I'm Just a Lonely Soldier

Annotation

I'm Just a Lonely Soldier (Russell, David) (Red Star # 16295) Country. Patriotic Narrated from perspective of soldier fighting in Vietnam to protect US freedom and liberty against communism. Propagated the domino theory - that the collapse of South Vietnam into the control of the communist north would trigger the collapse of democracy in other countries and threaten the US - the idea of which came from President Eisenhower, during a press conferences on 7 April 1954.1Sources1The American Presidency Project: The President’s News Conference, 7 April 1954↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: I'm just a lonely soldier in a land far away / Fighting a country's battle from day to day / So if we keep our freedom in the lands where / We know, or will we let in communism / It's either take or kill, they want our country's / Freedom so they can rule this land / In this war in which we're fighting we must make / A stand, to protect America, the home of the free / Keep old glory waving for the land of liberty / If we stop our fighting in Vietnam today then / The commies would take over, we'd soon be on / Our way, I believe in all our freedom and for / What it stands, if communism took over we'd be in / There hands, you see that's why we are fighting in / Vietnam today, away from home and family and the / Good old USA, I'm serving for my country like all / Soldiers do, protecting America, the red, white & blue

Notes

Red Star 16295, side A, 45 RPM, red label with silver print and stars; "I'm Just a Lonely Soldier" (Roark); David Russell. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Patriotic · Domino Theory

In collections

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