It's for God, and Country, and You Mom (That's Why I'm Fighting in Viet Nam)
1965 · Decca 31861 · USA
- Artist
- Ernest Tubb
- Title
- It's for God, and Country, and You Mom (That's Why I'm Fighting in Viet Nam)
- Release
- It's for God, and Country, and You Mom (That's Why I'm Fighting in Viet Nam) / After the Boy Gets the Girl
- Year
- 1965
- Label
- Decca # 31861
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Songwriter
- Dave McEnery
- Genre
- Country · Country
- Primary theme
- US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
Annotation
Honky-tonk singer-songwriter Ernest Tubb, born near Crisp, Texas (1914-1984), considered one of the most influential country performers in history, played the role of the soldier in the song "It's for God, and Country, and You Mom (That's Why I'm Fighting in Viet Nam)" (Decca Records # 31861) - as stated in the title, he explained what he thought to be the necessary reasons for fighting in Vietnam - although it was also for his "sweetheart who promised me her hand". (1) Composed by Red River Dave (real name David McEnery), the lyrics contained clear expressions of patriotism, particularly with the reference to the American flag, a common feature amongst patriotic songs: "proudly rippling in the air the...blessed flag". For more Red River Dave songs, see box below. This single had significantly less success than the Tom T. Hall compositions discussed above ("Hello Vietnam" and "What We're Fighting For"), staying in the Billboard country chart for only two weeks, peaking at # 48 in early January 1966. (2) (3) Interestingly, Tubb's Second World War composition, Soldier's Last Letter (Decca Records # 6098), released in 1944, received a revival during the Vietnam period, with many…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
Honky-tonk singer-songwriter Ernest Tubb, born near Crisp, Texas (1914-1984), considered one of the most influential country performers in history, played the role of the soldier in the song "It's for God, and Country, and You Mom (That's Why I'm Fighting in Viet Nam)" (Decca Records # 31861) - as stated in the title, he explained what he thought to be the necessary reasons for fighting in Vietnam - although it was also for his "sweetheart who promised me her hand". (1) Composed by Red River Dave (real name David McEnery), the lyrics contained clear expressions of patriotism, particularly with the reference to the American flag, a common feature amongst patriotic songs: "proudly rippling in the air the...blessed flag". For more Red River Dave songs, see box below. This single had significantly less success than the Tom T. Hall compositions discussed above ("Hello Vietnam" and "What We're Fighting For"), staying in the Billboard country chart for only two weeks, peaking at # 48 in early January 1966. (2) (3) Interestingly, Tubb's Second World War composition, Soldier's Last Letter (Decca Records # 6098), released in 1944, received a revival during the Vietnam period, with many…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
American country singer, born 9 February 1914 in Crisp, Texas ('It's for God, and Country, and You Mom'); died 6 September 1984 in Nashville, Tennessee. [Source: Wikipedia]