Jody Songs

The term "Jody" originated from "Joe the Grinder" (dated c.1939) - a mythical man in blues and jazz tunes who seduced the wives and girlfriends of soldiers, prisoners, and those away from home (for work or whatever). "Grinder" was an old slang word for sex (dated c.1647). It is thought to have been introduced into the army by African-Americans during the Second World War, used in military cadences (marches), such as "ain’t no use in going home, Jody’s got your girl and gone" - shouted out by a military officer, and repeated by the group of marching soldiers in unison. This type of marching later got the nickname of "jodies" or "jody calls".

#1 Lightnin' Hopkins War Is Starting Again 1961 · Single · Got Me a Louisiana Woman / War Is Starting Again · Ivory # 91272 · USA

Credited on the record as Lightning Hopkins and His Guitar.

Lightnin' Hopkins, born Sam Hopkins on 15 March 1912, in Centreville, Texas, recorded extensively from the 1940s-1970s, typically playing blues in the style that came out of his native Texas, like Blind Lemon Jefferson (acoustic / electric Texas blues). Often singing about topical events, such as the Korean War and Great Depression, in the mid-late 1960s he turned his attention to Vietnam. He died in Houston Texas on 30 January 1982.¹ In 1969, he released the anti-war single "Please Settle in Viet Nam" (Joliet # 205). He also recorded the song "Vietnam War" with his cousin Billy Bizor on the album Blowing My Blues Away in 1968, discussed below. In fact, Hopkins released his own version of that song, called "Viet Nam War (Pt.1) & (Pt.2)" on the 1968 album Talkin' Some Sense (Jewel Records # LPS 5001), also discussed below.

On this LP featured the 1962 song "War Is Starting Again" (Vee-Jay Records # LP-1044), which may have been too early to specifically mention the Vietnam conflict. The narrator expressed fear of war coming, "well, I got news this morning, right now they need a million men" .

This song also included a "Jody" reference - the term "Jody" originated from "Joe the Grinder" (dated c.1939) - a mythical man in blues and jazz tunes who seduced the wives and girlfriends of soldiers, prisoners, and those away from home (for work or whatever). "Grinder" was an old slang word for sex (dated c.1647). It is thought to have been introduced into the army by African-Americans during the Second World War, used in military cadences (marches), such as "ain’t no use in going home, Jody’s got your girl and gone" - shouted out by a military officer, and repeated by the group of marching soldiers in unison. This type of marching later got the nickname of "jodies" or "jody calls". In this case, the narrator is the Jody: "you know my girlfriend got a boyfriend in the army, that fool better go overseas" . Hopkins later uses a similar line in the 1969 song "Please Settle in Viet Nam" .

Ivory Records 91272B, 45 R.P.M.; "War Is Starting Again" (Hopkins - Semiens), 2:45, Allee Music Publ., BMI; "Lightning Hopkins and His Guitar". Label decorated with two elephant drawings. [From the record sleeve and labels]

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Themes: Draft Jody

Genres: ♪ BluesTexas Blues

Also in: ▤ US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]▤ Blues songs▤ Draft Songs▤ Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]

#2 Johnny Bond A Letter From Home 1966 · Album · Country Music Goes to War · Starday # SLP-374 · USA

Themes: Home Front Perspective Soldier's Perspective Jody VC

Genres: ♪ CountryHonky Tonk

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

#3 Joe Medwick Letter to a Buddie 1966 · Single · Letter to a Buddie / Stealing · Boogaloo # 1002 · USA

"Letter to a Buddie" (... # 55101) by Joe Medwick, released in 1963 - contained an early reference to Vietnam. Also released on Houston, Texas label Boogaloo Records (# 1002) - this was probably the original release, with Medwick based in Texas, and the song being picked up by the larger New York based label ....
Born 22 June 1931, Houston, TX, United States
Died 12 April 1992, Houston, TX, United States¹

spoken-word. soulful, blues background music.

