Good-Bye to Viet Nam

Annotation

The song "Good-Bye to Viet Nam" (Capa Records # CAPA 130) sung by country singer Kitty Hawkins, contained patriotic elements, as well as showing concern for those left on the home front. Billboard reported in December 1965 that this track answered Johnnie Wright's "Hello Vietnam" - in fact, Tom T. Hall wrote both songs, so he answered himself! (1) The phenomenal success of "Hello Vietnam" no doubt encouraged him to continue the story. Billboard reported on 15 January 1966 that "Hawkins of Capa Records is making noise in several big markets with her 'Goodbye Vietnam'". (2) It also got released in Australia, on W & G Records (WG-S-2581), somewhat of a rare occurrence for an obscure country artist (see Good-Bye to Vietnam). (3) However, this single did not chart. In the first part of the song, the narrator recalled that her man, called Johnny, had being drafted to Vietnam to "keep our country free". But finally the time had arrived for him to return home.A list of Tom T. Hall Vietnam War compositions: Johnnie Wright - "Hello Vietnam" - a soldier headed out to war. Kitty Hawkins - "Goodbye to Vietnam" - a soldier returned to the US. Dave Dudley - "Then I'll Come Home Again" - a…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — US Domestic Perspective Songs

The song "Good-Bye to Viet Nam" (Capa Records # CAPA 130) sung by country singer Kitty Hawkins, contained patriotic elements, as well as showing concern for those left on the home front. Billboard reported in December 1965 that this track answered Johnnie Wright's "Hello Vietnam" - in fact, Tom T. Hall wrote both songs, so he answered himself! (1) The phenomenal success of "Hello Vietnam" no doubt encouraged him to continue the story. Billboard reported on 15 January 1966 that "Hawkins of Capa Records is making noise in several big markets with her 'Goodbye Vietnam'". (2) It also got released in Australia, on W & G Records (WG-S-2581), somewhat of a rare occurrence for an obscure country artist (see Good-Bye to Vietnam). (3) However, this single did not chart. In the first part of the song, the narrator recalled that her man, called Johnny, had being drafted to Vietnam to "keep our country free". But finally the time had arrived for him to return home.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Kitty Hawkins (born Neva Jean Henze Wise, 4 May 1928 in Dakota, Illinois; died 22 November 2011 at Rockford Memorial Hospital, Illinois) was an American country singer and songwriter who performed from the 1940s under the Kitty Hawkins name, appeared at the Grand Ole Opry and on WGN's National Barn Dance, took the Country Music Star of Tomorrow award in 1966, and wrote songs recorded by other country artists including the Wilburn Brothers before retiring from professional music to sing in churches and at special events. Her best-known record was "Good-Bye To Viet Nam", written by Tom T. Hall…

Themes

Home Front Perspective · Coming Home · Answer to Hello Vietnam

In collections

US Domestic Perspective Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs