Chicago Policeman

Annotation

The song "Chicago Policeman" (Swank # HFCS-167) by Harry Burgess is a traditional pop song-poem - these are song lyrics, sent to specialist publishing and recording companies, usually in response to an advertisement, that have been set to music for a fee. Hundreds of them dealt with political issues, including the Vietnam War. This one was released soon after the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The original vinyl 7" is rare and was backed by another Vietnam War song: "Foreign Policy" by Valerie & Everett Hull. (1) (2) It featured on the 2003 compilation "Only in America, Volume 2" (Arf! Arf! Records # AA-092). This song recalled the demonstrations in Chicago '68, narrated in the first person, from the perspective of a policeman. It contained elements of satire, but overall defended the position of the police. He started sarcastically explaining why he joined the force: "to wear a star and a uniform", and have a car with a "big loud horn". Eventually, after studying hard, he achieved his goal, and for his first big job was assigned to the Convention. There, the narrator claimed that the police faced trouble "from hippies and yippies and communist". He criticised the…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Song Poems

The song "Chicago Policeman" (Swank # HFCS-167), performed by Harry Burgess, and composed by Everett Hull, is a traditional pop song-poem. This one was released soon after the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The original vinyl 7" is rare and was backed by another Vietnam War song: "Foreign Policy" by Valerie & Everett Hull. (1) (2) It featured on the 2003 compilation "Only in America, Volume 2" (Arf! Arf! Records # AA-092). This song recalled the demonstrations in Chicago '68, narrated in the first person, from the perspective of a policeman. It contained elements of satire, but overall defended the position of the police. He started sarcastically explaining why he joined the force: "to wear a star and a uniform", and have a car with a "big loud horn". Eventually, after studying hard, he achieved his goal, and for his first big job was assigned to the Convention. There, the narrator claimed that the police faced trouble "from hippies and yippies and communist". He criticised the protesters who raised the flag of the Vietcong - officially known as the National Liberation Front (NFL), the political and military resistance to the US and South Vietnamese government…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Unknown - the record is documented but the performer is not. 'Chicago Policeman' was issued on Swank HFCS-167 as the A-side of a split single whose flip, 'Foreign Policy', is credited to Valerie and Everett Hull; the release carries no writer or producer credits and no biographical record has been located. [Source: Discogs (release only)]

Themes

Song Poem · Chicago Seven · Demonstration · Counter-Culture & Hippies · Yippies · Communism · VC

In collections

1968 Chicago Seven / Eight Songs · Children on Record · Song Poems · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs