The Letter (From South Viet Nam)
Galahad G-538 · USA
- Artist
- Sammy Masters
- Title
- The Letter (From South Viet Nam)
- Release
- The Letter (From South Viet Nam) / Little Ben
- Label
- Galahad # G-538
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Songwriter
- S. Masters
- Genre
- Pop · Pop
- Primary theme
- US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
Annotation
"The Letter (From South Vietnam)" Norwalk, California. Galahad Records # G-538 Produced by Scott Turner. Country. Patriotic. Religion. Soldier sent a letter home to parents. "Little Ben"
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
"The Letter (From South Vietnam)" Norwalk, California. Galahad Records # G-538 Produced by Scott Turner. Country. Patriotic. Religion. Soldier sent a letter home to parents.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: The postman came through the falling rain / Placed a letter in her trembling hands / Mother looked at dad as she slowly read the letter / From South Vietnam, 'dear mom and dad, yes it's lonely being so far away / But I think it's worth the trip here and the price I might have to pay / When I look into the eyes of these little boy and girls / Eyes that say, soldier, can you bring peace to our world / Well it's in that fleeting moment that I suddenly realize why we fight in Vietnam / And why we sometimes die / Now we don't owe these kids any favours / It's just the principal of the thing, that's been the American way I guess / Since the liberty bell first rang / I saw a little boy the other day / I guess his age was just past three / I stood and watched him for a while / He didn't notice me, he was searching through the rubbish cans / Trying to find a bite to eat / A ragged shirt on his little back / No shoes on his feet / And on his tiny shoulders, well there the burdens of a man full-grown / War has caused this orphan child to face the world alone / I thought to myself, he's about the size of my little boy Ben / What if this war was waging back home and this little boy was him / Now I never was a flag waver, but those stars and stripes up there set my blood tingling as they're waving in the air / They're the symbol of hope for folks all over this earth / So if I must fight in Vietnam I'll fight for all I'm worth / If it's my duty to shoulder a rifle and to fight on…
Notes
Red Galahad Records label with a mounted-knight logo, "Box 82, Norwalk, California", G-538-A; "The Letter (From South Viet Nam)" (S. Masters), Central Songs Inc. BMI, time 3:15; produced by Scott Turner. [From the record sleeve and labels]
About the artist
American rockabilly singer, born 18 July 1930 in Sasakwa, Oklahoma ('Rockin' Red Wing'); died June 2013. [Source: Wikipedia]
Themes
In collections
US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]