Draft Songs

403 songs · chronological · Annotations and notes by Justin A. Brummer

A collection of Vietnam War songs referencing draft-related issues This forms part of the larger Vietnam War Song Project, an interpretive examination of over 6,000 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.YouTube Playlist: Vietnam - DraftPicture…

Wilbert Harrison – Drafted (1961)
The Valadiers – Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam) (1961)
The Four Preps – Big Draft (1962)
The Goldcoast Singers – Please Mr. Kennedy (1962)
Big Joe Williams – Army Man Blues (1962)
Luke Miles – War Time Blues (1962)
Memphis Willie B. – Uncle Sam Blues (1962)
Pete Seeger – The Willing Conscript (1963)
Sherwoods – Uncle Sam (1963)
Barry McGuire – Eve Of Destruction (1965)
Country Joe & The Fish – I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag (1965)
Phil Ochs – Draft Dodger Rag (1965)
Phil Ochs – Days of Decision (1965)
Denis Gibbons – National Service Blues (Draft Dodger Blues) (1965)
Tom Paxton – Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation (1965)
Tom Paxton – Willing Conscript (1965)
Michael Blessing – New Recruit (1965)
Jan Berry – The Universal Coward (1965)
Jerry Reed – Fightin' for the U.S.A. (1965)
Jerry Reed – Navy Blues (1965)
Billy Carr – What's Come Over This World? (1965)
The Jayhawkers – Dawn of Instruction (1965)
Happy Fats – Birthday Thank You Tommy, From Viet Nam (1965)
Eddie Bond – Back to Viet Nam (1965)
Richard Kaye – Here Comes Uncle Sam (1965)
The Boss Five – Please Mr. President (1965)
Gary Shearston – Twenty Summers (1965)
Gary Shearston – Conscription Ramp (1965)
The Norfolk Singers – Nasho Service (1965)
The Beach Bums – The Ballad of the Yellow Beret (1966)
The Midnight Sons – Draft Time Blues (1966)
The Combenashuns – Hey Uncle Sam (1966)
The Barons – Don't Burn It (1966)
The Prophets – Fightin' For Sam (1966)
Bobby Wayne – Uncle Sam’s Got My Number (1966)
The Fugs – Doin' All Right (1966)
Pete Seeger – Draft Dodger Rag (1966)
Pete Seeger – King Henry (1966)
Johnny Freedom – Ain't I Right (1966)
Pat Boone – Wish You Were Here, Buddy (1966)
Keith Everett – Conscientious Objector (1966)
Sue Simpson – Soldier in Viet Nam (1966)
Loretta Lynn – Dear Uncle Sam (1966)
Millie Credit – Jim in Viet Nam (1966)
Steve Bledsoe – Send a Christmas Card to Joe (1966)
Steve Bledsoe – Lead on Mr. President (1966)
Larry La Pole & the Polecats – Placed Called Viet Nam (1966)
Troy Norris – My Call to Vietnam (1966)
Bob Withers – "What the..." (Is a Going On in Washington) (1966)
J.B. Lenoir – Vietnam (1966)
Robert Pete Williams – This Is a Mean Old World to Me (1966)
The Monitors – Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam) (1966)
King Soloman – Please Mr President (1966)
The Players – He'll Be Back (1966)
William Bell – Soldier's Goodbye (1966)
Dorothy Norwood – The Soldier From Viet Nam (1966)
The Ram Ram Go-Go Biz. Man – Vietnam Cries U.S.A. (1966)
Gary Shearston – The Lost Soldier (1966)
Willow Macky – Ballad of William White (1966)
Susan Wheeler – Christmas Prayer (1966)
Arlo Guthrie – Alice's Restaurant Massacree (1967)
Victor Lundberg – Open Letter To My Teenage Son (1967)
Every Father's Teenage Son – Letter to Dad (1967)
Brandon Wade – Letter From a Teenage Son (1967)
Marceline – An Open Letter to My Dad (1967)
Keith Gordon – A Teenager's Answer (1967)
Keith Gordon – Teenager's Answer (Vocal) (1967)
Dick Clair – Hi, Dad (An Open Letter to Dad) (1967)
Dick Clark – Open Letter to the Older Generation (1967)
Chris Howard – Open Letter to Dad (1967)
Chris Howard – Dear Dad (1967)
