Sam"

- Label: PMP 779
- Songwriter: Noralee Dahl
- Bicentennial, potentially Vietnam-related, Christmas
- Note: need song
- Texas, USA1
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Post-War: 1976-present

Christmas tree at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C., December 2015. 1
Post-Vietnam War songs tend to focus on Vietnam veterans - highlighting particular stereotypes, such as psychological problems (for example, PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder), homelessness, drug addiction, and the struggle to re-adjust to society. Attention is also given to social division (between those who supported the war and not), and the lack of adequate government / institutional support for veterans.

Other frequent topics include the Prisoner of War (P.O.W.) / Missing in Action (M.I.A.) issue, and Orange Agent, a defoliant dropped by the US on the South Vietnamese/Cambodian border (the "Ho Chi Minh Trail"), to destroy Vietcong cover (broad leaf plants etc). But the toxin had long term negative effects on those exposed (cancer & genetic defects). Several lawsuits were brought against the US government and chemical companies from the 1980s, therefore bringing greater attention in popular music to this issue.

Many song appeared in the immediate aftermath of the war, and then dipped in the mid-to late 70s. A revival occurred around the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, which drove many comparisons to Vietnam and role of the US military in global affairs. A surge and revival of interest is seen in the 1980s Reagan era of seeking to overcome the 'Vietnam Syndrome'. In the 1990s, several songs compared the conflict to the First Gul War, and in 21st century, the Vietnam conflict has been used in song to reflect on current wars and problems, including the Afghanistan invasion and Iraq War.

1982

#95 The Clash Straight to Hell 1982 · Single · Straight to Hell / Should I Stay or Should I Go · CBS # A 2646 · UK
Annotation
The Clash, a British punk rock band that formed in London in 1976, which featured in 1982 (during the release of this single) Joe Strummer (guitar, vocals), Paul Simonon (bass, vocals), Mick Jones (guitar, vocals, 1976-83), and Topper Headon (drums, vocals, 1977-82). In 1981 they released the single "This Is Radio Clash" (CBS # CBS A1797), which referenced the Vietnam War and napalm (a jellied gasoline mixture which the US government extensively used during the war, as previously discussed). The group followed this up in 1982 with the track "Straight to Hell" (CBS # A 2646) which mentioned Vietnam in the second and third verses. In 1981 they released the song "Charlie Don't Surf" on the album Sandinista! (CBS # FSLN 1), a reference to the 1979 Vietnam War film Apocalypse Now directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The song referenced the use of napalm.

The track "Straight to Hell" (CBS # A 2646) dealt with the abandonment of Vietnamese children fathered by American soldiers during the war, known as "Amerasian". In the song the Amerasian child ask his American father - "papa san" (a Japanese word, but used by US soldiers in Vietnam to refer to older Vietnamese men and women) - to take him home to the US. It also contained a Christmas reference: "When it's Christmas out in Ho Chi Minh City" . Composed by Strummer, Jones, Simonon, and Headon. It appeared on the 1981 album Combat Rock (CBS # FMLN 2).
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
CBS A 2646 (CBS A 2646A A), "AA" side, 45 RPM, stereo, ℗ 1982 CBS Records, made in England, label printed with a black star on a camouflage background; "Straight to Hell (Edited Version)" (The Clash), published by Nineden Ltd., original sound recording made by CBS Records.

The picture sleeve front, marked "Double 'A' Side Single", shows a skull in a camouflage helmet with sergeant's chevrons over crossed machine guns and four aces; the back shows a dragon and lists "Should I Stay or Should I Go" and "Straight to Hell (Edit)", "Taken from the L.P./Tape 'Combat Rock' FMLN 2/FMLN 40-2"; cover by Left Hand Luke, © 1982 CBS Records. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Y'wanna join in a chorus of the Amerasian blues?
When it's Christmas out in Ho Chi Minh City
Kiddie say papa san....take me home
See me got photo of you and mamma-san
Lemme tell ya 'bout your blood bamboo kid
It ain't Coca-Cola it's rice
Straight to hell
Oh papa-san, please take me home

1986

#96 Danny Ratcliff Band The Wall 1986 · Single · The Wall / Missing in Action · Maximum Sound · USA
Annotation
Country pop double-sided Vietnam War 7" record, the first side "The Wall" (Maximum Sound Publications) dealt with the memorial wall in Washington D.C., while the B-side "Missing in Action" looked at the P.O.W. / M.I.A. issue. The front and back of the picture sleeve said that the songs were dedicated to those M.I.A., and inspired by the Christmas season:
"these song were written to honor American soldiers whom names are on the Wall, to express concern for those who are still missing in action, and to say thank you to all who served our country during the Vietnam era...the lyrics were written on Christmas Eve as I thought of the many Americans whose Christmas would be saddened by memories of those whose names are on the Wall"
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Maximum Sound Publications, Route 5, Box 141, Portsmouth, Ohio, "Take it to the Max"; Side A, "The Wall", 3:15, ASCAP; lyrics Max Sidders, music and vocals Danny Ratcliff "Band"; produced by Max Sidders and Danny Ratcliff, engineered by Joseph Ferguson; recorded at Don Brown Studios, 1830 Vinton, Portsmouth, Ohio.

Picture sleeve front prints the lyrics of "The Wall" and "Missing in Action" with the dedication: "These songs were written to honor the American soldiers whose names are on THE WALL, to express concern for those who are still MISSING IN ACTION, and to say 'Thank You' to all who served our country during the Vietnam Era." Back: Danny Ratcliff (vocals, rhythm guitar, bass, keys), Jim Hale (steel), Dave Crisp (drums), Joseph Ferguson (engineering, mix, lead guitar); a note signed by Max Sidders, publisher, that the song was suggested by his son Bob and the lyrics written on Christmas Eve 1985; thanks to the Midwestern Songwriters Association; proceeds to aid Vietnam veterans through V.V.A.

Chapter #188, Portsmouth, Ohio; A.S.C.A.P. copyright 1986; sticker with Max E. Sidders' Urbana, Ohio address. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
A soldier walks up to the black granite wall
He soon finds the name of a friend he saw fall
He touches the name and tries not to cry
In silence he wonders why his friend had to die
#97 Danny Ratcliff Band Missing in Action 1986 · Single · The Wall / Missing in Action · Maximum Sound · USA
Annotation: see “The Wall” above (same release).
#98 The Del-Lords Soldier's Home 1986 · Single · Soldier's Home / No Waitress No More · EMI America # P-B8314 · USA
Notes
Soldier's Home (Del Lords, The)

Post-war pop rock.
Reference to Vietnam: "the younger kids from 'Nam" .
Anti-war/peace song.
Notes
EMI America P-B-8314 (502248A), stereo, "Promo – Not for Sale" label, ℗ 1986 EMI America Records, a division of Capitol Records, Inc.; "Soldier's Home (Edited Version)" (Scott Kempner), 4:36 (intro :14), Prince of the Bronx-BMI; produced by Neil Geraldo; the label notes that the album version can be heard on "Johnny Comes Marching Home". The black-and-white picture sleeve (B-8314) shows the four band members in a smoky, sunlit room under a "the Del-Lords" panel; the back lists "Soldier's Home" b/w "No Waitress No More", both tied to the LP "Johnny Comes Marching Home" (ST-17183), and prints the full lyric of "Soldier's Home", in which the young and old at the Old Soldier's Home, "the old boys from the Big One" and "the younger kids from 'Nam", pray "No more war, never no more, bring 'em all home".