East-West 55101 (EW 1), cream label; "Letter to a Buddie", Joe Medwick, "Vocal With Instrumental Accompaniment"; Hudson-Dart & Crazy Cajun Mus.; produced by Henry Meaux; East-West Music, Inc., 1619 B'way, N.Y.C. 10019. No writer credit or time printed. [From the record sleeve and labels]

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Themes: Home Front Perspective Soldier's Perspective Jody VC

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoul

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

#4 Carolina Charlie Wiggs Letter From Home 1967 · Single · Letter From Home / S.R.O. (When I Die) · Pussy Cat # 7006 · USA

Letter From Home (Wiggs, Carolina Charlie)

"a Pussy Cat record", P.O. Box 12281, Norfolk, Va.; Record No. 007006 A (201,232), 45 RPM, white label; "Letter From Home" (Hank Penny), time 3:03, publisher Copar-Forrest Music Corp. (BMI); credited to "Carolina" Charlie Wiggs; "Dist. by Chart Records, 806 16th Ave., S., Nashville, Tenn." [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Home Front Perspective Soldier's Perspective Jody VC

Genre: ♪ Country

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

#5 The Dixie Drifter Dear John Letter 1968 · Single · Dear John Letter / Across the Table · Platinum # PL-2300 · USA

Credited on the record as The Dixie Drifter (Enoch Gregory).

Dear John Letter (Dixie Drifter, The)
Across the Table (Dixie Drifter, The)

Soul, Vietnam-era.
A-side: Soldier overseas, received a letter from his sweetheart, who married his brother Jimmy!
She asked for her picture back and for his blessing.
B-side: man sitting at a bar, wishing for his sweetheart back - the soldiers from the a-side?

Platinum PL-2300 (U4KM-9059), American Music (BMI); "Dear John Letter" (L. Talley, B. Baton, C. Owen), vocal, time 2:58; produced by Joe Robinson; credited to The Dixie Drifter (Enoch Gregory). [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Soldier's Perspective Jody

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoul

Also in: ▤ Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs

#6 Hank Penny A Letter From Home 1968 · Single · A Letter From Home / Keep's On Haunting Me · Wasp # WR-117 · USA

Credited on the record as The Incomparable Hank Penny.

Wasp WR-117-A, orange-and-white label, P.O. Box 7171, Tacoma, Wash.; "A Letter From Home" (Hank Penny), time 4:05, Penny Music (BMI); credited to "The Incomparable Hank Penny"; recorded at Wiley Sound Studios, Tacoma, Wash.; "Ron Biberthaler Productions" printed on the rim. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Home Front Perspective Soldier's Perspective Jody VC Draft Dodger Draft

Genres: ♪ CountryNovelty

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

#7 Joe Tex I Can't See You No More (When Johnny Comes Marching Home) 1969 · Single · Sure Is Good / I Can't See You No More (When Johnny Comes Marching Home) · Dial # 4095 · USA

Texas soul singer Joe Tex released another war-related track during the Vietnam era, called "(When Johnny Comes Marching Home) I Can't See You No More" (Dial # 4095) - following on from 1966's "I Believe I'm Gonna Make It". The title of the song was a play on the title of the well-known American Civil War song, while the theme fitted into the "Jody" category. The term "Jody" originated from "Joe the Grinder" (dated c.1939) - a mythical man in blues and jazz tunes who seduced the wives and girlfriends of soldiers, prisoners, and those away from home (for work or whatever). "Grinder" was an old slang word for sex (dated c.1647). It is thought to have been introduced into the army by African-Americans during the Second World War, used in military cadences (marches), such as "ain’t no use in going home, Jody’s got your girl and gone" - shouted out by a military officer, and repeated by the group of marching soldiers in unison. This type of marching later got the nickname of "jodies" or "jody calls".¹

This one is narrated from the perspective of the "Jody", a man having an affair with a woman who "is waiting on a man; right now he is in the army" . Of course, when he, "Johnny" , returns, the narrator will "have to pack my toys" . The narrator also feels that "what we are doing is wrong" , so he asks that someone "kick me right dead in the seat...go get a rope" because "I ain't got the sense, that the good lord give a goose" ! Once again, the song is written by Tex, and produced by Buddy Killen, founder of Dial.

