Bill Nettles and His Dixie Blue Boys
God Bless MY Darling He's Somewhere (In Viet Nam)
1965 · Nett 10002 · Monroe, Louisiana
- Artist
- Bill Nettles and His Dixie Blue Boys
- Title
- God Bless MY Darling He's Somewhere (In Viet Nam)
- Release
- God Bless My Darling He's Somewhere (In Viet Nam) / Got a Lot of Lovin' to Do
- Year
- 1965
- Label
- Nett # 10002
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Monroe, Louisiana, USA
- Songwriter
- Bill Nettles
- Genre
- Country · Country
- Primary theme
- US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
Annotation
The song "God Bless My Darling He's Somewhere (In Viet Nam)" (Nett-Records # 10002) took a patriotic line - the central character volunteered for the army, to fight "for our country's freedom". This song was actually an update, for Vietnam, of an earlier version. Bill Nettles (1903-1967), a well known country songwriter from Natchitoches, Louisiana, served in the US navy during the First World War. His son, Bill Jr., followed in his footsteps, serving during the Second World War with the navy. Reported missing at Okinawa, he was eventually found and returned home. This led Nettles to compose and record the 1943 patriotic song "God Bless My Darling, He's Somewhere". (1) (2) Billboard reported on 30 September 1944, that "Eleanor Roosevelt had referred his patriotic song...to the National Wartime Music Committee and that the song has been added to the committee's file of military and patriotic music". (3) He hence updated that song for the Vietnam era.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Born 13 March 1903, Natchitoches, Louisiana, USA. Died 5 April 1967, Monroe, Louisiana, USA.