Christmas In Viet Nam

Annotation

Southern soul singers Johnny and Jon (aka John Wilson and John Wessler), wrote the song "Christmas in Vietnam" (Jewel Records # 776), recorded in 1965, and released in 1966, during President Johnson's troop escalation. No biographical details known about this duo. But the label Jewel Records, founded by Stan Lewis in 1962, was based in Shreveport, Louisiana. A spoken-word introduction told the listener that there are "two lonely soldiers, fighting a war; they won't be home for Christmas day". The singing harmonies of Johnny and Jon kick-in - the soldier expressed sadness: "it won't be merry this year". At the end of the song, the soldier shouted "Vietcong, everywhere I go", a reminder that the soldiers faced an enemy while others celebrated Christmas back home.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: This is the time of the year that we love so dear / I want to heat jingle bells / Everybody was so happy / Everybody was so gay / It won't be merry this year... / I'm in a fox hole baby, everybody fighting madly / Will it ever end, and everyone will be free / I can't let it bother me, something I know we may never see / Maybe I won't be home this time... / I'll write to you everyday...Vietcong, everywhere I go

Notes

Jewel Records 776 (TM 1808), © 1965, "Produced by Jewel Records – 728 Texas St., Shreveport, La."; Su-Ma – BMI; "Christmas in Viet Nam" (John Wilson – F. R. Lewis – John Wessler), 3:07; credited to Johnny and Jon. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Johnny & Jon were an American soul duo consisting of John Wilson and John Wessler, who cut a single 45 together. "Christmas in Viet Nam", written by Wilson with F.R. Lewis and Wessler, was issued on Jewel Records 776 in 1966 as the flip of 'Why Did You Leave Me', the lacquers being cut at Ter Mar Studios in Chicago and the publishing held by Su-Ma; Jewel operated from Shreveport, Louisiana, which is label geography rather than any indication of the duo's own origins. Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven calls it 'one of the key works in that fascinating sub-genre, the soul of Vietnam' and 'a…

Themes

Christmas · Soldier's Perspective · Foxhole · Combat · VC

In collections

Christmas Songs · Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs · US Combat Perspective Songs [War Years]