4:00 A.M. in Viet Nam

Annotation

"4 a.m. in Viet Nam" (Stoneway Records # 1016). Houston, Texas. Written by Earle Epps (aka Earl Epps, born in Texas, 1930). Produced by Roy M. Stone. Country. Plight. Reference to peace negotiations. Religion.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: At 4 o'clock in the morning, I'll be walking this coast where I stand / At 4 o'clock in the morning, I'll face the enemy in no man's land / Dear mum, just thought I'd write this letter while I still have one last chance / Cause mum, things don't look to good over here in Vietnam / There's my buddies, laying all around me, with that sad look upon their faces / And some can't even move mum, of others there's not even a trace / We hear they say there is no war mum, but to us, we all know better / And you can tell I'm a little scared mum by this shaking in this letter / And we hear they say they try together around a big conference table / To talk of peace and to end this war, but to do this they're just not able / I wonder sometimes mum if god really meant for things to be this way / And if not mum I wonder why he lets them go on this way / At 4 o'clock in the morning, I'll kneel down on my knees and pray / At 4 o'clock in the morning, I'll be asking god to show me the way / I just can't help but remember mum when I was a little boy / How you and dad used to teach me to take care of my toys / But over here mum you can't take care of much, cause it not like home... / Now I don't think god will let things last long this way / For the evils in this world, one day man must surely pay

Notes

Stoneway Records 1016, 45 RPM, LH-2019, 2817 Laura Koppe, Houston, Texas; "4:00 A.M. in Viet Nam" (Earle Epps), Roy M. Stone Pub. (BMI), time 3:08; produced by R. M. Stone. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Born Texas, USA, 1930.

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · Peace · Religion

In collections

Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]