Just Back From Vietnam

Annotation

Just Back From Vietnam (Wes Felice). Country. Vietnam veteran returns to US, trying to make it home to family by hitchhiking. But gets accused and arrested for murder. He tells the judge that he is innocent, and that if he wanted to kill then he would just go back to Vietnam.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: This is a story about a young man / Who just got back from overseas / He was trying to get home to his wife and son / He hadn't seen them for years / He hitchhiked from New York to New Orleans / He was picked up by the law / He was thrown into jail, he was booked for murder / And now he can't go home / Judge, I've just got back from Vietnam / I was on my way to New Orleans / I haven't seen my wife and son for four years / I did not commit no crime judge... / I was hitchhiking cause all I had was $50... / Judge, I've had the killing and bloodshed that I want / When I was in Vietnam yonder, I cried cause I had to kill / But I had to to save my life, and also yours... / I don't come back home to kill / If I wanted to kill, I'd get re-enlisted for two years, maybe four / I'd have stayed there and kept on fighting... / I didn't kill nobody judge...just trying to get home

Notes

Raynard 843K-1072 (U4KM-9599), maroon and silver label, Dave Kennedy Recording Studios, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; "Just Back From Vietnam" (W. Felice - R. Groothuis), Renrel: BMI, time 2:51. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · Vet · Patriotic · Coming Home

In collections

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