Sleeve credits: art direction Henry Marquez, design Carol Chen, photography Nels Israelson; Capitol Records, 1750 North Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
The old boys from the Big One
The younger kids from 'Nam
All grateful to be together and free
As brothers-in-peace

1988

#99 Loston McEvers P.O.W. in Vietnam 1988 · Single · Abused Little Children / P.O.W. in Vietnam · Swamp Country # 4611 · USA
Annotation
The country pop song "P.O.W. in Vietnam" (Swamp Country Records # 4611) by Loston McEvers is a post-war, 1980s view, in which the narrator presented a US soldier who still resided in a Vietnamese prison, two decades after the end of the war. As mentioned above, this fitted into a 1980s trend in Hollywood films to present American soldiers being held captive in Asian countries, waiting to be rescued by Vietnam veterans. For example, First Blood [Rambo] (1982), Uncommon Valor (1983), and Missing in Action (1984).1 So in the lyrics, the soldier wrote to his mother, date stamped 1988: "I'm sorry I can't be with you at home, I'm a prisoner of war in Vietnam" . He wanted to wish her happy birthday and merry "Christmas" . He reported that his friend had just died. He asked his mother and father to pray for the US soldier's "still overseas" . Unknown location. Produced and written by McEvers. There is a 2010 newspaper reference, in the Jena Times, Louisiana, to a country singer called McEvers, which may be the same person.2
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Swamp Country Records, Side 2 (VPAG-4612), stereo, 45 RPM; "P.O.W. in Vietnam" (Loston McEvers), 3:22, ℗ Apr 1988 Loston McEvers, Swamp Country Rec., BMI; produced by Loston McEvers, vocal by Loston McEvers, CMA. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Laos, Vietnam, 1988; Dear mum I want to wish you happy birthday, Christmas, and New Years is coming up
I'm sorry I can't be with you at home, I'm a prisoner of war in Vietnam, where I was fighting....
Please mum don't shed a tear, today, I just lost a friend...
To dad say hello from me, tell him that I love him so much
Tell him to please pray for me and for all us boys still overseas
I've got to say goodbye now

1989

#100 The Statler Brothers More Than a Name on a Wall 1989 · Single · More Than a Name on a Wall / Atlanta Blue · Mercury # 874 196-7 · USA
Annotation
The song "More Than a Name on the Wall" (Mercury Records # 874 196-7) by The Statler Brothers, a gospel country pop group formed in 1955, in Lyndhurst, Virginia, USA. They disbanded in 2002, in Staunton, Virginia, USA.12 This song peaked at # 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, which makes this one of the most commercially successful singles on this list. The song was composed by Jimmy Fortune and John Rimel.3 The song was originally released on the compilation The Statlers Greatest Hits (Mercury Records # 834 626-1), and shortly after released as a single. The song was about a mother of a soldier who died in Vietnam, visiting the memorial in Washington D.C., and remembering her son. The narrator said that he "he died for God and country in a place so far away" . The mother could remember "a little boy playing war since he was three" - a similar theme found in many 60s songs about "toy soldiers". Also of note is that the song referenced Christmas - missing loved ones is a long-running theme in holiday songs: "he really missed the family and being home on Christmas day" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Mercury 874 196-7 (2-59977), stereo, 45 RPM, black label with barcode 422-874196-7; "More Than a Name on a Wall" (J. Fortune/J. Rimel), 2:54; produced by Jerry Kennedy for JK Productions, Inc.; Statler Brothers Music, Inc. (administered by Copyright Management Inc.) (BMI); "From the Mercury album 422 834 626-1 'The Statlers Greatest Hits'", ℗ 1988 PolyGram Records, Inc.; manufactured and marketed by PolyGram Records, Inc., 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10019. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
I saw her from a distance, as she walked up to the wall
In her hand she held some flowers, as her tears began to fall
She took out pen and paper as to trace her mem'ries
She looked up to heaven, and the words she said were these
She said, "Lord my boy was special, and he meant so much to me
And Oh, I'd love to see him just one more time you see
All I have are the mem'ries and the moments to recall
So Lord could you tell him he's more than a name on the wall"
She said, "He really missed the family, being home on Christmas day
And he died for God and country in a place so far away
I remember just a little boy, playing war since he was three
And Lord this time I know, he's not coming home to me"
She said, "Lord my boy was special, and he meant so much to me
And Oh, I'd love to see him but I know it just can't be
So I thank you for my mem'ries and the moments to recall
But Lord could you tell him he's more than a name on the wall
Lord could you tell him he's more than a name on the wall
Show full lyrics (18 lines) ▾
#101 Lou Reed Xmas in February 1989 · Album · New York · Sire # 25829-1 · USA
Annotation
Lou Reed's post-Vietnam War song "Xmas in February" (Sire Records # 25829-1) is a grim, depressing tale of a Vietnam Vet ignored by society. The song suggested that in December the Christmas spirit kicks in - carols, trees, lights, and charity. But by February, in the cold and rain, the Christmas spirit disappeared as the homeless person asking for money was ignored. The song started with the protagonist Sam volunteering for the army. He ended up in Vietnam, listening to Jimi Hendrix on the Vietnamese jukeboxes, and lying in the jungle. Out there he "lost his arm" . The song also referenced the poisonous herbicide agent orange, used by the US military in Vietnam: "Agent orange spread across the sky" . The veteran returned to the US - he had lost his wife and kid and could not find a job. Sam visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C., a "reminder of the war that wasn't won" . The narrator suggested that while the dead were remembered, society ignored the living veterans. The song also referred to the use of drugs to reduce the pain: "if he didn't have that opium to smoke, the pain would never ever stop" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English
Sam was lyin' in the jungle
Agent Orange spread against the sky like marmalade
Hendrix played on some foreign jukebox
They were praying to be saved
Those gooks were fierce and fearless
That's the price you pay when you invade
Xmas in February
Sam lost his arm in some border town
His fingers are mixed with someone's crop
If he didn't have that opium to smoke /The pain would never ever stop
Half his friends are stuffed into black body bags
With their names printed at the top
Xmas in February
Sammy was a short order cook
In a short order black and blue collar town
Everybody worked the steel mill
But the steel mill got closed down
He thought if he joined the Army
He'd have a future that was sound
Like no Xmas in February
Sam's staring at the Vietnam Wall
It's been a while now that he's home
His wife and kid have left, he's unemployed
He's a reminder of the war that wasn't won
He's that guy on the street with the sign that reads
"Please help send this Vet home"
But he is home, and there's no Xmas in February
No matter how much he saves
Show full lyrics (29 lines) ▾
Genre: ♪ Rock

1990

#102 Poison Something to Believe In 1990 · Capitol # PRO 79272 · USA
Notes
Something to Believe in (Poison)

Post-war, 1990s. Vietnam veteran. PTSD, mistreatment of vet. Kills himself on Christmas eve.
Glam rock, power ballad.

Will I see him on the TV preachin' 'bout the promised land
He tells me to believe in Jesus, and steals the money from my hand
Some say he was a good man, but Lord I think he sinned, yeah
Twenty-two years of mental tears, cries a suicidal Vietnam vet
Who fought a losing war on a foreign shore
To find his country didn't want him back
Their bullets took his best friend in Saigon
Our lawyers took his wife and kids, no regrets
In a time I don't remember, in a war he can't forget
He cried "Forgive me for what I've done there
Cause I never meant the things I did"
And give me something to believe in if there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in Oh, Lord arise
My best friend died a lonely man, in some Palm Springs hotel room
I got the call last Christmas Eve and they told me the news
I tried all night not to break down and cry
As the tears rolled down my face, I felt so cold and empty
Like a lost soul out of place
And the mirror mirror on the wall sees my smile it fades again
Sometimes I wish to God I didn't know now
The things I didn't know then road you gotta take me home
I drive by the homeless sleeping on a cold dark street
Like bodies in an open grave, underneath the broken old neon sign
That used to read JESUS SAVES, a mile away live the rich folks
And I see how they're living it up, while the poor they eat from hand to mouth
The rich is drinkin' from a golden cup
And it just makes me wonder why so many lose, so few win
You take the high road and I'll take the low road
Sometimes I wish to God I didn't know now
The things I didn't know then and give me something to believe in

1991

#103 Dick Jonas Fighter Pilot's Christmas 1991 · Album · In Country: Folk Songs Of Americans In The Vietnam War · Flying Fish # FF 70552 · USA

1992

#104 Tom Booker Missing in Action 1992 · Single · Country Star # CS-1124 · USA
Credited on the record as Tom Booker (Tennessee Tom).
Notes
Missing in Action (Booker, Tom)

