El hijo del soldado

Annotation — US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs

"Porque estamos en Vietnam" ("Why We Are in Vietnam") - a various artist compilation of 10 Vietnam War songs, in the Tex-Mex / tejano genres, including the single of the same name above. Released on Bronco (# BRLP-043) - record label owned by Arnaldo Ramírez, who also founded the Mexican-American record labels ARV, Falcon, and Bego, also based in Texas. He featured in Billboard on 25 November 1972, in an article focusing on the explosion of Tex-Mex music.1 Born on 9 April 1918, in Mission, Texas, USA, he died there on 11 May 1993. 9 out of 10 of these songs took a patriotic perspective, with only one calling for peace in Vietnam.2Sources1Billboard, 25 November 1972↩2Billboard, 11 May 1993↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs

Freddie Gomez song "Soldado raso" (Falcon # 1117), which appeared on both the 1966 album El hijo del soldado raso (Falcon Records # FLP-2014), and the LP Porque estamos en Vietnam (Bronco # BRLP-043), discussed below. Gomez was born in Los Indios, Texas, USA (6 August 1932). He died in Carricitos, Texas, USA on 3 September 2005. These records all featured on the Arnaldo Ramírez Mexican-American record labels in Texas: ARV, Falcon, Bronco, and Bego.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs

The single release of Freddie Gomez's "El hijo del soldado razo" ("The Son of a Soldier") (Falcon # 1509) which appeared on both the 1966 album El hijo del soldado raso (Falcon Records # FLP-2014), and the LP Porque estamos en Vietnam (Bronco # BRLP-043). Gomez was born in Los Indios, Texas, USA (6 August 1932). He died in Carricitos, Texas, USA on 3 September 2005. These records all featured on the Arnaldo Ramírez Mexican-American record labels in Texas: ARV, Falcon, Bronco, and Bego. It's narrated from the soldier's perspective: "I leave early tomorrow on an airplane to Vietnam", following in the footsteps of his father. His mother cries as he departs, and he does not want to tell his girlfriend. The narrator seeks to displace strength, emphasising his heritage: "the Mexican race will never crack", also noting others from the same background: "men from the fatherland of three colours" (the Mexican flag). It concludes with the soldier saying "Goodbye San Antonio, Texas, I leave you with my devotion", leaning towards the patriotic perspective. Transcription and translation by Joel Garcia.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs

The single release of Freddie Gomez's "El hijo del soldado razo" ("The Son of a Soldier") (Falcon # 1509) which appeared on both the 1966 album El hijo del soldado raso (Falcon Records # FLP-2014), and the LP Porque estamos en Vietnam (Bronco # BRLP-043). Gomez was born in Los Indios, Texas, USA (6 August 1932). He died in Carricitos, Texas, USA on 3 September 2005. These records all featured on the Arnaldo Ramírez Mexican-American record labels in Texas: ARV, Falcon, Bronco, and Bego.It's narrated from the soldier's perspective: "I leave early tomorrow on an airplane to Vietnam", following in the footsteps of his father. His mother cries as he departs, and he does not want to tell his girlfriend. The narrator seeks to displace strength, emphasising his heritage: "the Mexican race will never crack", also noting others from the same background: "men from the fatherland of three colours" (the Mexican flag). It concludes with the soldier saying "Goodbye San Antonio, Texas, I leave you with my devotion", leaning towards the patriotic perspective. Transcription and translation by Joel Garcia.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: I'm leaving as a private, like my father did / Because I'm a valiant lad and I might not make it back / Don't cry, my beloved mother, I'll carry you in my soul / Tell my girlfriend that I didn't want to let her know / I'd rather write her a letter, I don't want to see her cry / If they don't kill me, we'll come back and get married / I leave early tomorrow on an airplane to Vietnam / I'm going to a land without hunger and I'll try my luck again / The Mexican people never know how to back down / Virgin of heaven, patroness of kindness, give them love and comfort, and charity to my love / They gave me a rifle and a pistol, they also gave me a cannon / To destroy enemies, a fight without conditions / This is a new war, our nation is in danger / I'm going with my comrades from Chicago and New York / Los Angeles, San Francisco, the ones from Phoenix were the best / And also some brothers of the tricolour flag / Goodbye San Antonio, Texas, I leave you my devotion / When I come back [?] I'll sing you a different song / Because my people are valiant and full of heart __________ Spanish: Me voi de soldado razo como mi padre se fue / Por lo valiente muchach y talves no volvere / No llores madre querida que mi alma te llevare / Le dicen a mi amorada que no le quise avisar / Mejor le escribo una carta, no quiero ver la llorar / Acaso no me matan y nos venemos a casar / Mañana salgo temprano en un avion a Vietnam / Me voi a tierra sin hambre y voi de nuevo a probar / La raza…

Notes

Bronco BRLP-043, red labels with the black rearing-horse Bronco logo, "A Division of Falcon Record Co. McAllen, Texas", label title "Vietnam -Por que estamos en Vietnam-"; back cover "Otra producción 'Falcon' en alta fidelidad", manufactured by Falcon Record Co., McAllen, Texas. Lado A: "Una carta a mi hijo" (Gabino García; Vicente Gutiérrez, Ramms-BMI) 3:05, "Paz en la tierra" (Juan Alfredo Pérez; Juan Alfredo Pérez, Ramms-BMI) 2:37, "La canción del soldado" (Juan Alfredo Pérez; Francisco Salazar) 2:17, "A la guerra me llevan" (Gilberto Pérez; arr. G. Pérez) 2:50, "El hijo del soldado" (Freddie Gómez; José A. Morante) 3:10; Lado B: "Por que estamos en Vietnam" (Arnaldo Ramírez; Arnaldo Ramírez, Ramms-BMI) 3:30, "El padre del soldado" (Henry Zimmerle; Francisco Montalvo) 3:30, "Esperanza de un soldado" (Los Dos Rebeldes; López-Maldonado) 2:20, "La novia del soldado" (Eligio Salinas…

About the artist

Born 6 August 1932, Los Indios, Texas, USA. Died 3 September 2005, Carricitos, Texas, USA

In collections

Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years] · US Combat Perspective Songs [War Years]