Cry
1971 · Fania 611 · USA
- Artist
- Joe Bataan
- Title
- Cry
- Release
- Cry / If I Were King
- Year
- 1971
- Label
- Fania # 611
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Genre
- Soul, Gospel & Funk · Latin Soul
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation
The song "Cry" (Fania Records # SLP 407) looked at a soldier whose girlfriend left him while fighting in Vietnam. Sung by Joe Bataan, a Latin Soul artist from New York. This album version was 7 minutes long. A shorter 3.50 minute version featured on the 1971 single Cry (Fania Records # 611). So it started with a spoken-word narration, in which a soldier said that "here I am in Vietnam, in a foxhole". His friend Sam received a "dear john...here in stinky Vietnam". The soldier encouraged his friend to "go right on man and cry" because it would make him "feel better". The song included a minor anti-war message as well. The narrator raised the question "war, what is it for?" He answered: "nothing, I'm telling you".
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
American Latin soul singer, born 15 November 1942 in New York City. [Source: Wikipedia]
Themes
In collections
Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs · Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs