Damn Vietnam (Part 1)

Annotation

Born Mark Everett Comfort on 6 February 1934 in Oklahoma, USA, he was a Civil Rights activist and member of the Black Panthers in Oakland, California - the well-known African-American political organisation, founded by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton in October 1966. He died on 6 November 1976 in Sprague River, Oregon, USA.He was arrested in 1967 at a demonstration, along with Newton and Seale. According to the Black Panthers magazine, "Panther Ambush", which published an advert of the 7" record, the song was released to raise money to pay for bail, writing "Above is jacket of Mark Comfort's latest 45 (not pistol) record on sale locally at Shakespeare's. It was issues frankly to raise bail for Mark. That's a good cause".1 Both sides were called "Damn Vietnam", but it's one song split into both sides - it's a significant representation of the Black Panther movement and its role in opposition to the Vietnam War, noting the hypocrisy of fighting for freedom in another part of the world, while African-Americans faced discrimination in the US. Starting with the a-side track "Damn Vietnam" (A-side), it started out with presenting an anti-war perspective, with the well-known 60s phrase, "well you can tell Uncle Sam, I don't give a damn about the Vietnam". It then moved into the Civil Rights territory, questioning why African-American should fight against communism, when they need to "fight against some crackers in the Southern land". The B-side track "Damn Vietnam" (B-side) also tackled the Civil Rights issue, opining the military or government were killing black soldiers on the front line, "extermination...black boys in the front line, dying for what, I don't know". Furthermore, Comfort criticised American imperialism, arguing the hypocrisy of spreading freedom throughout the world, "it's been 350 years and I ain't got my freedom yet".Sources1Mark Comfort - Damn Vietnam (Berkerly Barb↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Blues songs

Born Mark Everett Comfort on 6 February 1934 in Oklahoma, USA, he was a Civil Rights activist and member of the Black Panthers in Oakland, California - the well-known African-American political organisation, founded by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton in October 1966. He died on 6 November 1976 in Sprague River, Oregon, USA. He was arrested in 1967 at a demonstration, along with Newton and Seale. According to the Black Panthers magazine, "Panther Ambush", which published an advert of the 7" record, the song was released to raise money to pay for bail, writing "Above is jacket of Mark Comfort's latest 45 (not pistol) record on sale locally at Shakespeare's. It was issues frankly to raise bail for Mark. That's a good cause".1 Both sides were called "Damn Vietnam", but it's one song split into both sides - it's a significant representation of the Black Panther movement and its role in opposition to the Vietnam War, noting the hypocrisy of fighting for freedom in another part of the world, while African-Americans faced discrimination in the US. Starting with the a-side track "Damn Vietnam" (A-side), it started out with presenting an anti-war perspective, with the well-known 60s phrase, "well you can tell Uncle Sam, I don't give a damn about the Vietnam". It then moved into the Civil Rights territory, questioning why African-American should fight against communism, when they need to "fight against some crackers in the Southern land". The B-side track "Damn Vietnam" (B-side) also tackled the Civil Rights issue, opining the military or government were killing black soldiers on the front line, "extermination...black boys in the front line, dying for what, I don't know". Furthermore, Comfort criticised American imperialism, arguing the hypocrisy of spreading freedom throughout the world, "it's been 350 years and I ain't got my freedom yet".Sources1Mark Comfort - Damn Vietnam (Berkerly Barb↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Civil Rights Songs

Born Mark Everett Comfort on 6 February 1934 in Oklahoma, USA, he was a Civil Rights activist and member of the Black Panthers in Oakland, California - the well-known African-American political organisation, founded by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton in October 1966. He died on 6 November 1976 in Sprague River, Oregon, USA. He was arrested in 1967 at a demonstration, along with Newton and Seale. According to the Black Panthers magazine, "Panther Ambush", which published an advert of the 7" record, the song was released to raise money to pay for bail, writing "Above is jacket of Mark Comfort's latest 45 (not pistol) record on sale locally at Shakespeare's. It was issues frankly to raise bail for Mark. That's a good cause".1 Both sides were called "Damn Vietnam", but it's one song split into both sides - it's a significant representation of the Black Panther movement and its role in opposition to the Vietnam War, noting the hypocrisy of fighting for freedom in another part of the world, while African-Americans faced discrimination in the US. Starting with the a-side track "Damn Vietnam" (A-side), it started out with presenting an anti-war perspective, with the well-known 60s phrase, "well you can tell Uncle Sam, I don't give a damn about the Vietnam". It then moved into the Civil Rights territory, questioning why African-American should fight against communism, when they need to "fight against some crackers in the Southern land".Sources1Mark Comfort - Damn Vietnam (Berkerly Barb↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Civil Rights Songs

The B-side track "Damn Vietnam" (B-side) also tackled the Civil Rights issue, opining the military or government were killing black soldiers on the front line, "extermination...black boys in the front line, dying for what, I don't know". Furthermore, Comfort criticised American imperialism, arguing the hypocrisy of spreading freedom throughout the world, "it's been 350 years and I ain't got my freedom yet".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Well we've been talking about war ever since we can remember / Every since man built the face of the earth there been some kind of war / And it doesn't seem like it ever solve anything / And so this particular song I'm gonna sing today is about another war / Taking place ten thousand miles away, Vietnam / Well you can tell Uncle Sam, I don't give a damn about the Vietnam... / And don't give a damn about Uncle Sam / He may be your Uncle, but he sure ain't mine... / Already got enough Tom, and we sure don't need some Sam.... / Well he tell us we fighting for our freedom, cause we fightin' against communism / Well I'm gonna stay right here and fight against some crackers in the Southern land / Well I'm gonna stay right here and fight for my freedom against them Southern crackers / Right here in the USA / I don't give a damn about Vietnam / I don't give a damn about Uncle Sam Well send us black boys overseas, telling 'em he gotta fight some Vietnamese... / When they're fighting against the same man that we fighting right here in the USA / Well I call it extermination, extermination...black boys in the front line / Dying for what, I don't know / Well if you want to fight, stay right here with me in the USA / Fight them Southern crackers down in Southern lands / Don't give a damn about Vietnam, don't give a damn about Vietnam / And I don't give a damn about Uncle Sam, cause he may be your Uncle / But he sure ain't mine...well young American boys overseas and dying / Well…

Notes

O.D.A.C., maroon label printed in silver with no catalogue number: "Damn Vietnam", Mark Comfort and Guitar. The picture sleeve shows a black-and-white photograph of Mark Comfort in profile, wearing a beret with an insignia badge, a jacket and waistcoat, with the title "damn vietnam", his name and "odac". [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Activist and Black Panther based in Oakland, California, USA. Arrested in Sacramento, California, USA

Themes

Anti-War · Civil Rights · Black Panther · Communism · Anti-Government

In collections

Blues songs · Civil Rights Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]