Dial 45-4095 (DL-17883 SP), vocal; "(When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again) I Can't See You No More" (Tex), 2:45, Pub. Tree, BMI; produced by Buddy Killen; "Dist. by Atlantic Recording Corp., 1841 Broadway, N.Y., N.Y." [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Home Front Perspective Jody Civil War

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoul

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

#8 Manuel B. Holcolm I Stayed Away Too Long 1969 · Single · I Stayed Away Too Long / Kick Out-Ins · Diamond Jim # DJ-900 · USA

Credited on the record as Manuel B. Holcolm and His Band.

The funky song "I stayed Away Too Long" (Diamond Jim Recording # 900) came out of Detroit, Michigan, in 1969. Sung by Manuel Holcolm, it was written by G. Current and Jim Riley, known in Detroit soul circles as Diamond Jim - he founded the labels Diamond Jim, Big D, and Riley's Recording Co.. So in this song a soldier is "laying in a foxhole...in Vietnam" , reading a letter from his girl while "covered all in mud" . The soldier soon discovers that "something was wrong" and that she has left him for someone else. But the soldier cries that "I couldn't help myself, I stayed away too long" . This is another song representing both the fear and the reality that some soldiers found their personal relationships, from back home, broken off because of the conflict.

Diamond Jim Records DJ-900, matrix DJ-17755-PL, vocal; "I Stayed Away Too Long" (Diamond Jim–G. Current), pub. Steve-Dot-Syderia-Cotillion, BMI, time 2:30; Manuel B. Holcolm and His Band, produced by Diamond Jim and G. Current. "Dist. by Cotillion, Div. of Atlantic Recording Corp., 1841 B'way, N.Y., N.Y." [From the record sleeve and labels]

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Themes: Soldier's Perspective Jody

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoul

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

#9 Lightnin' Hopkins Please Settle In Viet Nam 1969 · Single · Please Settle in Viet Nam / Once a Gambler · Joliet # 205 · USA

Credited on the record as Lightning Hopkins.

Lightnin' Hopkins, born Sam Hopkins on 15 March 1912, in Centreville, Texas, recorded extensively from the 1940s-1970s, typically playing blues in the style that came out of his native Texas, like Blind Lemon Jefferson (acoustic / electric Texas blues). Often singing about topical events, such as the Korean War and Great Depression, in the mid-late 1960s he turned his attention to Vietnam. He died in Houston Texas on 30 January 1982.¹ He recorded the song "Vietnam War" with his cousin Billy Bizor on the album Blowing My Blues Away in 1968. In the same year he released an alternative version, called "Vietnam War (Pts. 1 & 2)" on the album Talkin' Some Sense (Jewel Records # LPS 5001) - see Draft section.

Hopkins recorded the song "Please Settle in Viet Nam" in Berkeley, California, under the direction of Chris Strachwitz (the founder of the Californian label Arhoolie Records), on 20 May 1969, for the session which produced the album Lightnin'! (Poppy # PYS-60,002). But the song did not appear on the album. Strachwitz released "Please Settle in Viet Nam" on this single (Joliet # 205) and then later on the album Lightning Hopkins in Berkeley (Arhoolie # 1063).¹ Hopkins wanted to see "an ending to the war" and called on the government to settle the Vietnam issue. It also included a little twist. Hopkins said that his girlfriend actually had a man fighting in the war, and that he hoped "he'll stay forever" in the army, because he did not "want to leave that girl" . This idea is similar to the "jody" theme - a mythical man in blues and jazz tunes who seduced the wives and girlfriends of soldiers, prisoners, and those away from home. In this case, the narrator played the role of the "jody" . Hopkins used this same line in an earlier track, "War Is Starting Again" , from the 1962 album Lightnin' Strikes (Vee-Jay Records # LP-1044).