Bob Random – Open Letter to My Father (1967)
Archie Bell & The Drells – Soldier's Prayer 1967 (1967)
The Masqueraders – Let's Face Facts (1967)
James Dudley – What a Man Will Do (When He Loves a Woman) (1967)
Tony Mason – Take Good Care (1967)
Jimmy Hughes – Uncle Sam (1967)
Tiny Watkins – Soldier's Sad Story (1967)
Big Amos – Going to Vietnam (1967)
T. Valentine – Massius Ray (1967)
Skeeter Bonn – Off to Vietnam (In the Green) (1967)
Faith Willow – There in Viet Nam (1967)
Jaci Damon – Place Called Vietnam (1967)
Tex Morton – 21st Birthday (1967)
The Bob Seger System – 2+2=? (1968)
The Byrds – Draft Morning (1968)
The Put On Company – Please Mr. Johnson (I Don't Wanna Go) (1968)
John Lee Hooker – I Gotta Go to Vietnam (1968)
Billy Bizor – Vietnam War (1968)
Lightnin' Hopkins – Viet Nam War (Pt.1) & (Pt.2) (1968)
Abner Jay – Vietnam (1968)
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup – Questionnaire Blues (1968)
Emanuel Laskey – A Letter From Vietnam (1968)
Robert Tamkin / Rev. Bill Alberts, PhD – Teenage Son's Open Letter to His Father (1968)
Various Artists – Send Me Instead (1968)
Little Joe and The Latinaires – A la guerra ya me llevan (1968)
Glen Tomasetti – Ballad of Bill White (1968)
Glen Tomasetti – Army's Appeal to Mothers (1968)
Roger Jones – Big Brother (Home for Christmas) (1968)
Becky Lamb – Love Tommy (1968)
Steppenwolf – Draft Resister (1969)
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son (1969)
The Flying Burrito Bros – My Uncle (1969)
Donovan – To Susan on the West Coast Waiting (1969)
Shirl Milete – I Wonder If Canada's Cold (1969)
Merle Haggard and The Strangers – Okie From Muskogee (1969)
Gary Laster – Drafted Minor (1969)
Troy Seals – Mama Hold My Hand (1969)
Roscoe Robinson – Don't Forget the Soldiers (Fighting in Vietnam) (1969)
The Fabulous Performers – One Little Kiss (1969)
Skip Jackson – Promise That You'll Wait (1969)
Six Pak – Weep No More (1969)
Six Pak – Bring 'Em on Home (1969)
Tommy Tycho – Army Training (1969)
Jacinto Antonio – A la guerra me llevan (1969)
Merle Haggard – Fightin' Side Of Me (1970)
David Peel & The Lower East Side – Hey, Mr. Draft Board (1970)
Rodriguez – Establishment Blues (1970)
Paul Kantner / Jefferson Starship – Mau Mau (Amerikon) (1970)
Paul Kantner / Jefferson Starship – Child Is Coming (1970)
Mike Millius – Ballad of Song My (1970)
The Wilburn Brothers – Little Johnny From Down the Street (1970)
The Wilburn Brothers – Vision at the Peace Table (1970)
Barbara Dane – The Resistance Hymn (1970)
Matt Jones – Hell No, I Aint Gonna Go! (1970)
Edwin Starr – Stop The War Now (1970)
Big Joe Williams – Army Man in Vietnam (1970)
Rev. Oris Mays – Another Christmas Without My Son (1970)
Cher – Classified 1A (1971)
Buffy Sainte-Marie – Moratorium (Bring Our Brother Home) (1971)
Joan Baez – Carry It On (1971)
Joan Baez – Joe Hill (1971)
Joan Baez – We Shall Overcome (1971)
Freda Payne – Bring the Boys Home (1971)
Bill Bailey – Indictment of the Nation (1971)
The Adams Brothers – The U.S.A. Soldier (1971)
The Impressions – Stop the War (1972)
Parliament – Come in Out of the Rain (1972)
Champion Jack Dupree – Vietnam Blues (1972)
Patrick Sky – Luang Prabang (1972)
Patrick Sky – Fight For Liberation (1972)
Patrick Sky – Under All Flags (1972)
Don Henderson – I'm an Australian – 20 Years Old
Don Henderson – Bill White
Don Henderson – Draft Card Burner’s Song
Don Henderson – Peace is Union Business
Don Henderson – Somone Up There
Don Henderson – Ting-A-Ling
Don Henderson – Was War For Those Who Want It
Don Henderson – Won’t-Leave-This-Lander
Smiley Smith – I Wish I Had a Draftcard
