Bring My Buddies Back

Annotation

Soul song called "Bring My Buddies Back" (Stone Lady # SL-006), which had a very similar sound and theme to Freda Payne's Bring the Boys Home - except in this case the plea came from a war veteran, asking the government to end the war and send his friends home. The very first line actually referenced Payne, saying: "Hey Freda, maybe you were right". The song went on to recall one of his friends dying in Vietnam because of the "lack of doctors". Not much is know of this group. They probably came from the East Coast - their label Stone Lady was based in New Jersey, founded by David L. Sheffield, who composed this and most of the songs on their album. The members of the group were Luis Farinas (tenor vocals), Doug Green (lead vocals), Greg Jackson (tenor vocals), and Tony Matthews (bass vocals). This song also featured on the album Bring My Buddies Back (Stone Lady # 1001), the front cover of which has a painting of marching troops in Vietnam.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Hey Freda, maybe you were right / Since I've been home I've prayed ever night / Last night I dreamed of my buddies on the battlefield... / Bring my buddies back, dear god I can tell in their eyes that there not afraid to die / There marching all alone / I had a friend who lay dying in the sun for to the lack of doctors, the final hour had come / As his life was wasting away, I got a little closer... / He said: 'Bring my buddies back, dear God... / When we march home hold your head up high

Notes

Stone Lady Recording Company SL-006-A, blue label with gold figure logo; "Bring My Buddies Back" (David Sheffield), 3:33; produced by Holmes, Wilson, Sheffield, arranged by David Sheffield. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Anti-War · Soldier's Perspective · Medic

In collections

Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs