A Christmas Prayer

Annotation

The song "A Christmas Prayer" (Country Corner Records # 45-804) referenced the Vietnam War. Like the well-known Becky Lamb (discussed above), a young Susan Wheeler sung this track - although Wheeler is older, 12 at the time of recording. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported on 7 October 1967, a year after this record, that: "Susan recorded two songs on Country Corner label, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," and "A Child's Request." So far, this record has been played on WCLU, WZIP and WMOH. Although she does sing mostly religious music, Susan likes "almost any kind," including rock'n' roll....A freshman at Greenhills, Susan hopes to "keep on singing and recording and possibly attend a school of music after graduation"....teenager, Susan Wheeler, 13, believes in accentuating the positive. The youngest of nine children, Susan was a polio victim. However, she didn't let this setback discourage her. When misfortune comes along, Susan believes, "You shouldn't let it bother you or get you down. Just keep on going." At six, Susan started taking singing lessons, and one of her first public appearances was on the Skipper Ryle show when she was seven or eight. She frequently sings at local churches and performs at charity drives".1 The song started out with sound-effects, of bombs dropping, and then a man speaks, narrating from the perspective of a soldier who told the listener that he "had to go to Vietnam" - presumably because of the draft. The lyrics did not contain any political position. Then the girl jumped in with her song. She prayed to god "please bring daddy home for Christmas". Lyrics credited to Wayne-Barnett. Released in Cincinatti, Ohio.Sources1Newspapers.com↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Children on Record

The song "A Christmas Prayer" (Country Corner Records # 45-804) referenced the Vietnam War. Like the well-known Becky Lamb (discussed below), a young Susan Wheeler sung this track - although Wheeler is older, 12 at the time of recording. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported on 7 October 1967, a year after this record, that: "Susan recorded two songs on Country Corner label, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," and "A Child's Request." So far, this record has been played on WCLU, WZIP and WMOH. Although she does sing mostly religious music, Susan likes "almost any kind," including rock'n' roll....A freshman at Greenhills, Susan hopes to "keep on singing and recording and possibly attend a school of music after graduation"....teenager, Susan Wheeler, 13, believes in accentuating the positive. The youngest of nine children, Susan was a polio victim. However, she didn't let this setback discourage her. When misfortune comes along, Susan believes, "You shouldn't let it bother you or get you down. Just keep on going." At six, Susan started taking singing lessons, and one of her first public appearances was on the Skipper Ryle show when she was seven or eight. She frequently sings at local churches and performs at charity drives".1 The song started out with sound-effects, of bombs dropping, and then a man speaks, narrating from the perspective of a soldier who told the listener that he "had to go to Vietnam" - presumably because of the draft. The lyrics did not contain any political position. Then the girl jumped in with her song. She prayed to god "please bring daddy home for Christmas". Lyrics credited to Wayne-Barnett. Released in Cincinatti, Ohio.Sources1Newspapers.com↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: I had to go to Vietnam just one year ago / It was a round Christmas and my heart was full of tears and joys / And a vision just last night I saw my family there / And my precious baby girl was kneeling down in prayer / Dear god up there in heaven bring my daddy home / We miss him since he went away to fight in Vietnam / Other kids have their daddy's, god I wish I had my... / Bring daddy home for Christmas so he can be with me / To help me hang my stocking and help us trim our tree / You know I love my daddy and miss him all the time / Dear god, please bring daddy home for Christmas time / Dear god its been so lonesome with daddy gone so long... / When mummy sees his picture she just has to cry

Notes

Country Corner Records 45-804, side 1, matrix 1335-45-804-A, black label with silver print; "A Christmas Prayer" (Wayne-Barnett), 3:02, Jimmie Skinner Music, BMI. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Christmas · Child · Soldier's Perspective · Home Front Perspective · Combat · Religion

In collections

US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years] · Children on Record · Christmas Songs · Draft Songs