Joliet 205 A, Joliet Productions, Box 67201, Los Angeles, Calif. 90067, "Promotional Copy - Not for Sale"; "Please Settle in Viet Nam" (S. Hopkins), 2:50, Tradition Music / Joliet Music BMI; produced by C. Strachwitz, Arhoolie Prod.; artist credited as Lightning Hopkins. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Anti-War Jody

Genres: ♪ BluesTexas Blues

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

#10 Johnnie Taylor I Could Never Be President 1969 · Single · I Could Never Be President / It's Amazing · Stax # 46 · USA

Johnnie Taylor, primarily known as a southern soul singer, also worked with other genres, such as gospel, blues, and R&B. Born Johnnie Harrison Taylor on 5 May 1938 in Crawfordsville, Arkansas, he started out singing in several Chicago, Illinois based gospel groups - The Five Echoes (1952-54) and The Highway QC's (1953-57) - and later on the Houston, Texas soul scene with The Soul Stirrers (lead tenor vocals, 1956-63). He died in Duncanville, Texas (31 May 2000). In 1969, he released the song "I Could Never Be President" (Stax Records # STA-0046) in which he said that if elected president he would "bring home all the fellows from over in Vietnam" and redeploy them to protect his sweetheart from the world. Thus while not really a song about the war, it indicated the prominence of the issue.

A year later he released the song "Jody Got Your Girl and Gone" (Stax Records # STA-0085), which does not mention war or soldiers, but has often been associated with the Vietnam conflict, appearing on several compilations (such as Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die). The lyrics focused on the fear of a man loosing his girl while away from home - thoughts that are closely associated with the soldier figure. This theme often appeared in Vietnam War songs. The term "Jody" originated from "Joe the Grinder" (dated c.1939) - a mythical man in blues and jazz tunes who seduced the wives and girlfriends of soldiers, prisoners, and those away from home (for work or whatever). "Grinder" was an old slang word for sex (dated c.1647). It is thought to have been introduced into the army by African-Americans during the Second World War, used in military cadences (marches), such as "ain’t no use in going home, Jody’s got your girl and gone" - shouted out by a military officer, and repeated by the group of marching soldiers in unison. This type of marching later got the nickname of "jodies" or "jody calls".¹

So in this song the narrator warned the soldiers that "there's a cat named Jody...in every town" who snuck around, using the soldier's home, bed, and food. The narrator concluded that it "ain't no sense in going home, Jody's got your girl and gone" . The song reached # 1 in the Billboard R&B charts on 20 February 1971, and peaked at # 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 27 February.²³

Stax STA-0046 (ST-0191), yellow label with finger-snap logo; "I Could Never Be President" (We Three), 2:33, Pub. East/Memphis Music, BMI, dated June, 1969; produced by Don Davis; "Stax Records, 926 East McLemore, Memphis, Tenn. — Div. of Paramount Pictures Corp., a G+W Co." [From the record sleeve and labels]

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Theme: Anti-War

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoul

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

#11 Mel & Tim Mail Call Time 1970 · Single · Mail Call Time / Forget It I've Got It · Bamboo [Chicago] # BMB 114 · USA

Soul song "Mail Call Time" (Bamboo Records # BMB 114) - another song, like "From Vietnam With Love" by Charles E. Scott that represented the military practice in which soldiers assemble to receive mail, with each soldier's name called out to pick up the mail. Performed by the soul duo Mel Hardin & Tim McPherson, cousins, both born in Mississippi, US, and based in Chicago with Bamboo Records. They later moved to Stax Records in 1972 with the single Starting All Over Again. The song started in a first person narration, with a soldier expressing the desire to receive mail. The narrator then made a plea in the third person: "girls, pick up your pen, and drop your man a line" .

