21st Birthday

Annotation

Tex Morton, a country artist 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. The song "21st Birthday" dealt with the Vietnam War, looking at the home front perspective, of the parents of a soldier killed in action (K.I.A.). The song was released in 1967 on single (no image available at the moment): 21st Birthday (Columbia (EMI) # DO-4785). The song told of the soldier's friends arriving at his parents house to celebrate his 21st birthday, unaware of what had happened. A closer look at the shelf with letters and "you'll see a draft card... the nice letter and the medal they sent". The father concluded that: "our boy full of love has died now of hate" - which perhaps leans towards the anti-war side of the debate. This song also appeared on a few compilations, such as Encores (1970) - the back of the sleeve, with regards to this song, said that: "I knew the people involved in this real life story. Like many country songs, it tells a story which is self-explanatory".1 Note that Tex Morton also released the Vietnam War song "The Widow Next Door" in collaboration with Sister Dorrie, discussed below. Thanks to Andrew Smith for the suggestion and providing a digital copy of the song.. Sources1AudioCulture: Tex morton↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs

Tex Morton, a country artist 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. The song "21st Birthday" (Columbia (EMI) # DO-4785) dealt with the Vietnam War, looking at the home front perspective, of the parents of a soldier killed in action (K.I.A.). The song told of the soldier's friends arriving at his parents house to celebrate his 21st birthday, unaware of what had happened. A closer look at the shelf with letters and "you'll see a draft card... the nice letter and the medal they sent". The father concluded that: "our boy full of love has died now of hate" - which perhaps leans towards the anti-war side of the debate. This song also appeared on a few compilations, such as Encores (1970) - the back of the sleeve, with regards to this song, said that: "I knew the people involved in this real life story. Like many country songs, it tells a story which is self-explanatory".1 Note that Tex Morton also released the Vietnam War song "The Widow Next Door" in collaboration with Sister Dorrie, discussed below. Thanks to Andrew Smith for the suggestion and providing a digital copy of the song.Sources1AudioCulture: Tex morton↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Draft Songs

Tex Morton, a country artist 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. The song "21st Birthday" dealt with the Vietnam War, looking at the home front perspective, of the parents of a soldier killed in action (K.I.A.). The song was released in 1967 on single (no image available at the moment): 21st Birthday (Columbia (EMI) # DO-4785). The song told of the soldier's friends arriving at his parents house to celebrate his 21st birthday, unaware of what had happened. A closer look at the shelf with letters and "you'll see a draft card... the nice letter and the medal they sent". The father concluded that: "our boy full of love has died now of hate" - which perhaps leans towards the anti-war side of the debate. This song also appeared on a few compilations, such as Encores (1970) - the back of the sleeve, with regards to this song, said that: "I knew the people involved in this real life story. Like many country songs, it tells a story which is self-explanatory".1 Note that Tex Morton also released the Vietnam War song "The Widow Next Door" in collaboration with Sister Dorrie, discussed below. Thanks to Andrew Smith for the suggestion and providing a digital copy of the song..Sources1AudioCulture: Tex morton↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: You'd thought you'd surprise him / You'd been out of town / You brought some old school friends / You just dropped around / You remembered his birthday / Oh yes you have the date right / Come in you're all welcome on this happy night / His 21st birthday / These are his friends / And even the kid who would not make amends / So come my old sweetheart dry up your tears / We've waited for this day for 21 tears / Yes this is the day now for laughter and joy / This is the day when he's no longer a boy / This is the day when you've done all you can / This is the day when you boy is a man Yes those are the cards there at the end of the room / A couple from sweethearts, I like the perfume / Sending gay greetings / But look close you'll see a draft card / And some that express sympathy / Oh yes that's his picture, somewhere he went / There's the nice letter and the medal they sent / Oh I'm proud of the metal, nice shiny toy / But god up in heaven, could you not spare my boy / So here's to his memory, here's to our son / Here's to the soldiers not yet 21 / Oh not one is weeping, but how can I say I'm not bitter on this cursed day / When I grow up mom, I'm gonna to buy you a car / Take you on journeys near and the far/ I'll always protect you and keep you from harm / I'll make lots of money, buy daddy a farm The last time I saw him smiling and tanned / He put down his mother and took up my hand / I'll try to be brave dad, and be a good son / They say the best soldiers are not…

About the artist

Tex Morton, born Robert William Lane on 30 August 1916 in Nelson, New Zealand. He died 23 July 1983 in Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Themes

Anti-War · ANZUS · Medals · K.I.A. · Draft

In collections

Australian & New Zealand Songs · Draft Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]