Bill Nettles and His Dixie Blue Boys
God Bless My Darling He's Somewhere
1965 · Nett 10002 · Monroe, Louisiana
- Artist
- Bill Nettles and His Dixie Blue Boys
- Title
- God Bless My Darling He's Somewhere
- 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 · Traditional 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".12 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.Sources1bopping.org↩2rockabilly.nl: Bill nettles↩3Billboard, 30 September 1944↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: God bless my darling, he's somewhere / Somewhere out there in Vietnam / Fighting for our country's freedom / For loved one he left back home / Whenever the cruel fighting is over / Whenever the victory's been won / God bless my darling, he's somewhere / Please send him safely back home / I remember the night that we parted / We were smiling through sorrow and tears / He heeded the call to old glory and bravely he did volunteer / He said that he was needed out yonder / To help until victory was one... / I prayer that his courage doesn't fail him / As he travels that long weary trail / God bless his captain and comrades
Notes
Nett-Records 10002-A (1248-45-10002-A), 45 RPM, blue and silver label; "God Bless My Darling He's Somewhere (In Viet Nam)" (Bill Nettles), 3:20, Peer Int., BMI; "By Bill Nettles and His Dixie Blue Boys"; NETT-Records, 1003 Thomas Ave., Monroe, La. [From the record sleeve and labels]
About the artist
Born 13 March 1903, Natchitoches, Louisiana, USA. Died 5 April 1967, Monroe, Louisiana, USA.
Themes
In collections
US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]