Note the reference to the "Jody" theme: "don't let Jody take up all of your time" - suggesting that the soldier's sweetheart may have been involved with another man ("Jody") in his absence. The term "Jody" originated from "Joe the Grinder" (dated c.1939) - a mythical man in blues and jazz tunes who seduced the wives and girlfriends of soldiers, prisoners, and those away from home (for work or whatever). "Grinder" was an old slang word for sex (dated c.1647). It is thought to have been introduced into the army by African-Americans during the Second World War, used in military cadences (marches), such as "ain’t no use in going home, Jody’s got your girl and gone" - shouted out by a military officer, and repeated by the group of marching soldiers in unison. This type of marching later got the nickname of "jodies" or "jody calls".¹

Bamboo BMB 114 A (50887), "Bamboo Records Inc. © 1969", tropical beach and palm-tree picture label marked "Not for Sale"; "Mail Call Time" (Harding, McPherson, Dixon), time 3:15, Cachand/Patcheal (BMI); Mel and Tim, "Produced by: Gene Chandler", "Recorded at: Universal Recording Studios", "Arranged by: Tom-Tom"; "Nationally distributed by Scepter Records Inc. 254 W. 54th St., New York, N.Y.", "Made in U.S.A." [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Soldier's Perspective Jody Mail Call

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoul

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

#12 Bobby Patterson Right On Jody 1971 · Single · Right On Jody / If You Took A Survey · Paula # 352 · USA

Texan soul singer / producer Bobby Patterson also released a Jody themed track, "Right on Jody" (Paula Records # 352). In this one the narrator has been doing a lot of overtime at work, as requested by his foreman, and so he starts to get suspicious that "Jody's been sleeping in my back door" , and that it might be the case that "the foreman is Jody" . The narrator then sends out a warning to everybody, that Jody is "in your town...on your street" , and that it might be your neighbour or friend. The song concluded with a warning to the soldiers in South-East Asia: "you fellows over in Vietnam - watch out for Jody" . Bobby Patterson produced many R&B singers, such as Chuck Jackson, Ted Taylor, and Roscoe Robinson.

Paula 352 (SL-1855), Side One; "Right On, Jody" (J. Strickland, J. Beach, R. Bell), 3:12, Rogan-Jetstar, BMI; produced by Bobby Patterson; engineer George Clinton; recorded at Sound City Studios, Shreveport, La.; "Division of Jewel Records – Shreveport, La." Red Paula label with cameo-silhouette logo. [From the record sleeve and labels]

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Themes: Soldier's Perspective Jody

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoul

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

#13 Sonny Green Jody's on the Run 1971 · Single · Jody's on the Run / If You Want Me to Keep on Loving You · Hill # H-777 · USA

The blues/jazz influenced soul track "Jody's on the Run" (Hill Records # H-777) by Sonny Green, obviously took on the Jody theme - in which a man stole the wife / girlfriend of a soldier - as discussed with Johnnie Taylor's "Jody Got Your Girl and Gone". Unlike the Taylor track, this one actually referenced the war, with the narrator telling the listener that a "fellow is back from 'Nam" . The soldier knew what was going on, and so now the narrator tells "Jody" that "he's looking for you with his gun" , and so "you better run home Jody" . The song was released on Matt Hill's Californian label Hill.

Hill Records H-777 A, blue label with silver print, 4224 E. Rosecrans, Compton, Calif.; "Jody's on the Run" (Miles Grayson; Bobby Lexing), Respect Music Co., BMI, time 2:40; arranged by Miles Grayson; produced by Matt Hill & Miles Grayson. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Soldier's Perspective Jody

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoul

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

#14 Ann Sexton You've Been Gone Too Long 1972 · Single · You've Been Gone Too Long / You're Letting Me Down · Seventy 7 # 77-104 · USA

Credited on the record as Ann Sexton and the Soul Masters.