P.O.W., patriotic. Soldier & home front perspective. Christmas reference
Goodlettsville, Tennessee, USA. Post-war 90s.
I'm off to fight a war - not sure why. Kissed family goodbye
She won't rest until I'm back.
Back I'm M.I.A. in South Vietnam - alive or dead, return me.
Proud to serve our nation.
They made us sign confessions and look happy on Christmas day.
It's been so many years since I've seen my daughter

Notes
Country Star Records CS-1124-A (U-33415M), 45 RPM, stereo, ℗ 1992; "Missing in Action" (Len M. Marshall), 4:15, Process Music-BMI; Tom Booker (Tennessee Tom), backup Jean Rowe & Michael A. Collins; producer Josh Noland; Country Star International, P.O. Box 993, Goodlettsville, TN 37070. [From the record sleeve and labels]

1995

#105 The Showcase Showdown Ho Ho Ho Chi Minh! 1995 · Single · Tario # U-41133M · USA
Annotation
Punk Rock group, formed in 1993 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Disbanded 2000. Members included Victoria Arthur (bass), Tom Cloherty (guitar), Albert "Ping Pong" Genna (vocals), and Steve Maxwell "Chez Nips" (drums). The song "Ho Ho Ho Chi Minh!" (Tario Records # U-41133M) took a novelty approach, declaring that "we don’t need your Santa Claus, cause we’ve got Uncle Ho" . It also suggested that the toys would be delivered via tunnel, presumably a reference to the Ho Chi Minh Trail: "Uncle Ho tunnels, when he brings your toys" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Tario Records, 45 RPM, red vinyl with a green-and-white label; no catalogue number printed on label or sleeve.

The front sleeve shows Ho Chi Minh in a Santa hat against strings of Christmas decorations, with the title in red cut-out letters.

The back prints the full lyrics ("We don't need your Santa Claus / Cause we've got Uncle Ho"), credits Ping Pong (vocals, bells) and Victoria (bass), states "Recorded by Bill T. Miller at Straightjacket Sound, Allston, MA, August 6, 1995" and "All songs © the Showcase Showdown, 1995", gives the band address 23 Pomeroy Street, Allston, MA, and reproduces an AP clipping, "Brief abduction, long sentence", about a Houston man who forced two women on a tour of Christmas lights. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
We don’t need your Santa Claus
Cause we’ve got Uncle Ho
No three wise bourgeois gentlemen
Or sleigh bells in the snow
Santa may wear red, but don’t believe what you see
Cause Uncle Ho distributes presents equally
Ho Ho Ho Chi Minh
He comes down from the North
Ho Ho Ho Chi Minh
All the presents he brings forth
Ho Ho Ho Chi Minh
He’s a jolly man they say
Ho Ho Ho Chi Minh
Smash the state on Christmas day
That fat man he don’t understand
How his elves work
His laissez faire philosophies
Leave his workers short
Uncle Ho tunnels, when he brings your toys
And he lives with his workers in Hanoi oi! oi!
Show full lyrics (21 lines) ▾
Also in: ▤ Punk Songs

1998

#106 Bruce Springsteen A Good Man Is Hard to Find (Pittsburgh) 1998 · Archival · Tracks · Columbia # CXK 69475 · USA
Annotation
Good Man Is Hard to Find, A (Springsteen, Bruce)

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Columbia CXK 69475 (4-CD box "Tracks", 1998), disc 2 track 2, 3:18; an outtake written for Born in the U.S.A. [From Discogs]
Lyrics
English
It's cloudy out in Pittsburgh, it's raining in Saigon
Snow's fallin' all across the Michigan line
Well she sits by the lights of her Christmas tree
With the radio softly on
Thinkin' how a good man is so hard to find
Well once she had a fella
Once she was somebody's girl
And she gave all she had that one last time

2016

#107 Halcyon Vietnam Diary: Great Bloody Xmas Break 2016 · Album · War Letters: New Music Commemorating WWI · Wirripang # Wirr 074 · Australia
Annotation
Australian and New Zealand commemoration of World War One, using war letters, and placing them to music, which also contained a reference to the Vietnam War. Recorded on 14 and 15 November 2015 at the Western Sydney University (WSU), the project received funding from the Australian Government's ANZAC Centenary Local Grants Program, with support from WSU. The product notes said: "War Letters commemorates through music, the service and sacrifice of Australian servicemen and women in the First World War during the ANZAC centenary. Four Australian composers, representing four generations, have taken excerpts from original letters written during times of conflict, and set the words to music for singers and ensemble...Sydney-based Diana Blom’s piece features letters from three different wars - WWI, Vietnam and Afghanistan".1

Diana Blom is Associate Professor, Music, in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts, at WSU, born in New Zealand, and currently based in Sydney, Australia. Her section of the album contained the song "Vietnam Diary: Great Bloody Xmas Break" (Wirripang # Wirr 074) which recites a 17 December 1969 letter from Australian soldier David Wilkins, fighting in the Vietnam War, over the Christmas period, thus presenting the real life experience of a soldier. Wilkins expressed anger and disappointed at spending Christmas in the jungle: "bloody Xmas... spending all the 'break' in the bush" . He noted that they were about to be sent out on a 7 week operation, writing that "man’s a bloody robot" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Recorded 14-15 November 2015 at Western Sydney University for the Anzac centenary.
Lyrics
English
Great bloody 'Xmas' break we are getting – spending all the 'break' in the bloody bush. The digs are even chiming 'so many killing days to Xmas'. To top it off we are about to embark from this great rest onto our last operation of the tour – and it is to be over longest – 7 weeks
Man’s a bloody robot!". David Wilkins (17 December 1969)

2019

#108 Hayes Carll Jesus and Elvis 2019 · Album · What It Is · Dualtone # 803020186910 · USA
Annotation
Notes
Jesus and Elvis (Carll, Hayes)

Post-war, Christmas, K.I.A., home front perspective.
Artist said it was a reference to the Vietnam War.

"Jesus and Elvis
Painted on velvet
Hanging at the bar here every night
It's good to be back again
Oh, me and my old friends
Beneath the neon cross and the string of Christmas lights

Now everything he loved is what you see"

"I wrote that with Allison and Matraca Berg, and Matraca had the title. She goes “I’ve been thinking about this title ‘Jesus and Elvis,’” and it immediately reminded me of a bar I hung out in in Austin. I’ve since found out this story is not actually the real story, but at the time I had convinced myself it was. [Laughs] This bar has Christmas lights up year-round and a jukebox in the corner with nothing on it past 1968, and I had heard it was because the bar owner’s son went off to fight in Vietnam at Christmas time. She promised she wouldn’t take the lights down until he came home, but he never did, so that’s why they’re still up all these years later."1
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Dualtone 803020186910 (track A5); producers Allison Moorer and Brad Jones. Carll said the song came from an Austin bar that kept its Christmas lights up for an owner's son who went to Vietnam at Christmas and never came home.
Lyrics
English
Lola built this joint in '67
And her boy went off to fight on Christmas Eve
In a war nobody won
She lost her only son

