Dear Uncle Sam

Annotation

Loretta Lynn (born Loretta Webb, in 1932, Kentucky), one of the most successful country singer-songwriters, released the track "Dear Uncle Sam" (Decca Records # 31893) about a man drafted to war. Released on the album I Like 'Em Country (Decca # DL 74744), Lynn also released a Vietnam related Christmas song in 1966, called "Christmas Without Daddy". Narrated from the perspective of the soldier's sweetheart, she told Uncle Sam that "you don't need him like I do", and thus showing a degree of resentment towards the war. This continued with the final line of the song, when the narrated told the listener that she received the dreaded telegram which said "I'm sorry to inform you". Although she is upset, she made a point of declaring her patriotism and support for government policies: "I know he's fighting for our land, I really love my country...he proudly wears the colors of the old red white and blue" - this is strikingly different from a couple early 1970s country songs, where the soldier's wife / sweetheart turned against the military and government (such as "Congratulations (You Sure Made a Man Out of Him)" by Arlene Harden), thus showing a change of opinion between 1966 and the early 1970s, in what is generally a conservative genre / market.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Draft Songs

Loretta Lynn (born Loretta Webb, in 1936, Kentucky), one of the most successful country singer-songwriters, released the track "Dear Uncle Sam" (Decca Records # 31893) about a man drafted to war. Released on the album I Like 'Em Country (Decca # DL 74744), Lynn also released a Vietnam related Christmas song in 1966, called "Christmas Without Daddy". Narrated from the perspective of the soldier's sweetheart, she told Uncle Sam that "you don't need him like I do", and thus showing a degree of resentment towards the war. This continued with the final line of the song, when the narrated told the listener that she received the dreaded telegram which said "I'm sorry to inform you". Although she is upset, she made a point of declaring her patriotism and support for government policies: "I know he's fighting for our land, I really love my country...he proudly wears the colors of the old red white and blue" - this is strikingly different from a couple early 1970s country songs, where the soldier's wife / sweetheart turned against the military and government (such as "Congratulations (You Sure Made a Man Out of Him)" by Arlene Harden), thus showing a change of opinion between 1966 and the early 1970s, in what is generally a conservative genre / market.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Dear Uncle Sam I know you're a busy man / And tonight I write to you through tears with a trembling hand / My darling answered when he got that call from you / You said you really need him but you don't need him like I do / Don't misunderstand I know he's fighting for our land / I really love my country but I also love my man / He proudly wears the colors of the old red white and blue / While I wear a heartache since he left me for you / Dear Uncle Sam I just got your telegram / And I can't believe that this is me shaking like I am / For it said I'm sorry to inform you

Notes

Decca 31893 (116,761), rainbow-stripe label; "Dear Uncle Sam" (Loretta Lynn), (2:14), Sure-Fire Music Co., Inc. (BMI); vocal with chorus and instrumental accompaniment. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Born 14 April 1932, Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, USA. Died 4 October 2022, Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, USA

Themes

Home Front Perspective · Patriotic · K.I.A.

In collections

Draft Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]