The song "You've Been Gone Too Long" (Seventy 7 Records # 77-104), a highly sought-after record by Northern Soul collectors - this issue usually sells for around $100. Even more collectible is the original issue on Impel (# SS-AS-103), which sells for around $500-$1000, as of late 2012 - see "You've Been Gone Too Long" . Ann Sexton, born Mary Burton in 1950, in Greenville, South Carolina, fronted a soul group called both "The Masters of Soul" and "The Soul Masters". In 1971 she met soul producer / singer-songwriter David Lee, who also owned a record shop in Shelby, NC, called Washington Sound. Out of this shop, was based Lee's label Impel, which released this song. It gained decent airplay, and Nashville DJ John "R." Richbourg picked up the song and distributed it on his national label Seventy 7, selling around 90,000 copies. (1)

This song picked up on the "Jody" theme - the mythical man who stole the wives and girlfriends of soldiers away from home, as discussed with Johnnie Taylor's well-known "Jody Got Your Girl and Gone" . Sexton switched between narrating from the soldier's perspective to that of the soldier's girlfriend / wife. The soldier has noticed that something is wrong with his girl: "I know you've been running around" , he tells her. But the girl says that "I found me a man who loves me better" , adding the justification: "you've been gone too long" . Then in the third person, Sexton tells the listener the famous line: "ain't no use in coming home, cause Jody got your girl and gone" .

Seventy 7 Records, Record No. 77-104 (SS 108), "Division of J R Enterprises, Inc., P.O. Box 6128, Nashville, Tennessee 37212"; "You've Been Gone Too Long" (David M. Lee, Ann Benton, Melvin Benton), 2:26, Cape Ann Music, Inc.; produced by David Lee; Ann Sexton and the Soul Masters. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Soldier's Perspective Jody

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoul

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

#15 Bobby Newsome Jody, Come Back and Get Your Shoes 1972 · Single · Jody, Come Back and Get Your Shoes / Post Office · Spring # SPR 125 · USA

Another "Jody" track - "Jody, Come Back and Get Your Shoes" (Spring Records # SPR 125) - this one also does not mention war or soldiers, only that a man has "been gone for a month" , during which time Jody stole his wife. This drove the husband slightly crazy, whose been going around "with a 38 in his hand" . The song sent out a warning that "you never know who Jody is...could be the milkman...the mailman too" and even "your very best friend" .

Spring Records SPR 125 (SPR-125 A), 2066 201 (1117), green and white label; "Jody, Come Back and Get Your Shoes" (Bobby Newsome), Groovesville Music, BMI, time 3:13; produced by Bobby Newsome; "℗ 1972 Spring Records", "Distributed by Polydor Inc., New York, New York", made in U.S.A. [From the record sleeve and labels]

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Themes: Soldier's Perspective Home Front Perspective Jody

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoulFunk

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

#16 The Last Poets Hands Off 1972 · Album · Chastisment · Blue Thumb # BTS 39 · USA

This album (Blue Thumb Records # BTS 39) featured Jalal (aka Lightnin' Rod), and Suliaman El Hadi. It has been written that Jalal went to prison for refusing to fight in Vietnam.¹Billboard reviewed this album on 8 July 1972: "very interesting LP from the Last Poets. It really is a 'chastisement' with comment on their war, the ghettos, stealing and other casualties of modern life. The subjects are well handled on a musical level...much social comment here with musical interpretation".²

The song "Hands Off" had the line "what manner of beast is this I ask who drops a napalm from the skies, then send my sons away to war to maim and kill and die" - a reference to chemical weapon Napalm B - a jellied gasoline mixture, with polystyrene, benzene, and gasoline. Declared a war-crime since 1980, the US government extensively used this weapon during the Vietnam conflict, dropping 388,000 tons on Indochina between 1963 and 1973.¹²³ The Dow Chemical Company, the largest suppler of napalm to the US military, became a target of Vietnam protests (such as boycotts), particularly on university campuses.⁴

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Themes: Protest Napalm Civil Rights

Genres: ♪ JazzJazz Poetry

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

#17 The Last Poets Black Soldier 1972 · Album · Chastisment · Blue Thumb # BTS 39 · USA

