Blue Viet Nam Skies
1966 · Rebel F-258 · USA
- Artist
- Buzz Busby and the Bayou Boys
- Title
- Blue Viet Nam Skies
- Release
- Mandolin Twist / Blue Viet Nam Skies
- Year
- 1966
- Label
- Rebel # F-258
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Songwriter
- Kliewer, Mank & Bucke
- Genre
- Country · Bluegrass
- Primary theme
- US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
Annotation
"Blue Viet Nam Skies" (Rebel # F-258) Buzz Busby (1933-2003), born Eros, Louisiana. (1) (2) Recorded Baltimore, Maryland, 1965. Busby (vocals, mandolin), Charlie Waller (guitar), Billy Baker (fiddle), Johnnie Whisnant (banjo), Tom Gray (bass). Bluegrass. Patriotic sentiment, fighting for "right of freedom". A soldier visited the grave of his war buddy in the US, while recalling the fighting back in Vietnam. Plight of soldier, as well as home front. "As I wondered down the valley many tears fell down my eyes And it seemed that someone waits there beneath blue Vietnam skies And the tears fall in the valley for it;s here that my buddies lie... As I walked between the crosses from heaven he seemed to say Oh buddy, the flowers are in bloom again, but I knew you'd come today For the god given right of freedom many a brave man had died For we watched, and we prayed, and we suffered as we fought hard side by side But I can't help but wonder how many more must die Until victory's promise rains through, beneath blue Vietnam skies Tears fall in the valley, for it's here where my brother lies"
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
"Blue Viet Nam Skies" (Rebel # F-258) Buzz Busby (1933-2003), born Eros, Louisiana. (1) (2) Recorded Baltimore, Maryland, 1965. Busby (vocals, mandolin), Charlie Waller (guitar), Billy Baker (fiddle), Johnnie Whisnant (banjo), Tom Gray (bass). Bluegrass. Patriotic sentiment, fighting for "right of freedom". A soldier visited the grave of his war buddy in the US, while recalling the fighting back in Vietnam. Plight of soldier, as well as home front. "As I wondered down the valley many tears fell down my eyes / And it seemed that someone waits there beneath blue Vietnam skies / And the tears fall in the valley for it's here that my buddies lie... / As I walked between the crosses from heaven he seemed to say / Oh buddy, the flowers are in bloom again, but I knew you'd come today / For the god given right of freedom many a brave man had died / For we watched, and we prayed, and we suffered as we fought hard side by side / But I can't help but wonder how many more must die / Until victory's promise rains through, beneath blue Vietnam skies / Tears fall in the valley, for it's here where my brother lies"
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Buzz Busby (Bernarr Graham Busbice, 1933-2003), born in Eros, Louisiana, was a pioneering bluegrass mandolinist known as the 'Father of Washington, D.C. Bluegrass', leading the Bayou Boys from the early 1950s on Starday, Jiffy and Rebel; 'Blue Viet Nam Skies' (Rebel F-258, 1966) was cut in Baltimore with Charlie Waller and Tom Gray. He died in Catonsville, Maryland. [Source: Wikipedia; Praguefrank's]