Gotta Go to Viet Nam

Annotation

In the R&B / soul track "Gotta Go to Viet Nam" (Aertaun Records # 1106) it seems that the narrator may have volunteered to go to war: "held up my hand...sure stuck my head out". Whether a volunteer or draftee, the narrator swore that "for my country I'd fight". So he goes to boot camp for training, and rather than being stationed in Japan, he is sent to Vietnam.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Mama, I gotta go to Vietnam / I took one step over and held up my hand / I swore by my religion that I'd be man / For my country I'd fight and be faithful and true / I sure stuck my head out when I said I'd do / I went to boot camp... / They kept me in training from sun to sun / Day after day all I could hear was 'hip hop'... / They told me I'd go to Japan / But somehow or other I knew it wouldn't be long / I'd be soon dodging bullets in Vietnam / Mama, I gotta go to Vietnam / I went into battle with my own shotgun... / I saw one coming, I aimed will quick / I pulled on the trigger

Notes

Aertaun Records 1106 (1106-80), vocal; "Gotta Go to Viet Nam" (Ray Holland), 2:50, Mate Music, Inc. (BMI); Ray Holland and The Lilly Cups. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Patriotic

In collections

Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]