Judy Jaynes

Don't Take Him Away

1961 · Cal-Gold 171 · USA

Don't Take Him Away – Judy Jaynes (A-side label)

Artist
Judy Jaynes
Title
Don't Take Him Away
Release
Don't Take Him Away / I Was There
Year
1961
Label
Cal-Gold # 171
Format
7" · Single
Language
English
Country
USA
Songwriter
Irwin Sedacca
Genre
Pop · Pop

Annotation

The song Don't Take Him Away by Judy Jaynes. A soldier is drafted by Uncle Sam, his sweetheart recalled the moment that the draft papers arrived: "greetings, and I started to cry". She begged Uncle Sam not to take her sweetheart. At the end of the song, the sweetheart comes to terms with the fact that he will have to go, and so she asked Uncle Sam to "take care of him". She declared that "I'll be faithful, and I'll be true". The single got a minor reference in Billboard on 27 November 1961. This track may be a little early to be specifically about Vietnam. "Today Billy got a letter, it was from his Uncle Sam He opened the envelope, there in big letters it said: 'Greetings': And I started to cry, please don't take him away I said all night and I prayed, I've grown so used to his charms Don't take away from my arms Oh, I'm begging you please don't take him way Why not Tommy or Jim, why does it have to be him?... If you've been in love before then you know how I feel It felt like a dream to me, but I know I wasn't dreaming... Am I asking too much, I've grown so used to his touch Believe me I wouldn't lie, without his love I would die... But if he does have to go please take care of…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Draft Songs

The song Don't Take Him Away by Judy Jaynes. A soldier is drafted by Uncle Sam, his sweetheart recalled the moment that the draft papers arrived: "greetings, and I started to cry". She begged Uncle Sam not to take her sweetheart. At the end of the song, the sweetheart comes to terms with the fact that he will have to go, and so she asked Uncle Sam to "take care of him". She declared that "I'll be faithful, and I'll be true". The single got a minor reference in Billboard on 27 November 1961. This track may be a little early to be specifically about Vietnam. "Today Billy got a letter, it was from his Uncle Sam / He opened the envelope, there in big letters it said: / 'Greetings': And I started to cry, please don't take him away / I said all night and I prayed, I've grown so used to his charms / Don't take away from my arms / Oh, I'm begging you please don't take him way / Why not Tommy or Jim, why does it have to be him?... / If you've been in love before then you know how I feel / It felt like a dream to me, but I know I wasn't dreaming... / Am I asking too much, I've grown so used to his touch / Believe me I wouldn't lie, without his love I would die... / But if he does have to go…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Themes

Draft · Soldier's Perspective

In collections

Draft Songs

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