Joyce & Linda New – I'm the Girl
Ted Collins – Let's Back Those Boys in South Vietnam
Griffen's Paraders – An Open Letter to My Teenage Son: Music of Our American Heritage
George Jay – Greetings - This Is Uncle Sam
Henry Scott Jr. – Bye, Bye, Baby, Hello Vietnam
Gilberto Perez – A la guerra ya me llevan
José de Molina – El niño de Vietnam
Los Fabulosos Robles de Reynosa – Corrido de Pancho Alvarez
Odilio González – Cruces Boricuas en Vietnam
Li'l Wally and The Harmony Boys – Vietnam Polka (Do Vietnam)
Big Bill Schaeffer – Draft Call
Judy Jaynes – Don't Take Him Away (1961)
The Creators – Drafted, Volunteered and Enlisted (1961)
The Viceroys – Uncle Sam Needs You (1961)
Mickey Woods – Please Mr. Kennedy (1962)
Lonzo & Oscar – Peeling Taters in the Army (1962)
The Carmel Sisters – Joey's Comin' Home (1963)
Norm Burns – Twenty-Three (1963)
Bobby Jameson – Viet Nam (1965)
Adam Saylor – I Will Go Away (1965)
The Gas Co. – Blow Your Mind (1965)
Little Brenda Duff – Army's Got Me Crying (1965)
The In Group – Draft (1965)
Ray Melvin – Soldier's Prayer (1965)
The Singing Bodies – Diagnosis-Neurosis (1965)
Joe (Wild Thing) King – Hold Out (1966)
Joe (Wild Thing) King – On My Way Home (1966)
Chuck Blake – Please, Mr. Johnson (1966)
The Reactors – 1-A (1966)
Don Wright and The Head Set – Draft Dodger Blues (1966)
Tom Thumb and The Casuals – Draft (1966)
Gianni Morandi – C'era un ragazzo che come me amava i Beatles e i Rolling Stones (1966)
Charlotte Morgan – He's Coming Home (From Viet Nam) (1966)
B. J. Thomas – Billy and Sue (1966)
Ray Godfrey – Keep Your Chin Up, Soldier (1966)
Allan Sherman – Live!! (Hoping You Are the Same) (1966)
Allan Sherman – Live!! (Hoping You Are the Same) (1966)
Garland Frady – Ballad of the Unknown Soldier (1966)
The Charades – Hammers and Sickles (Make Very Poor Toys) (1966)
The Charades – Left Wing Bird (1966)
Rusty and His Rangers – Card From Uncle Sam (1966)
David Henry – It Ain't All Right With Me (1966)
Tommy Jones & The Hayriders – Commies Are Coming (1966)
Betsy and Laura – My G.I. Joe (1966)
Johnny Bond – They Got Me (1966)
Johnny Mitchell – Letter to the President (1966)
Shorty Long – Greetings (Uncle Sam Wants You) (1966)
Johnny Cash – One on the Right Is on the Left (1966)
Boomer & Travis – Dear Uncle (1966)
Gene Wyles – Follow Me (1966)
Gene Wyles – The Reporter of Wars (1966)
Slim King – Be Proud of Your Country (1966)
Jimmy Roosa – Big Wave (1966)
Rudy Gaddis – I've Been There Once (1966)
Sheri Layne – Me, Jimmy and Johnny (1966)
Mark Dauler – Letter From a Boy in Vietnam (1967)
Barbara March – Private First Class So and So (1967)
The Four Preps – Draft Dodger Rag (1967)
Seeds of Euphoria – Let's Send Batman to Viet Nam (1967)
Johnny Martin [US] – Uncle Sam's Navy (1967)
Shelley Stuart – Not Even Uncle Sam Can Take the Part (1967)
Smiley & Kitty Wilson – Bringing Johnny Williams Home (1967)
Sgt. Frank Carter – Straight-Leg-Soldier (1967)
Sgt. Frank Carter – War Is Hell (1967)
Razzy Bailey – Re-Enlistment Papers (1967)
Max Norris – Fighting Men Unknown (1967)
Don Rondo – Just Before the Battle (1967)
5 Williamson Brothers – When Uncle Sam Called for Me (1967)
Gene Gullette – Linda Lou (1967)
Mass Confusion Rock Band – War Rages On (1967)
Various Artists – Save the Children: Songs From the Hearts of Women (1967)
Thorndike Pickledish – S. F. Bound (1967)
Ernie Maresca – My Son (1967)
Bobby Lile – Hard Way to Go (1967)
Bobby Mack – Mother's Prayer (1968)
Transatlantic Railroad – Why Me (1968)
The Rehabilitation Cruise – I Don't Care What They Say (1968)
Michael Merchant – Military Minor Blues (1968)
Joey Welz – Marines Diary (1968)