Unknown date

#109 Eleanor Wells Christmas in Viet Nam Single · Christmas in Viet Nam / Jesus Birthday · Gold Standard # 173 · USA
Annotation
The country music song "Christmas in Viet Nam" (Gold Standard Records # 1730) by Eleanor Wells, released in Nashville, Tennessee, fits into the patriotic category. A mother received a letter from her son "marked Vietnam" . The soldier expressed his dedication to the cause, "fighting for freedom" and the flag: "the red, white and blue" . The soldier also noted the US political alliance with the South Vietnamese: "the friendship of our government" . But of course the soldier described how he would miss Christmas while fighting in Vietnam: "there will be no Christmas tree" , no major Christmas meal and cheer. The soldier declared that on his return to the US, everyday will be like Christmas. No date is mentioned on the record, but based on the label numbers, this came out in 1965 or earlier.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Gold Standard record no. 173-A, Post Office Box 35, Nashville, Tennessee, "Promotional copy"; Blazon Music Co., BMI; "Christmas in Viet Nam" (Clyde Wells – Zeke Clements), 2:44; produced by Zeke Clements. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
A mother was crying inside one day
She was reading a letter from her son far away
He was fighting in battle far from loved ones at home
And this was the message, it was marked Vietnam:
'It soon will be Christmas, but I'm here you see
I'm fighting for freedom, and there will be no Christmas tree
But the memories are with me of how it used to be
When Christmas time meant everything to our family
Dear mother I love you, and tell daddy too
It worth all, to fight for, the red, white and blue
My Christmas dinner won't be much this year
Without home and loved ones and holiday cheer
But there is more than a battle that we must all win
And that is the friendship of our government...
And prayer that the horror of our war will go away
When I get home to dad and you, everyday will be Christmas...
Until then pray for us, and write when you can
To your boy, who spent Christmas fighting in Vietnam'
Show full lyrics (19 lines) ▾
#110 Chi Chi Wilson Dear Mr. Santa Claus Single · Dear Mr. Santa Claus / Here Comes Santa Claus Again · Big Country # BC-228 · USA
Annotation
An obscure country track, "Dear Mr. Santa Clause" (Big Country # BC-228), by an artist called Chi Chi Wilson, out of Elgin, Pennsylvania. The track, narrated by the wife of a soldier, wrote to Santa Clause, asking him to stop over in Vietnam and look out for all the boys fighting over there. The wife, living in the US, explained to her children "this fighting" their father "must do to defend the flag he loves" . At the end of the track the narrator declared that "without there dad in Vietnam what future could there be" . Therefore, a strongly worded patriotic strong, backing and justifying US involvement in Vietnam.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Big Country BC-228-1, Box 31, Elgin, Pa.; "Dear Mr. Santa Claus" (C. Wilson), Halaz Music, BMI (SO: 3615). White label with green print. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Dear Mr. Santa Clause, I write to you today to tell you of the one I love they sent so far away
To a place called Vietnam with a million of their boys
Here at home it's Christmas time, bring them some Christmas joy
You are very good at finding things and places unheard of
All this fighting he must do to defend the flag he loves
His country he loves more than life or why would he be there
Here at home it's Christmas time, I'll say a Christmas prayer
It is Christmas time in this foreign land for our country's GI Joes
So while you are flying through the sky, stop and say hello
Please tell him how we miss him and long to have him here
For children at Christmas time like there daddy near
Once gain I'll take his place and try to make them see
Without there dad in Vietnam what future could there be
Genre: ♪ Country
#111 Johnny Louis Santa's Gonna Bring Me Home Single · Santa's Gonna Bring Me Home / Christmas Is Here · Pic # 1 141 · USA
Annotation
A short country music song, clocking in at 1.35, called "Santa's Gonna Bring Me Home" (Pic 1 # 141), released around 1967 by Johnny Louis. The narrator, a soldier, said to the listener "I've been here in Vietnam" , but he thought that Santa would take him home in time for Christmas. On the way the soldier would help deliver all the presents to the boys and girls in every town. Composed by Johnny Gondesen. Released in Pasadena, Texas, on one of the many record label founded by Huey P. Meaux, a famous American record producer known as "Crazy Cajun".1
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Pic 1 141 (JL-2), 45 RPM, red and silver label marked "D. J. Copy"; "Santa's Gonna Bring Me Home" (Johnny Gondesen), Crazy Cajun Music, BMI, 1:35. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
We'll be happy at Christmas he told me on the phone
I've been here in Vietnam, Santa's gonna bring me home
Mommy said I'll ride with Santa Claus to help give out all the toys
Make a lot of stops in every town, there'll be a lot of happy boys and girls
So we'll be happy at Christmas, Santa told me on the phone
I've been here in Vietnam, Santa gonna bring me home..bring me home
Genre: ♪ Country
#112 Johnny Price Santa, Bring Daddy for Christmas Single · Ballad of Our P.O.W.'s / Santa, Bring Daddy for Christmas · Priceless # PR-708 · USA
Credited on the record as Johnny Price with Marty Lizabeth.
Annotation
Johnny Price, a country singer based in Nashville, Tennessee, who sounded very similar to Johnny Cash, as suggested in the artist name. A familiar commercial technique, as seen with the country artist Johnny Paycheck. Johnny Price released the song "The Lieutenant's Last Salute" (Rexell # 45-106) in 1971 about the My Lai massacre. On the a-side, in the song "Ballad of Our P.O.W.'s" the narrator showed concern for the plight of the P.O.W.s, refusing to celebrate the end of the war with marches and beating drums. According to the The Sumter Daily, South Carolina, Price wrote the song in support of Sandy Bagley, the wife of P.O.W. Major Bobby Ray Bagley, captured in North Vietnam on 16 September 1967, and released on 14 March 1973.1. The article said that "Johnny Price...is ready to release his own recording to help her cause, The Ballad of the POW".2 She released the 1972 single "POWMIA".

