The Ballad of the Green Berets

Annotation

The song "Ballad of the Green Berets", released as a single (RCA Victor # 47-8739), one of the most well-known and key releases of the Vietnam War era, represented the patriotic song, as well as being an important "in country" track. The original recording apparently took place in Saigon in December 1964, written by Barry Sadler - born in New Mexico (November 1940), he joined the US Air Force in 1957, and served in Vietnam with the 7th Special Force Group (the "Green Berets"), as a medic. Wounded in the Central Highlands southeast of Pleiku, he returned to the US. With the assistance of the writer Robin Moore, Sadler recorded a new version on 18 December 1965, releasing the song on RCA Victor on 12 January 1966. Produced by Andy Wiswell and arranged by Sid Bass.123 It entered the chart on 5 February 1966, at # 87. In the second week it reached # 51, moving up to # 10 in week three. The single took the # 1 spot in the US Billboard Hot 100 on 5 March 1966, staying there for an incredible 5 weeks.4 It also held the # 1 place on Billboard's Easy Listening chart, and No. 2 on Billboard's Country chart. The single, combined with the album Ballads of the Green Berets (directly below), sold 9 million! Both album and single were certified for a gold record on 17 February 1966. It ended the decade as # 21 on the Billboard songs of the 60s. It was a top-seller in all cities, from Baltimore, Boston, and Chicago to New Orleans and New York.5 Its first mention in Billboard came on 22 January 1966, which reported in its Top 60 Spotlight: "an unusual left fielder by a sergeant in the US Army's Special Forces that could prove a giant on the charts. Outstanding material with a lyric message that must be heard in its entirety. Well worth watching".6 In the same edition, an article appeared explaining the investment that RCA Victor had put into the record: "The 'Green Berets', a top-selling book by Robin Moore of the Vietnam War, is serving as the inspiration for one of the most extensive record campaigns in RCA Victor's history".7 The label then ran a full-page advert in the green colours of the special forces, saying "here is the glory and heroism of the men who make up the US Army Special Forces".8 Another advert appeared on 5 March 1966, when it hit # 1, with the headline: "The Ballads of the Green Beret have turned Gold: Over 2,000,000 singles shipped! Over 1,000,000 albums shipped!"9 The song is focused on the bravery and dedication of the soldiers - it is both patriotic and concerned with the plight of the soldier. However, the story told ends on a sad note, with the soldier's death.Ballad of the Green Berets answer records: The Beach Bums - Ballad of the Yellow Beret (1966) Nancy Ames - He Wore the Green Beret (1966) Craig Arthur - The Son of a Green Beret (1966) Selected covers of Ballad of the Green Berets: Duane Eddy - The Biggest Twang of Them All (1966) The Lancastrians - The Ballad of the Green Berets (1966) Paul Lavalle - Salute to Our Fighting Men in Vietnam (1966) Lonesome Valley Singers - Men in the Green Berets (1966) Lloyd Green - Day for Decision (1966) The Deputies - The Ballad of the Green Berets (1966) Herb Eaton - Ballad of the Green Beret (1966) Johnny Mac - Ballad of the Green Beret (1966) Crum Brothers - A Ballad of the Green Beret (1967) Autry Inman - Ballad of Two Brothers (1968) For the full history of this song, see Marc Leepson's Ballad of the Green Beret: The Life and Wars of Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler from the Vietnam War and Pop Stardom to Murder and an Unsolved, Violent Death (2017)Sources1Billboard, 22 January 1966↩2The Green Berets (Robin Moore, 2007)↩3The Vietnam Experience (Kevin Hillstrom, 1998)↩4Billboard, 5 March 1966↩5Billboard, 17 February 1966↩6Billboard, 22 January 1966↩7Billboard, 22 January 1966↩8Billboard, 22 January 1966↩9Billboard, 5 March 1966↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation

The follow-up album (RCA Victor # LSP-3547) to the hugely successful single The Ballad of the Green Berets / Letter From Vietnam, contained twelve Vietnam War songs. The songs made a stronger attempt to present the real lives, experiences, and feelings of GIs out in Vietnam, although it also continued to defend government policy, and focus on the bravery / glory of the soldiers.1 An especially interesting track was "Saigon" which told the story of GIs visiting the Saigon bars, getting drunk and meeting prostitutes. Sadler referenced the famous "Tu Do Street", where they were located - Tu Do translated as "Liberty", called that between 1955 and 1975. It was formerly known as Catinat street (pre-1955), and was re-named Dông Khoï (General Insurrection) after the fall of Saigon.1 Other songs that referenced this were Saigon Strut by The Soul Patrol and Saigon Warrior by Hershel Gober.Sources1The Album (James E. Perone, 2012)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Fighting Soldiers from the sky / Fearless men who jump and die / Men who mean just what they say / The brave men of the Green Beret / Silver Wings upon their chest / These are men America's best / 100 men will test today / But only 3 win the Green Beret / Trained to live of nature's land / Trained in combat hand to hand / Men who fight by night and day / Courage take from the Green Beret / Silver Wings upon their chest / These are men America's best / 100 men will test today / But only 3 win the Green Beret / Back at home a young wife waits / Her Green Beret has met his fate / He has died for those oppressed / Leaving her his last request / Put Silver Wings on my son's chest / Make him one of America's best / He'll be a man he'll test one day / Have him win the Green Beret

Notes

The US RCA Victor singles credit SSgt Barry Sadler, U. S. Army Special Forces, "Arranged and conducted by Sid Bass", producer Andy Wiswell, publisher Music, Music, Music, Inc., ASCAP. RCA Victor 47-8739 (45 RPM) couples "The Ballad of the Green Berets" (SSgt Barry Sadler–Robin Moore), 2:27, matrix SPKM-6175, with "Letter From Vietnam" (SSgt Barry Sadler), 2:30, SPKM-6172, each "from the RCA Victor album LPM-3547 'Ballads of the Green Berets'"; its picture sleeve shows Sadler in his green beret with the Special Forces flash, and its back, like that of the single "The 'A' Team" / "An Empty Glass" (47-8804; Whitcup–Fairbanks–Sadler, 2:05, TPKM-2852; sleeve headed "SSGT Barry Sadler of The Green Berets"), reproduces the album cover under "Ask for This New L.P. LPM/LSP-3547" (an RCA Victor Dynagroove recording) with its twelve tracks: The Ballad of the Green Berets / Letter from Vietnam /…

About the artist

Born Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA (1 November 1940). Died Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA (5 November 1989)

Themes

Patriotic · Military · Answer to Green Beret

In collections

US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years] · US Military & Veteran Songs