Ballad of William White

Annotation

Contemporary folk artist Willow Macky, born 25 June 1921 in New Zealand. She died 10 December 2006. She wrote the song "Ballad of William White" (1966), which was unrecorded, but featured in the "The Vietnam Songbook", published by Irwin Silber and Barbara Dane in 1969, who both also started the record label Paredon Records, which released many Vietnam War songs from around the world. This song told the true story of Sydney-based school teacher William "Bill" White, who defied the Australian draft, as a conscientious objector. He was arrested an dragged from his home by Australian police, which was famously caputured on photo by John Fairfax in 1966. He was jailed in 1966. The song started with a straight forward statement: "a conscript for the Vietnam war, he did refuse to fight". The narrator called him a "brave Australian boy, the hero of my song" - and thus this was a strong anti-war song, showing solidarity with William White. In the songbook, Macky said that the song was based on a folk tune called "Wild Colonial Boy". She said: "the original Wild Colonial Boy was an Australian immigrant who became an outlaw and shot three policemen. William White was a solid young citizen…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Unrecorded, lyrics featured in "The Vietnam Songbook"

About the artist

Born 25 June 1921 in New Zealand. She died 10 December 2006.

Themes

Anti-War · Draft Resistance · Conscientious Objector · ANZUS · Draft

In collections

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