On the b-side of this single, the song "Santa Bring My Daddy for Christmas" (Priceless # PR-708) dealt with the Vietnam War, Christmas, and the P.O.W. theme. A spoken-word track, it is split into two narratives. The first one, narrated by the female vocalist Marty Lizabeth, recalled seeing a boy at a shopping mall asking Santa to bring home his father from Vietnam. He explained: "my daddy is a prisoner of war" . In the second narration by Johnny Price, the boy's father (the soldier) spoke from Vietnam, saying that Santa may be too busy to get him home in time for Christmas, although "dreams do come true" . Composed by Sandy Bagley and Johnny Price.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Priceless PR-708, white-and-red label, P.O. Box 1391, Nashville, Tenn.; "Ballad of Our P.O.W.'s" (J. Price), SON 100131, time 3:07, and "Santa, Bring Daddy for Christmas" (S. Bagley - J. Price), SON 100132, time 3:07, Johnny Price with Marty Lizabeth; both Priceless Music, BMI, producer J. Price. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Christmas day will soon be here
My toys are wanted every year
But just one thing please Santa dear I'm asking you this Christmas
Today as I was Christmas shopping in a large department store
I heard Santa Claus asked the little boy what he wanted the very most for Christmas
As he turned and looked up at Santa, this is what I heard him say:
'Dear Mr. Santa, he have no list from me
For I want only one thing this Christmas...
If I could just have my daddy how very happy I would be
Please Mr. Santa, won't you bring him home to me
My daddy is a prisoner of war, I've heard my mommy say
Oh Mr. Santa, could you bring him home for Christmas day
I can still hear him saying even though he is far away
That Christmas time is special, it's always been his favourite...
Could you open his cell door with your magic key'
Santa hears, and may answer son, but I know you'll understand
That he is so very busy that he may not make it to this land
But keep on asking son, dreams do come true
Christmas day may find me...back home with mommy and you
Show full lyrics (20 lines) ▾
Genre: ♪ Country
#113 Johnny Price Ballad of Our P.O.W.'s Single · Ballad of Our P.O.W.'s / Santa, Bring Daddy for Christmas · Priceless # PR-708 · USA
Annotation: see “Santa, Bring Daddy for Christmas” above (same release).
Lyrics
English
No marching, no glory, no beating of the drum, no battle is over, no victory is one
But less we forget our men behind those captive doors
We'll sing until we bring back our prisoners of war
We see tears of the loved ones that they've left...
Suffering the anguish of an uncertain mind
Not knowing the answer, dead or alive
But their hope and their faith and their love still survive...
We see mothers and sister and wives by the score all pledging and praying for our prisoners of war
They watch days pass to months... turn to years
Only god can know the depths of their tears...
They say time will heal the hurt for the dead
But time cannot erase the fear and the dread we feel for the men who have given so much more
God bless and free them, our prisoners of war
Christmas day will soon be here
My toys are wanted every year
But just one thing please Santa dear I'm asking you this Christmas
Today as I was Christmas shopping in a large department store
I heard Santa Claus asked the little boy what he wanted the very most for Christmas
As he turned and looked up at Santa, this is what I heard him say:
'Dear Mr. Santa, he have no list from me
For I want only one thing this Christmas...
If I could just have my daddy how very happy I would be
Please Mr. Santa, won't you bring him home to me
My daddy is a prisoner of war, I've heard my mommy say
Oh Mr. Santa, could you bring him home for Christmas day
I can still hear him saying even though he is far away
That Christmas time is special, it's always been his favourite...
Could you open his cell door with your magic key'
Santa hears, and may answer son, but I know you'll understand
That he is so very busy that he may not make it to this land
But keep on asking son, dreams do come true
Christmas day may find me...back home with mommy and you
Show full lyrics (33 lines) ▾
Genre: ♪ Country
#114 Liza Jane Taylor Merry Christmas Viet Nam Single · If You'd Do What You Ought to Do / Merry Christmas Viet Nam · Mid-State # 1002 · USA
Annotation
The largely spoken-word track "Merry Christmas Viet Nam" (Mid-State Records # 1002), narrated by a mother in the US, recalling past wars - World War One, the Korean War - and memories of her son, who fought "in Vietnam" on "Christmas eve, for freedom" , fighting against "communism in foreign lands" . She prayed "for peace and happiness and freedom everywhere" . Thus another patriotic Christmas track. Released on a small record label in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, by Liza Jane Taylor.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Mid-State Records Record No. 1002 (SoN 27152), blue and cream label with Tennessee-shaped logo, P.O. Box 1074, Murfreesboro, Tenn.; "Merry Christmas Viet Nam" (Liza J. Taylor), 2:56, Murfree Music Co., BMI; produced by Carl Tipton. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
In Vietnam, Christmas eve, for freedom
My father was in World War One
My husband was in Korea
Now my son is in Vietnam
Oh God, grant me the wisdom to understand...
I think of your own word...you give me so much comfort
I know that you are there beside him...
I was young during World War One and I didn't understand things like communism in foreign lands
Then Korea came along...they said they would not keep them long
But thousands did not come home
And now, Vietnam, and my precious son and countless others like him, too young to even carry a gun
This will be his first Christmas that he spent away from home
He always found the biggest tree...then he would decorate it, everything had to be just right...
Oh dear God...I pray for peace and happiness and freedom everywhere
Show full lyrics (15 lines) ▾
#115 Bud Stack Please Santa, Take My Toys to Viet Nam Single · Please Santa, Take My Toys to Viet Nam / Believe Me · Nashville # NV-5317 · USA
Annotation
In the country music song "Please Santa, Take My Toys to Viet Nam" (Nashville # NV-5317) a man, presumably narrating from the perspective of a child, requested that people in the US not forget the soldiers in Vietnam, and that "while there in a giving mood, remember Vietnam" . He wanted Santa to take all the toys and money, that he usually received, over to Vietnam - for the South Vietnamese, or for those in the North as well? Probably released in 1973 based on the label's numbers.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Nashville NV-5317 (8299), "A Product of Starday Records", Box 115, Madison, Tenn., 45 RPM, red label, Bud Stack (vocal); "Please Santa, Take My Toys to Viet Nam" (B. Stack), 3:24, Tronic / BMI; "A Tommy Hill Starday Studio Production", Starday Recording and Publishing Co., Inc. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
For many years on Christmas eve I waited hopefully
All the toys and games and such you'd be bringing me
But this year there is just one thing that could fill my heart..
Please take the toys you make for me to Vietnam this year
I've always had a lot of toys and it just don't seem right...
My mummy gives me money for the little chores I do
And many friends of mine saved there allowance too
We put it all together in a cheque you are holding here
Please drop it off in Vietnam at Christmas time this year...
We ? to do are share, just having food & shelter & the love...
So Santa please tell all your friends, especially Uncle Sam
That while there in a giving mood, remember Vietnam
#116 The Mask Christmas Letter Single · Viet Nam Prayer / Christmas Letter · It'll Do # 1000 · USA
Annotation
The song "Christmas Letter" (It'll Do Records # 1000) by the Mask - a country novelty record about a soldier in Vietnam during Christmas. It took a humorous tone, as the soldier hoped his father, back home, will cut down on the drinking and go to church on Christmas day. The soldier had a Christmas tree in Vietnam, all wet and muddy, but it protected him from the bullets: "don't worry mum, I have a Christmas tree...it protects me from the shells" . Also, the Red Cross supplied doughnuts to the soldier, which were apparently just as good as his mum's cooking. At the end of the song, the soldier sent out a Christmas wish to everyone from "under my Christmas tree in Vietnam" . Unknown artist, label, and year.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
It'll Do Records 1000, pink label; both sides written by The Mask and published by Sandra Music Publishing (BMI). Side A, "Christmas Letter" (C. L. 5598-A), 2:00; side B, "Viet-Nam Prayer" (V. N. 5598-B), 2:05. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Merry Christmas mum, sis, and dad, I hope you are well and fine mum
I hope you can get dad to church, maybe he'll quit drinking this time
Sis, I want to to say I'm sorry for not getting along better, tell your boyfriend I'm sorry I was rude to him
Mum, tell the man at the finance company that I'll pay him, if I ever get home
Mum, tell my buddies there hello and wish them and everyone a merry Christmas from me
Don't worry mum, I have a Christmas tree
It is wet and the ground is muddy but it protects me from the shells...
Mum, I'm sending you the Christmas money bag, thanks, but we don't need it here
We have the Red Cross and the doughnuts are so good I feel that I'm in your kitchen...
I'm wishing everyone a merry Christmas from under my Christmas tree in Vietnam
#117 The Mask Viet Nam Prayer Single · Viet Nam Prayer / Christmas Letter · It'll Do # 1000 · USA
Annotation
The record also included the track "Viet Nam Prayer" , which took a more serious approach. The narrator, a soldier, prayed to god to end the war in Vietnam, so that all the soldiers could get "out of this jungle" and then "be with our mothers, wives and girlfriends" . He also prayed for god to bring together at the conference table the leaders of the United States (referencing President Johnson), China, and Russia.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
It'll Do Records 1000, pink label; both sides written by The Mask and published by Sandra Music Publishing (BMI). Side A, "Christmas Letter" (C. L. 5598-A), 2:00; side B, "Viet-Nam Prayer" (V. N. 5598-B), 2:05. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Oh lord, you could answer so many prayers at once
And I think they would be as mine, mothers, wives and girlfriends...
Oh lord I think of you to get all of the great countries together
The United States, China, Russia, and the many others
Lord, I am sure the Mr. Johnson and others have talked to you...
I know my girlfriend has prayed for this, oh lord
I pray from this hole in the jungle, knowing if I should stand they'll end this prayer with a bullet
Lord, I know in my mind his mothers, wife or girlfriend wouldn't want me to kill him
So I'll finish this prayer before we take the other hill
Oh lord, I hope for all in this great land that you bring all of our great leaders to...the conference table
Then I can go up the hill behind us and out of this jungle
Then all the soldier may go back to our lands
Be with our mothers, wives and girlfriends
#118 Wade Jackson A GI's Letter From Home EP · Merry Christmas Country Style · Tennessee # 45-151 · USA
Annotation
The song "A GIs Letter From Home" (Tennessee Records # 45-151) by country singer Wade Jackson, released in Gallatin, Tennessee, looked at the soldier perspective, during Christmas time, as the GIs longed for letter from home. The song does not mention Vietnam, but was released during the era (although the precise date is unknown).
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Tennessee Records 45-151-EP (ARP-7028), yellow label with a state-outline logo, "From the Tennessee-LP-102 'Merry Christmas Country Style With Wade Jackson'"; this side carries 1. "Daddy Wants a Cuddling Doll for Christmas", 2:52, and 2. "A GI's Letter From Home", 3:10, both Cheeawa, BMI; "Dist. Exclusively by Tennessee Records, 620 Tulip Circle, Gallatin, Tenn." [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Come Christmas they long for a letter from home
It was a week before Christmas
And all down the line our men overseas were working overtime
To get to spend time with their families or maybe to scoot into town on Christmas eve
Now in B Company, was a little fellow named Lee
He was a little old PFC, from old Tennessee