This album (Blue Thumb Records # BTS 39) featured Jalal (aka Lightnin' Rod), and Suliaman El Hadi. It has been written that Jalal went to prison for refusing to fight in Vietnam.¹Billboard reviewed this album on 8 July 1972: "very interesting LP from the Last Poets. It really is a 'chastisement' with comment on their war, the ghettos, stealing and other casualties of modern life. The subjects are well handled on a musical level...much social comment here with musical interpretation".²

The song "Black Soldier" dealt with the Vietnam and Civil Rights, while also making references to demonstrations, National Guard violence, and the "jody" theme. The song started with a military cadence, which warned the soldiers that there "ain't no need in going back" to the US, because "Jody got our Cadillac" - the mythical man in blues, jazz and soul tunes who seduced the wives and girlfriends of soldiers, prisoners, and those away from home.³ This featured in dozens of soul and blues songs.

The next part of the song strongly criticised African-Americans who fought in Vietnam "helping your oppressor oppress another man" . While the narrator hoped for their safe return, demonstrated against the war for them, and mourned their deaths, he thought that the "question does arise on which side do you stand" . The narrator believed that they should be in the US helping to fight for equal rights. He referenced a series of civil right demonstrations in several cities - Boston, Detroit, Newark - labelled as "riots" . Furthermore, the lyrics mentioned confrontations with the National Guard - "National Guardsmen terrorise the ones you've left at home" - possibly referring to the death of students, at Kent or Jackson state, or maybe at Civil Rights demonstrations.

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Themes: Anti-War Civil Rights Demonstration Kent State Jackson State Jody

Genres: ♪ JazzJazz Poetry

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

#18 Joe Williams Jr. Don't Let Me Catcha Jody 1972 · Single · Triode # 119 · USA

Triode Records 119-1, 45 rpm, 1697 Broadway, N.Y.C. — Suite 603; "Don't Let Me Catcha Jody" (Joe Williams Jr. & Otis Harley), 2:17, Baso Music & Styletone Music, BMI; producers Joe Williams, Otis Harley & Eugene Gibson. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Soldier's Perspective Jody

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoul

Also in: ▤ Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs

#19 Red Sovine Go Hide John 1972 · Single · Go Hide John / Tear Stained Guitar · Starday # 45-960 · USA

Go Hide John (Sovine, Red)

Country

Starday 45-960 (S-9416), vocal, eagle-and-guitar label design; "Go Hide John" (Gene Crysler), 2:45, Drawbridge Music, BMI; produced by Hal Neely & Charlie Dick; ℗ 1972 Tenn. Recording & Publishing Co. Inc.; distributed by Starday-King Records, Box 8188, Nashville, Tennessee 37207. [From the record sleeve and labels]

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Themes: Soldier's Perspective Vet Jody Draft Card Burning Draft

Genres: ♪ CountryTruck Driving Country

Also in: ▤ Draft Songs

#20 Freddie King Yonder Wall 1973 · Album · Woman Across the River · Shelter # SW-8910 · USA

Freddie King covered the track "Yonder Wall" (Shelter Records # SW-8910), updating it for the Vietnam War. James "Beale Street" Clark originally composed and recorded the song, under the name "Get Ready to Meet Your Man" in 1945, about soldiers returning to the US after World War Two. Elmore James recorded a famous version in 1962: "Look on Yonder Wall" . King narrated his version from the perspective of a disabled man unable to fight the war: "hand me down my walking cane" . He had started a relationship with a woman whose "man been in Vietnam" , but who had since returned home to the US. This idea is similar to the "jody" theme - a mythical man in blues and jazz tunes who seduced the wives and girlfriends of soldiers, prisoners, and those away from home. In this case, the narrator played the role of the "jody".

