Joey's Prayer

Annotation

A double-sided child narrated Vietnam record (Imperial Records # 66273), that also goes down as a Christmas song.& . Both sides written by Jeanne Castle, and produced by Dick Shepp. Little is known of Joey Martin's biography, but he probably came from the US. Released in 1967, the narrator said that he was "just in my teens". In the song "Joey's Prayer", on the a-side, Joey wrote a letter (in the form of a prayer) to his brother, Mike Martin, fighting in Vietnam. It is another song representing the sibling of a soldier, who felt the absence of his brother, particularly during the Christmas festive season.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Children on Record

A double-sided child narrated Vietnam record (Imperial Records # 66273), that also goes down as a Christmas song.. Both sides written by Jeanne Castle, and produced by Dick Shepp. Little is known of Joey Martin's biography, but he probably came from the US. Released in 1967, the narrator said that he was "just in my teens". In the song "Joey's Prayer", on the a-side, Joey wrote a letter (in the form of a prayer) to his brother, Mike Martin, fighting in Vietnam. It is another song representing the sibling of a soldier, who felt the absence of his brother, particularly during the Christmas festive season.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: To Mike Martin, soldier USA, somewhere in the war zone / Delivered by angel, special delivery, to my big brother / I'm all alone sitting in our little room.... / Soon will be Christmas / But it is quiet everywhere...at Christmas time / I know he is sad without the tree and things / He don't know when he is coming home to see what Santa brings / But really presents aren't important.... / Mom says he's with us no matter where he may be / Because we'll keep his picture hanging right on our Christmas tree / See ya, Joey To Mike Martin, soldier USA, somewhere in the war zone / Urgent, delivery before Christmas... / I want you to know that most of us here in our own way are fighting for all of you / We are marching in parades of peace / The whole nation is involved / United together both young and old / Fighting so this whole mess can be solved / Like dad says, the only way that can win this war for peace in all the lands / It's all for one and one for all / United we got to stand / So keep your hopes up big brother / And know that we are all on your side / And doing everything we can to make peace world-wide / I'll be seeing ya, Joey

Notes

Imperial 66273, "Audition Record" promotional labels, "A Product of Liberty Records", Liberty Records, Inc., Los Angeles; "Joey's Letter" (Jeanne Castle), matrix IM-6416, 2:40, and "Joey's Prayer" (Jeanne Castle), matrix IM-6415, 2:10, both Metric Music Co., BMI; "A Gemini Production", produced by Dick Shepp. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Christmas · Child · Home Front Perspective · Religion

In collections

Children on Record · Christmas Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]