The roster was posted, cause someone you know had the guard duty so that others could go
Lee saw his name, and said boys, if you'll don't get in jail, have that goofy mail clerk to bring up my mail
'Haha his mail', laughed his sergeant...
Still looking for letters he don't never get
Well they run into goofy in some bistro in town
Now he was drinking, just had troubled getting around
They went through his pockets though and it shocked them to see
There was a hand written letter for Lee
Well the sergeant spoke up and said I'll take it back, it's from old Lee's mother you can tell for a fact
I might not get back to the party I know, but he's not had a letter for over two months or so
Well a blizzard blew up, as towards the outpost he strove...
Far from their firesides these wild young men roam
Come Christmas they long for a letter from home, come Christmas
Show full lyrics (20 lines) ▾
#119 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" .
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
#120 Manuel Nunez El Norteno Imploracion de un padre Single · Imploracion de un padre / No hay navidad · Nogales # 45-1003 · USA
Credited on the record as Manuel Nuñez "El Norteño", Conjunto Nocturnal de Jose Luz Juarez.
Annotation
The Ranchera song "Imploracion de un padre" ( "Imploration of a Father" ) (Discos Nogales # DNLP-1001) looked at the home front perspective, with the father of a soldier narrating, missing his son, particularly at Christmas time. The song starts with the father kneeling before a cross, praying for his son, explaining that he fought in World War Two, but that "now a son of mine...is fighting in Vietnam" . He then described how the son used to play war games as a child, and how the family enjoyed Christmas. The father concluded by saying that "there will be no dinner at Christmas" . Not the picture sleeve of the LP, which showed a father praying, the soldier fighting in Vietnam, and an empty dinning table with a Christmas tree in the background. This song was also released on single: Imploracion de un padre (Discos Nogales # 45-1003).
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Discos Nogales 45-1003-A, green and red label with a walnut-tree logo; "Imploracion de un padre" (Manuel D. Nuñez), time 2:47, "Fox"; Manuel Nuñez "El Norteño" with Conjunto Nocturnal de Jose Luz Juarez. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Like past years, times of my youth, when kneeling
He was imploring before a cross
It was the second war to which I went to fight
Implored the eternal god, that very soon that hell he came to finish
I managed to get out alive
Many remained there
Today my grief is worse god of mine seeing that
Now a son of mine, he is fighting in Vietnam
When he was little he liked to go play always with a friend
Military dress, so the months went by
Christmas was coming, great was my rejoicing
I was not missing a child when sitting down to dinner
Today my son is far away, my home is not complete
My wife has cried a lot, he has not written, he has not called
There will be no dinner at Christmas
Spanish
Al igual que años pasados
Tiempos de mi Juventud
Cuando hincado de rodillas
Suplicaba ante una cruz
Era la segunda Guerra a la cual yo fui a pelear imploraba al dios eterno
Que muy pronto aquél infierno el viniera a terminar
Yo logré salir con vida
Muchos quedaron allá
Hoy mi pena es peor dios mío viendo que ahora un hijo mío
Está peleando en Vietnam
Cuando era pequeñito
Le gustaba ir a jugar siempre con un amiguito vestido de militar
Así pasaban los meses
Llegaba la navidad Grande era mi regosigo
No me faltaba ni un hijo
Al sentarnos a cenar
Hoy mi hijo está muy lejos
No está completo mi hogar
Mi esposa mucho ha llorado
No ha escrito no ha llamado
No habrá cena en navidad
Show full lyrics (39 lines) ▾
#121 Poncho Villagomez Imploracion de un padre Single · Imploracion de un padre / Yo vi llorar a dios · Del Rio # DDR-023 · USA
Credited on the record as Poncho Villagomez y Los Gallitos del Norte.
Annotation
The Ranchera song "Imploracion de un padre" ( "Imploration of a Father" ), a cover of the song above - there are two single releases of this version: Del Bravo # B-210, released in Mexico, and Del Rio # DDR-023, released in San Antonio, Texas. The artist, Poncho Villagomez, is a member of the Mexican group Los Coyotes del Río Bravo.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Del Rio DDR-023, Lado A, yellow and orange label, distribution credit to San Antonio, Texas on the rim; "Imploracion de un padre" (Manuel Nuñez), ranchera; Poncho Villagomez y Los Gallitos del Norte. A radio-station ownership stamp is applied over the right side of the label. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Like past years, times of my youth, when kneeling
He was imploring before a cross
It was the second war to which I went to fight
Implored the eternal god, that very soon that hell he came to finish
I managed to get out alive
Many remained there
Today my grief is worse god of mine seeing that
Now a son of mine, he is fighting in Vietnam
When he was little he liked to go play always with a friend
Military dress, so the months went by
Christmas was coming, great was my rejoicing
I was not missing a child when sitting down to dinner
Today my son is far away, my home is not complete
My wife has cried a lot, he has not written, he has not called
There will be no dinner at Christmas
Spanish
Al igual que años pasados
Tiempos de mi Juventud
Cuando hincado de rodillas
Suplicaba ante una cruz
Era la segunda Guerra a la cual yo fui a pelear imploraba al dios eterno
Que muy pronto aquél infierno el viniera a terminar
Yo logré salir con vida
Muchos quedaron allá
Hoy mi pena es peor dios mío viendo que ahora un hijo mío
Está peleando en Vietnam
Cuando era pequeñito
Le gustaba ir a jugar siempre con un amiguito vestido de militar
Así pasaban los meses
Llegaba la navidad Grande era mi regosigo
No me faltaba ni un hijo
Al sentarnos a cenar
Hoy mi hijo está muy lejos
No está completo mi hogar
Mi esposa mucho ha llorado
No ha escrito no ha llamado
No habrá cena en navidad
Show full lyrics (39 lines) ▾
#122 Beto Garza & Raul Gutierrez Navidad de un soldado Single · Llegando noche bueno / Navidad de un soldado · Bravo # BO-9018 · USA
Credited on the record as Beto Garza y Raul Gutierrez y su Conjunto.
Annotation
The Ranchera song "Navidad de un soldado" ( "Christmas of a Soldier" ) (Bravo Records # BO-9018), composed by Jose Morante, and performed by Beto Garza and Raul Gutierrez is another Mexican-American Christmas Vietnam song. It was released in San Antonio, Texas, USa, on two record labels: Bravo Records, and Norteño (# NO-213). No further information is known about the artists.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Bravo Records BO-9018-B (NO-213-A), 2606 Ruiz St., San Antonio, Texas; "Navidad de un soldado" (Jose A. Morante), Ranchera; Beto Garza y Raul Gutierrez y su Conjunto. Red and silver label with mountain logo. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Theme: Christmas
#123 Beto Garza & Raul Gutierrez Navidad de un soldado Single · Llegando noche bueno / Navidad de un soldado · Bravo # BO-9018 · USA
Credited on the record as Beto Garza y Raul Gutierrez y su Conjunto.
Annotation
Another version of the song above: "Navidad de un soldado" ( "Christmas of a Soldier" ) (Sombrero # SO-141) credited to Mike Garza, although it said that the vocals were by Beto Garza & Raul Gutierrez, as above. Also released in San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Bravo Records BO-9018-B (NO-213-A), 2606 Ruiz St., San Antonio, Texas; "Navidad de un soldado" (Jose A. Morante), Ranchera; Beto Garza y Raul Gutierrez y su Conjunto. Red and silver label with mountain logo. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Theme: Christmas
#124 Dottie Swan Red, White and Blue Christmas Single · Red, White & Blue Christmas / Words From a Song · Southern Artists # 45-2028 · USA
Annotation
Dottie Swan, a country music singer born in Hundred, West Virginia, on 27 August 1916. She died on 1 December 1972. In the 1950s and 1960s she appeared on the Grand Ole Opry broadcast on WSM, as well as the WWVA Original Jamboree (a country music radio broadcast from Wheeling, West Virginia).123 She also worked with Ernest Tubb.4 The song "Red, White & Blue Christmas" (Southern Artists Records # 45-2028) is narrated from the perspective of a soldier's wife, who had a baby boy. She missed her husband over Christmas. She used the colours of the US flag within the Christmas setting to express her feelings. It included some negative views about war in general: "standing alone, this is what war has done...red is the blood shed in vain" , while the use of the flag leaned towards the patriotic side. Composed by Dottie Swan. Distributed by Sounds of Nashville Inc. Publisher: Buckhorn Publishing Company. Performing Rights: BMI.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Southern Artists Records 45-2028 (SoN 26471), "Red, White & Blue Christmas" (Dottie Swan), 2:10, Buckhorn Pub. Co., BMI; "Dist. by Sound of Nashville, Inc., 160 2nd Ave. S., Nashville, Tennessee"; yellow label. The song also appears on a red Daring Records label, Record No. 19672, as "Red, White and Blue Christmas" (Dottie Swan), 2:10, Buckhorn, BMI, "Dist. Nationally by P.R.P., Inc. – 70 Visco Ct., Nashville, Tenn. 37210". [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Red, white and Blue is the Christmas this year
The snow flakes are falling, my Christmas will be white, my heart's hurting on this Christmas night
My arms are holding my precious infant son
But I'm standing alone, this is what war has done
Blue are the lights on my Christmas tree
Blue is the heart that beats inside of me
Red is the wine I'll be drinking alone oh how I Wished he were home
Red is the blood...shed in vain
White is the snow outside my window...
Red, white and blue is my Christmas this year
#125 Little Sonnie Mays Trap for Vietnam Single · Trap for Vietnam / Sonnie Mays · Camille # 125 · USA
Credited on the record as Little "Sonnie" Mays.
Annotation
Calypso anti-war song "Trap for Vietnam" (Camille Records # 125) by Little Sonnie Mays - no further biographical information in known at this time. It was released on a Bronx, New York record label, founded by Camille E. Hodge, who was born in the Virgin Islands, and immigrated to the US when he was 15 years old. His label released many calypso records.1 The song started with a novelty / comedy approach, suggesting that the best way to win the war was to take the US women and "send them to Vietnam...in a bikini" , to distract the Chinese - hence the title of the song. At the end of the song, the narrator turned serious, taking a strong anti-war position, and bringing a social-economic component into it: "a rich man war, and a poor man fight, let us stop this war now" . The narrator show sympathy for "all the mothers crying" at home and the difficulties of the soldier. It also referenced the Christmas holiday: "let them spend Christmas" at home, and "let us dine hand in hand" .
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Camille Records 125 A, 45 RPM, yellow label; "Trap for Vietnam" (C.A. Rogers), Amalie Music, BMI, time 3:50. A division of CAB Records, P.O. Box 620, New York 10027, N.Y. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Three ladies came to me, fat and big...
Telling them husbands could die in Vietnam
A little instruction Sonnie, you've got to help them
All the girls was making a joke
If you seen how they pulling on my coat
Send them off to Vietnam
Teach them how to hold a gun
Put them down in a bikini, that's the only way we can catch the Chinese
Good lord that's the trap
To bring our brothers back
The three ladies hold on to me...
I try to get away, you can imagine how they treat me all day
Lord the girls are hungry for romance
But a girl at home to take this chance...
What we are accomplishing in Vietnam
All the soldiers dying, all the mothers crying
A rich man war, and a poor man fight
Let us stop this war now
Come out and unite
Let them spend Christmas when Jesus was born
Put down your guns now and have some fun...
Too much men getting killed
I decide I can right my will
You might say this is so sad...
Christmas around the corner, let us dine hand in hand together...
Show full lyrics (26 lines) ▾
#126 The St. Nicholas Singers Say a Prayer for G.I. Joe Single · Say a Prayer for G. I. Joe / A Child Leads the Way · Danger # 3 · USA
Notes
Say a Prayer for G.I. Joe (St. Nicholas Singers, The)

