The Knock at the Door

Annotation

The New York-based gospel group The Jubilators released the song "The Knock at the Door" (Veep # VG-1302), which took a strong religious and patriotic perspective. It firstly started off with religious sentiment, with a father praying for his son in Vietnam: "I'm asking you god to take care of my boy". The father is re-assured by "god's amazing grace". But then a man delivers a letter to the soldier's parents, with a knock "different from any knock I'd ever heard before". The letter, from the war department, said that "I regret to inform you that your son in Vietnam is dead". Yet, the father takes comfort in remembering that his son "volunteered to go" because he wanted "to help make our country America free and have peace each and every day". The track also had a dig at the "resentment among our youth". This is a good representation of both patriotism and religious faith during the Vietnam era. This track was also released on the LP "Togetherness" (Veep # VP-13527). The back of the LP said that this song "tells the story of a man whose son is fighting in Viet Nam. When the news arrives, via telegram, thatr his son has been killed, the father does not seek to blame anyone or anything but instead turns to God for strength and guidance. He knows full well that god's will determines all out destinies". The group featured Gene Mumford (tenor vocals), Raymond "Pee Wee" Barnes (tenor vocals), Alden "Allen" Bunn [aka Tarheel Slim] (baritone vocals), Hadie Rowe (baritone vocals), Thermon Ruth (baritone vocals), David McNeil (bass vocals).

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: I lay in bed late at night praying, praying that my son in Vietnam is alright / Just read in the paper about the battle on the hill, so I'm asking you god to take care of my boy... / This day in time when resentment among our youth seems to grow / But ah not my boy, you see, he volunteered to go / He said, 'dad its a debt that I personally want to help pay / I want to pay to help make our country America free / And have peace each and every day' / He said: 'Dad...I'll take your teaching with me, and with god's help I'll get along' / I sat there looking up to the heaven with tears running down my face, until I was reminded of god's amazing grace / His last letter said, 'dad, I know your prays will see me through / So tell mum the war will soon be over and I'll be coming home soon' / About that time a knock came at the door, it sounded different from any knock I'd ever heard before / I opened the door and there stood a man / A man with a letter from the war department in his hand / I began to read the message... / This is what it said: 'I regret to inform you that your son in Vietnam is dead'... / Then I was reminded that he said, 'dad, I want to pay to help make our country American free and have peace each and every day'

Notes

Veep Gospel VG-1302 (UA 2178), white "Not For Sale Promotional Copy" "Plug Side" label, "A Division of United Artists Records, Inc. • A Transamerica Company • New York 19, N.Y."; "The Knock at the Door" (T. Ruth), Unart Music Corp. BMI, time 3:10; produced by George Butler; "From the Veep/Gospel LP 'Togetherness' VPS 16527". [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · Patriotic · Draft · Religion

In collections

Draft Songs · Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]