50,000 Names
1994 · RCA 07863 66297-2 · USA
- Artist
- Jamie O'Hara
- Title
- 50,000 Names
- Release
- Rise Above It
- Year
- 1994
- Label
- RCA # 07863 66297-2
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Genre
- Country · Country Pop
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
Jamie O'Hara, born in Toledo, Ohio, USA on 8 August 1950, a member of the 1980s country duo The O'Kanes. He released the song "50,000 Names" (RCA Records # 66297) about Vietnam War memorial in Washington.1 The song was covered by George Jones in 2002 on his album The Rock, below. It picked up some attention in Billboard, although does not seem to have charted.2 The song focused on the ornaments left by people visiting the Wall, from all religions and backgrounds: "there's stars of David and rosary beads, and crucifixion figurines".Sources1The Encyclopedia of Country Music (Michael McCall, 2004)↩2Billboard, 8 August 1950↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Veterans Memorial Wall Songs
Jamie O'Hara, born in Toledo, Ohio, USA on 8 August 1950, a member of the 1980s country duo The O'Kanes. He released the song "50,000 Names" (RCA Records # 66297) about Vietnam War memorial in Washington.1 The song was covered by George Jones in 2002 on his album The Rock, below. It picked up some attention in Billboard, although does not seem to have charted.2 The song focused on the ornaments left by people visiting the Wall, from all religions and backgrounds: "there's stars of David and rosary beads, and crucifixion figurines". Sources1The Encyclopedia of Country Music (Michael McCall, 2004)↩2Billboard, 8 August 1950↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: There's teddy bears and high school rings / And old photographs that mamas bring / Of daddies with their young boys playin' ball / There's combat boots he used to wear / When he was sent over there / And there's 50,000 names carved in the wall / There's cigarettes and cans of beer / And notes that say: "I miss you dear" / And children who don't say anything at all / There's purple hearts and packs of gum / Fatherless daughters and fatherless sons / And there's 50,000 names carved in the wall / They come from all across this land /In pick-up trucks and mini vans / Searchin' for a boy from long ago / They scan the wall and find his name / The teardrops fall like pourin' rain / Then silently they leave a gift and go / There's stars of David and rosary beads / And crucifixion figurines / And flowers of all colours large and small / There's a boy scout badge and a merit pin / Little American flags wavin' in the wind / And there's 50,000 names carved in the wall / 50,000 names carved in the wall
About the artist
American country songwriter, born 8 August 1950 in Toledo, Ohio; died 7 January 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. [Source: Wikipedia]