Church music, Christmas.
Pray for the soldier - reference to Normandy (WW2), Da Nang (Vietnam), and Heartbreak Ridge (Korea)
Copyright 1968, probably released that year.
Notes
Danger 003 (6-7218A), Danger Music, Box 31, Mpls., Minn.; "Say a Prayer for G.I. Joe" (Jim Adams), 2:28; publishers Catnip, BMI, Aqua City, BMI and Portage, BMI. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#127 Danny Harrison Mommy, I Don't Want a Christmas Tree Single · Mommy, I Don't Want a Christmas Tree / This Is Christmas · Deneba # 7617 · USA
Notes
Mommy, I Don't Want a Christmas Tree (Harrison, Danny)

Country music. Christmas
Notes
Deneba Records No. 7617 (SON 98402), mono, blue label, "Just for You Mr. D.J."; "Mommy, I Don't Want a Christmas Tree" (Danny Harrison), Lonzo & Oscar Music, BMI, 2:05; produced by Joann Combs & Michael Perry; recorded at Jamboree Studios, Wheeling, W. Va.; "Dist. Nationally by Danny Harrison Enterprises—P.O. Box 227—West Logan, West Va." [From the record sleeve and labels]
Lyrics
English
Mommy I don't want a Christmas tree this year
Daddy is in Vietnam, you know he won't be here
You know he always helped us trim the Christmas tree
It won't seem like Christmas if daddy's not here with me
Genre: ♪ Country
#128 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]
#129 Dan Henderson Dear Son Single · Puppets / Dear Son · Dynamic # DY-119 · USA
Notes
Dear Son (Henderson, Dan)

Soldier's perspective - leans towards anti-war.
Christmas Vietnam.
From San Antonia, Texas.
Notes
Dynamic Records DY-119-2, Epp's Music, BMI; "Dear Son" (Henderson, Vasquez); producer Abe Epstein Studios; "Made in USA by Epstein Enterprises, San Antonio, Texas"; stamped "Not for Sale – Promotional Use Only". [From the record sleeve and labels]
#130 Artie Fullilove Santa Claus Please Listen to Me Single · Santa Claus Please Listen to Me / Reindeer Walk · Marlu # MA-1001 · USA
Notes
Santa Claus Please Listen to Me (Fullilove, Artie)

Soul. Christmas, anti-war
#131 Tommy Robichaux Christmas Time Again in Viet Nam Single · Christmas Time Again in Viet Nam / She Gave Up the Only One She Ever Loved · Cross # 103 · USA
Notes
Christmas Time Again in Viet Nam (Robichaux, Tommy)
Notes
Cross Records 103; producers Brunet and Roby; published by Faxs Pub., recorded at Faxs Recording Co.

Label: 103-A; Faxs Pub., ASCAP, 2:23; recorded at Faxs Recording Co., Inc., 814 E. Main, Houma, La. 70360; producers Roby & Brunet. [From the record label]
Genre: ♪ Country
#132 Tom Evans Hill Called Eight Seven Five Single · Hill Called Eight Seven Five / My Little Soldier Man · USA # 101 · USA
Notes
Hill Called Eight Seven Five (Evans, Tom)
My Little Soldier Man (Evans, Tom)

Country, patriotic.

A-side: soldier's perspective, patriotic, Christmas
Dad - I'm alive, terrible fight in Hill 875, VC all around.
Sweat and blood so tiny nation can survive. Old Glory waving.
I'll be home in time for Christmas

B-side: Home front perspective, narrated by father. Letter from Uncle Sam.
You're 1-A, drafted. Country is free because our sons are fighting
Notes
U.S.A. Record No. 101, red label; "Hill Called Eight Seven Five" (Tom Evans), matrix PRP 1071, and "My Little Soldier Man" (Tom Evans), matrix PRP 1072; both Cobco International Music, SESAC. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Genre: ♪ Country
#133 Tom Evans My Little Soldier Man Single · Hill Called Eight Seven Five / My Little Soldier Man · USA # 101 · USA
Annotation: see “Hill Called Eight Seven Five” above (same release).
Genre: ♪ Country
#134 Lena Hix I Want My Daddy for Christmas Single · Christmas Memories / I Want My Daddy for Christmas · Cap-Tone # CAP 0012 · USA
Notes
I Want My Daddy for Christmas (Hix, Lena)

Country, home front perspective, Christmas
Child asks Santa: please take my daddy's place overseas
Notes
Cap Tone Records, Azusa, California, CAP-0012-B, red label; "I Want My Daddy for Christmas" (Woody and Lena Hix), Maye-Raye Publishing (BMI), time 2:15; vocal by Lena Hix. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Genre: ♪ Country
#135 Billy Grey Christmas in the Army Single · Christmas in the Army / Lover's Lane · Tin Pan Alley # TPA 30-459 · USA
Notes
Christmas in the Army (Grey, Billy)

