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 captured 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 who became an outlaw because he wouldn't shoot anyone!"Songs about William White: Willow Macky - "Ballad of William White" (1966) Glen Tomasetti - "The Ballad of Bill White" (1968) Don Henderson - "Bill White"

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: There was a young Australian boy, his name was William White / A conscript for the Vietnam war, he did refuse to fight / They've raised no hand against our land / This war is cruel and wrong / Declared this brave Australian boy, the hero of my song / Now William was a teacher in a Sydney suburb school / And to the children in his charge he taught the Golden Rule / Do unto others as you would that they should do to you / And William thought that he should live as though these words were true. Conscription for the Vietnam war then to Australia came / But William White refused to go and register his name / That meant the end of his career - and none could him employ / An outcast in his country was this young Australian boy / Three times he stood before the courts: each time the judge said / No I cannot grant you this appeal; to the army you must go / Said William White, "Then drag me there! - and home he went to wait / While pickets with their placards stood on guard around his gate. At length they came - four stalwart men - and dragged young White away / But in the army, steadfastly, he still would not obey / That conscience clearly was his guide, they all at last agreed / And 'round the world there flashed the news that William White was freed / Now there are many others who believe, like William White / This is a dirty, brutal war, in which we have no right / So let them stand throughout the land and say, with pride and joy / "A hero of his country is this brave…

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 [War Years]