Themes: Home Front Perspective Jody

Genres: ♪ BluesElectric Texas Blues

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

#21 Vernon Garrett Jody Can Ease the Pain 1974 · Single · Jody Can Ease the Pain / Think People · Gator # G 1201 · USA

Soul, both sides.
A-side: Jody theme - girl lonely, Jody will help.
B-side: think about the soldiers
Younger generation looking for a better way.
Civil Rights, poverty, moon race

Gator G 1201. Produced by Miles Grayson. Runouts: A 'X-39954 G1201AA D-3', B 'G1201-B DCT-3 X-3995'. B-side Think People (2:41) written by Earl Foster; B-side YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMpAEOf7qns Gator G1201 A, yellow label; Playlist Music BMI, time 2:40; "Miles Grayson Production"; 3009 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. [From the record label]

Themes: Jody Home Front Perspective Soldier Boy

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoul

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

#22 Vernon Garrett Think People 1974 · Single · Jody Can Ease The Pain / Think People · Gator # G 1201 · USA

Soul, both sides.
A-side: Jody theme - girl lonely, Jody will help.
B-side: think about the soldiers
Younger generation looking for a better way.
Civil Rights, poverty, moon race

Producer Miles Grayson. A-side 'Jody Can Ease The Pain' (2:40) written by B. Lexing, E. Foster, M. Grayson; B-side 'Think People' written by Earl Foster. Matrix: X-39954 G1201AA D-3 / G1201-B DCT-3 X-3995. Soulfulkindamusic credits it to 'Vernon Garrett & The Soul Messengers', Gator 1201, 1974. Gator G1201 B, yellow label; Respect Music BMI, time 2:41; "Miles Grayson Production". [From the record label]

Themes: Pro-Soldier Generation Gap Civil Rights Poverty Space Race

Genres: ♪ Soul, Gospel & FunkSoul

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

#23 The Robert Cray Band Sonny 1985 · Album · False Accusations · Demon # FIEND 43 · USA

Blues Rock group, The Robert Cray Band, formed in 1974 in Eugene, Oregon, USA, led by Robert Cray, born on 1 August 1953 in Columbus, Georgia, USA. The post-war song "Sonny" (Hightone Records # HT 8005) picked up on the Jody theme discussed above - the term "Jody" originated from "Joe the Grinder" (dated c.1939) - a mythical man in blues and jazz tunes who seduced the wives and girlfriends of soldiers, prisoners, and those away from home. The narrator recalled his best friend Sony, "he got called to Vietnam" . He asked his friend to look out for his wife, but "we both lost our heads" and ended up in "her lonely, lonely bed" . Sonny returned, "proud of what he's done" , but injured, "he can't walk too good" . The narrator felt regret, "I'm so ashamed of what I've done" .

Show full lyrics (17 lines) ▾

Themes: Vet Jody

Genres: ♪ BluesElectric BluesSoul Blues

Also in: ▤ Blues songs

#24 Bob Gerrard Joedy Is a Wise Guy Single · Joedy Is a Wise Guy / A Letter Home · Tin Pan Alley # 24-435 · USA

- "Joedy Is a Wise Guy"

- Label: Tin Pan Alley # 24-435
- Songwriter: White-Dienna

- Jody theme, Vietnam-era
- Stealing the girlfriends of those away at war
- Seeks the girls who's guys have told Uncle Sam 'Hi'
- Then you receive a letter
- Jody is tough and mean
- But Uncle Sam can get him just like you!

Themes: Soldier's Perspective Jody Draft Song Poem

Genre: ♪ Garage Rock

Also in: ▤ Draft Songs▤ Garage Rock Songs▤ Song Poems

#25 Dick Bruce Letter From Home Single · Letter From Home / Daddy's Back Home From the Store · K-Ark # 901 · USA

Letter From Home (Bruce, Dick)

Country novelty - cover of Hank Penny
Man writes letter to friend fighting in Vietnam
Your girl has been spending your money, having parties, ruined your car
And hanging out with Clive!

K-Ark Records 901 A, green label, 45 RPM, 728 16th Ave., So., Nashville, Tenn.; "Letter From Home" (Hank Penny), time 2:15, Valley Pub. Co.–BMI; produced by John Capps. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes: Home Front Perspective Soldier's Perspective Jody VC

Genres: ♪ CountryNovelty

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