Song poem, Christmas, traditional pop
All day long I cried
Captain said don't be sad, you'll be home in 16 months
Work over here will soon be done
Notes
Tin Pan Alley Records TPA 30-459A, Tin Pan Alley, Inc., 1650 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10019; Juke Box Alley (ASCAP); "Christmas in the Army" (Franklin D. Kinman), 2:39; rubber-stamped date "Jun 3" on the label. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#136 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]
Genre: ♪ Country
#137 Green Apples Dirty Girl I Miss You So Single · Girl I Miss You So / To the Max · Mid Evyl # M 101 · USA
Notes
Garage rock, soldier's perspective.
Miss my sweetheart, should be leaving war in a month.
Merry Christmas.
Fathers receiving medal for their sons killed in action
Notes
Mid-Evyl Records M 101 B, green label; "Girl I Miss You So" (M. Rosebrook), published by Jobber Jaws Publishing, time 2:24; arranged by Rosebrook, directed by Wisebaker, produced by Phlypo; "Sound Patterns DXM Recording Studios, Detroit". [From the record sleeve and labels]
#138 'Pocono Mountain-Aires' Homesick Country Boy Single · Homesick Country Boy / Alone at Christmas · HalBet HAL # 112 · USA
Credited on the record as Pocono Mountain-Aires, vocal by Tommy Connor.
Notes
Traditional pop, soldier's perspective. Both sides.
Spending Christmas alone
Notes
HalBet Inc. Record Div. HAL 112 (45-112), blue label; side I "Homesick Country Boy" (Bobbi Baker), time 2:10 (AAB-481); side II "Alone at Christmas" (King-Derr), time 2:45 (AAB-482); both HalBet Music (ASCAP); Pocono Mountain-Aires, vocal by Tommy Connor. [From the record sleeve and labels]
#139 'Pocono Mountain-Aires' Alone at Christmas Single · Homesick Country Boy / Alone at Christmas · HalBet HAL # 112 · USA
Credited on the record as Pocono Mountain-Aires, vocal by Tommy Connor.
Annotation: see “Homesick Country Boy” above (same release).
#140 Perry Como Music in the Air: Special Christmas Show - Home for the Holidays Music in the Air: Special Christmas Show - Home for the Holidays / A Merry Merry Christmas to You
Notes
Christmas - US Air Force recruitment records.
Vietnam-era, traditional pop, both sides.
#141 The Kiddies With You Single · Christmas Joy / With You · Shanek # L-277 · USA
Notes
Christmas theme, released in Hollywood, California.
B-side, "With You" has "Letter From Viet Nam" hand-written on it. Need to verify lyrics.
Notes
Shanek L-277, released in Hollywood, California. The B-side "With You" has "Letter From Viet Nam" handwritten on the label (copy seen); lyrics not yet verified.
#142 Carver YMCA Choir & George E. Gullen, Jr. We Wish You a Merry Christmas / Silent Night (With Message by G. E. Gullen) EP · Operation Merry Christmas: Christmas Greetings to America's Fighting Forces · National Council of YMCA's # OMX-2-67 · USA
Credited on the record as Carver YMCA Choir, Charles Higgins, Director; Greeting by George E. Gullen, Jr..
Notes
- Christmas, YMCA
- Greetings to armed forces
- PSAs with music, Vietnam-era

- YMCA's of the United States, in cooperation with the broadcasting industry, presents "Operation Merry Christmas": Christmas Greetings to America's Fighting Forces. National Council of YMCA's, 291 Broadway, New York, OMX-2-67, 33⅓ rpm 7" radio disc ("All music cleared").

Carols sung by the Carver YMCA Choir, Charles Higgins, director; greeting by George E. Gullen, Jr., President, National Council of YMCA's. Cut 1 (90 sec.): "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Silent Night", with message by G. E. Gullen; Cut 2 (60 sec.): "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"; Cut 3 (60 sec.): "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Silent Night"; Cut 4 (44 sec.): message by George E. Gullen, Jr.

Vietnam-era public service disc for radio stations; the war is not named on the label. No year is printed (the catalogue number ends -67). [From the record label]
#143 George E. Gullen, Jr. Message by George E. Gullen, Jr. EP · Operation Merry Christmas: Christmas Greetings to America's Fighting Forces · National Council of YMCA's # OMX-2-67 · USA
Notes
YMCA's of the United States, in cooperation with the broadcasting industry, presents "Operation Merry Christmas": Christmas Greetings to America's Fighting Forces. National Council of YMCA's, 291 Broadway, New York, OMX-2-67, 33⅓ rpm 7" radio disc ("All music cleared").

Carols sung by the Carver YMCA Choir, Charles Higgins, director; greeting by George E. Gullen, Jr., President, National Council of YMCA's. Cut 1 (90 sec.): "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Silent Night", with message by G. E. Gullen; Cut 2 (60 sec.): "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"; Cut 3 (60 sec.): "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Silent Night"; Cut 4 (44 sec.): message by George E. Gullen, Jr.

Vietnam-era public service disc for radio stations; the war is not named on the label. No year is printed (the catalogue number ends -67). [From the record label]
#144 Perry Como Special Christmas Show: Home for the Holidays Single · Music in the Air · United States Air Force # Program No. 85 · USA
Notes
United States Air Force Presents Music in the Air, Program No. 85, Roncom Music ASCAP, dialogue out 4:40, M.F. 5:00. [From the record label]

Recruitment record: the song is not about Vietnam, the spoken intro promotes the Air Force.

Christmas - US Air Force recruitment records. Vietnam-era, traditional pop, both sides. [From Justin A. Brummer notes from RYM]
Genre: ♪ Pop
#145 Daniel Garzes Esperando navidad Single · Esperando navidad / Amor bendito · ZaZ # ZZ-195-A · USA
Notes
Esperando navidad (Garzes, Daniel) Tex-Mex. San Antonio, Texas, USA [From Justin A. Brummer notes from RYM] Composer Daniel Garzes, accompaniment Los Guadalupanos, "ZaZ Studio Production"; label at 140 Hwy 90 W., San Antonio, Texas 78237. Subjects listed: Vietnam, war, soldier, return, Christmas. [From the Strachwitz Frontera Collection]

Lyric theme data

Lyric content themes tagged on the songs in this collection — parent themes with their sub-themes (number of records). Click a theme for its definition and all records carrying it.

Show all 32 themes ▾

Key stats

142 songs · 133 releases · 131 artists · 119 labels · 1961–2019 · 3 more list entries have no record page yet and are not counted here

Time period
  • 1966 is the peak year, with 23 songs.
  • 1965–68 holds 49 of the 105 dated songs — nearly one in three in four years.
  • 128 were released during the war years (to 1975); 14 came after.
  • 37 records are undated.
Artists
  • 131 artists for 142 songs — almost every act appears exactly once. No act appears more than twice.
  • 62 of the artists are still unidentified beyond the record: no line-up, no biography.
Songwriters
  • Songwriter gender is recorded for 85 of the 142 songs: 67 by men, 13 by women and five by mixed teams — women wrote 15% of those.
  • By performer: 103 men, 23 women, 14 mixed groups and two not identified (recorded for 142).
  • 158 named songwriters. The most often credited are Bolek Dzikowski and Danny Ratcliff and J. Price, with two each.
Labels
  • 101 of the 119 labels appear exactly once; Columbia has the most, with four.
  • 30 sit on a major or well-known imprint — Columbia, Mercury, RCA Victor, Capitol, Decca, Imperial, Scepter, A&M. The other 112 are on independent, regional or private labels.
  • One is a private pressing with no label at all.
  • Eight 45s put both of their sides into this list.
Locations
  • 133 of the 142 are American. New York leads with 25, then California 17 and Tennessee 13.
  • New York City accounts for 22 records, more than any other city; Los Angeles has nine, Nashville seven.
  • Nine come from outside the US: two Australian, two British, one Canadian, one Danish, one from Guam, one Puerto Rican, and others.
Themes
  • By perspective: 62 home front or soldier's perspective; 34 peace, protest and anti-war; 32 patriotic, pro-government or anti-protest; 14 post-war.
  • 102 distinct sub-themes across 142 songs.
  • Home Front Perspective is the single biggest subject — 55 songs, nearly one in three.
  • Next come Soldier's Perspective (47), Patriotic (33), Anti-War (32) and Religion (25).