Autry Inman – Ballad of Two Brothers (1968)
Jan Howard – My Son (1968)
Mike Johnson – I'll Be Home Again (1968)
Smooth Lundvall and The New Happiness – Dear Chester (1968)
Jim Wayne – Soldiers Who Die (1968)
Jerry Clayton – Gonna Get My Hair Cut (1968)
Bill Lancaster – Third Party System (1968)
Tom Sawyer – Flag Draped Coffin (1968)
Randy Boone – It's So Hard to Tell Mama Goodbye (1968)
Bill Carlisle – My Name Is Jones (1968)
Bill Floyd – Freedom's Cause (1968)
The Carlyles – Please Give Us Our Ship Back (1968)
Ultimate Spinach – Ultimate Spinach (1968)
Toby Ben – Peace Wake Up to the Sunshine (1968)
Steppenwolf – Monster (1969)
The Hello People – Anthem (1969)
Dennis Linde – Ballad of a Blood Trained Killer (1969)
Gene Smith – The Soldier's Game (1969)
Young Sam – Dear Mr. President (1969)
Paul Martin – Coward (1969)
Bobby Gee and Redd – Oh Vietnam (1969)
Tiny West and Her Country Swingers – Down in Vietnam (1969)
Robert Kolen – Vietnam (1969)
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Human Beings, People, Persons & Homo Sapiens / The Zanies – Oh Mr. Nixon (1969)
The Odyssey Rock Band – I'll Be Coming Home (1969)
Bob Mills – I'm Taking Care of Things Here at Home (1969)
Earl Scott – Take These Chains Off of Me (1969)
Dr. John – Patriotic Flag Waver (Long Version) (1969)
Dr. John – Patriotic Flag Waver (Short Version) (1969)
Daryl Bowden – Lottery (1970)
Bob Seger System – Mongrel (album) (1970)
Bob Seger System – Leanin on My Dream (1970)
J.C. – Johnny Get Your Gun (1970)
The Guess Who – American Woman (1970)
Layng Martine Jr. – The Recruit (1970)
Tom Laughon – The National Lottery Blues (1970)
Leroy Van Dyke – Mister Professor (1970)
Storm Warning – Little Miss Teen (1970)
JF Murphy and Salt – Almost Home (1970)
Jay Pollard – Mail Call (1970)
Buddy Green – Molly Gave (1971)
Anson Blue – He Took Away Her Darlin (1971)
Bo Ratliff – Give Them Guns (1971)
Henson Cargill – Pencil Marks on the Wall (1971)
Randy Burns – Randy Burns & The Sky Dog Band (1971)
Mary Travers – Morning Glory (1972)
Red Sovine – Go Hide John (1972)
Frank Campbell – East 71st Street (1972)
Verlin 'Red' Speeks – The Red White & Blue (1972)
Bob Frank – Bob Frank (1972)
Gary Grande and The New Brass Revolution – We've Got the Vote Now (1972)
Bill Perry – Things Have Got to Change (1972)
Gordon Sinclair – Americans (A Canadian's Opinion) (1973)
Merry Airbrakes – Draft Board Blues (1973)
Merry Airbrakes – Happy Song for Hanoi (1973)
Harold Lowery – Seven Lonely Years (1973)
George Riddles – The Man (1973)
O.B. McClinton – Obie From Senatobie (1973)
Mick Lloyd – A Long, Long Time Ago (1974)
Stu Gardner – Leave Him Alone (1974)
Kenny Burgess – Soldier-Peace (1974)
Jerry Taylor – Amnesty From America (1974)
Pernell Charity – War Blues (1975)
Harry Chapin – Bummer (1975)
Carlos Puebla – El ejemplo de Vietnam (1975)
Various Artists – A Very Nice Country (1975)
Slim Jim – My Son (1976)
James Carr – Let's Face Facts (1977)
Don Barry – Pardon Me, Mr. President (1977)
Mike Pearson – Amnesty (1977)
James 'Guitar Slim' Stephens – War Service Blues (1978)
Bob Aden – True Red, White & Blue Never Runs (Amnesty Be Damned) (1978)
John Paul Brennan – Vietnam (1978)
Vivian Walton – Muhammad Ali Is the Greatest Champ of All (1979)
Boyd Coulter – Don't Draft My Daughter (1980)
Mel Moore – Old Soldier's Prayer (1980)
Dead Kennedys – We've Got a Bigger Problem Now (1981)
Mike Callender – Soldier of 'Nam (1981)
Mike Callender – Forgotten Lives - Forgotten Wives (1981)
Chris Noel – Forgotten Man (1981)
The Fartz – Viet-Vet (1982)
The Charlie Daniels Band – Still in Saigon (1982)
