He Wore the Green Beret

Annotation

Nancy Ames, born on 30 September 1937 in Washington, DC, USA. A standard take on the green beret theme, no doubt influenced by Barry Sadler's hit The Ballad of the Green Berets. Like Sadler, the Nancy Ames song "He Wore the Green Beret" (Epic Records # 1000-3) expressed patriotism through praising the military division the green berets. Even though the narrator's husband died, she said that her son would be proud to wear the green beret. Billboard reported on this record, on 5 March 1966: "fine version of the 'Beret' tune is this warm emotional reading by Miss Ames with solid instrumental backing. Should prove a quick chart climber".1 It did in fact just make it into the Hot 100, on 26 March 1966, reaching # 95 (ahead of the Lesley Miller answer He Wore the Green Beret, stuck at # 107).2 In its third week, it reached # 89 (2 April 1966).3Sources1Billboard, 5 March 1966↩2Billboard, 26 March 1966↩3Billboard, 2 April 1966↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: My true love was a green beret / His head held high... / 'I'll fight for you and our son'... / Here is the mail that came today / His silver wings and his green beret... / When there is peace and men are free / We'll know he died for you and me... / His son will wear the green beret

Notes

Epic 5-10003, yellow label, 45 RPM; "He Wore the Green Beret" (P. Barsella-F. Catana), matrix ZSP 113154, backed with "War Is a Card Game" (P. Polland), matrix ZSP 113155; arranged and conducted by Sid Bass; produced by Manny Kellem and Billy Sherrill. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Born 30 September 1937, Washington, DC, USA. Currently Houston, Texas, USA

Themes

Patriotic · Green Beret · K.I.A. · Answer to Green Beret

In collections

US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]