Bolland – You're In The Army Now (1982)
Manowar – Death Tone (1982)
Manowar – Shell Shock (1982)
Doman Bros. – World War III (1982)
Various Artists – Long Black Wall (1983)
Tommy Cash – Forgotten Man (1983)
Various Artists – Draft Board Blues (1985)
Saxon – Innocence Is No Excuse (1985)
Roger Wright – Heroes of Vietnam (1986)
Bill McKenna – Vietnam: Still Part of Who I Am (1986)
Bill McKenna – Khong biet, America (1986)
Bill McKenna – The Veteran (1986)
MDC – Smoke Signals (1986)
1st Lt. Bobby Ross – Goodbye to West Virginia (1987)
Steve Earle – Copperhead Road (1988)
Various Artists – Long Black Wall (1990)
Don McLean – 1967 (1991)
Jonathan Edwards – United by the Wall (1992)
Eddie "Little Buster" Forehand – Looking for a Home (1996)
Arthur Weston – Uncle Sam Called Me (I Got to Go) (1997)
Johnny Dowd – Vietnam (1999)
The Hard Feelings – (We Need Another) Vietnam (2000)
Duane Peters and The Hunns – In Vietnam (2001)
Michael Yonkers Band – Kill the Enemy (2002)
Louie Logic – Trail of Tears (2002)
Immortal Technique – Revolutionary Vol. 2 (2003)
MDC – Ballad of G.W. (2004)
MDC – Founding Fathers - Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? (2004)
Henry Flynt & The Insurrections – Uncle Sam Do (2005)
Henry Flynt & The Insurrections – I Don't Wanna (2005)
Henry Flynt & The Insurrections – Go Down (2005)
Allan Sherman – Christmas '65 (The Draft) (2005)
Big & Rich – 8th of November (2005)
Sam Roberts – An American Draft Dodger in Thunder Bay (2006)
Talib Kweli – Happy Home (2007)
Chance the Rapper – Everybody's Something (2013)
Michael Borkson – 1968 (2014)
Danny Barnes – Man on Fire (2020)
Jerry Hayes – Back From Nam (album)
Jerry Hayes – Thanks to Them
Jerry Hayes – I Praise the Vet
Phil Coley – Don't Go Blamin' Me for Vietnam
Phil Coley – Big Black Wall
Bobby Jay – Help! I've Been Drafted
Tom Evans – Hill Called Eight Seven Five
Tom Evans – My Little Soldier Man
Jerry Lee "Smoochy" Smith – World Si-Tuation
Robin Lee – Medal of Honor
Buddy Starr – Vietnam
Rodd Rogers – I'm Proud to Be a Hippie From Mississippi
Gene Marshall – Lord Has Drafted My Son
Rodd Keith – Sunshine and Soul
Norm Burns & The Five Stars – Ballad of the Green Machine
Fred Carson – When the Cowboys Go to War
Lance Hill – Old Glory Speaks
Lance Hill – Letter to Uncle Sam
The Highlanders – Yankee Soldiers
Jimmy Lumsden – Childs Postcard to God
Adrian Miller – Joe and Me
John & Margie Cook – Oh God, Please Bring My Daddy Back
Brad, Dave & Donna – I'm an Unknown Soldier
Cal Davis – Three Letters From a Soldier
Melody Rose – Dear Uncle Sam Answer
Earl Killian – The Renaissance Red Neck
Dominion Bluegrass Boys – America's President
Charlie Stewart – G.I. Joe
The Mayor of Wragg Swamp – Demonstration Walk
Tom O'Neil – Our Flag Will Wave Forever
Chad Chadwell – I'm Home From Viet Nam
Gene Wyatt – Fightin' for the Free Land
Hazel Duncan – Mr. President
Jimmy Chapel – I Was Called
Slim Thompson – Please Excuse the Bottle
Roy Roberts – The Living and the Dying
Will McLean – The Protest Song
Wayne Moore – Off to Viet-Nam
Ricki Sanro – Uncle Sam (You're Taking My Man)
Jan Snyder – Last Letter From Heartbreak Viet Nam
Paul Really – Soldier's Letter to Congress
Johnny Prytko & the Connecticut Hi-Tones – Hendrick the Hippie
Johny Starr – (We the Dead Of) VIET-NAM
Dick Kapusta – Is This Free?
Ronnie Lee – A Soldiers Letter
Jimmie Grant – Amnesty
Shades – Let Us Vote
Jim Hughes – A P.O.W.'s Prayer
Naomi Cohen – Hell No, We Won't Go
Naomi Cohen – Saigon Waitress
Shurlie Grant – A Song to Florence Beaumont
Shurlie Grant – To the Parents
Randy Rudolph – We Are the Guys Who Win Wars