The Voice From Beyond the Grave

Annotation

In the song "The Voice From Beyond the Grave" (Chart Records # 5127), the narrator took on the perspective of the long-dead John Paul Jones, a US navy captain during the American revolution. The old, dead military leader expressed surprise at the treatment of Calley, who in the past would have been "a big hero", receiving "a big parade". The narrator then told the listener that in war "it's either you kill me pal, or I'll kill you", and "that's the name of the game". Therefore, this track backed-up Calley and excused the mass murder of civilians on the grounds that sometimes indiscriminate killings took place during war time. The narrator also might be implying that in the fog of war (i.e. uncertainty of battle), and with the threat of death, killings took place, and that civilian society "ain't got no right in casting judgement" on the justification, or proportionality of the deaths - kill first, to be safe. This single came out of Nashville, Tennessee, with the spoken-word narration backed by a traditional country tune. Produced by Slim Williamson.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Unknown - 'The Voice From Beyond the Grave' b/w 'Mark in the Sand' (Chart CH-5127, 1971, country; both sides written by Billy Smith) appeared on Slim Williamson's Nashville label; no biography found for the unusually named singer. [Source: Discogs]

Themes

My Lai · Patriotic · Pro-Calley

In collections

My Lai & Lt. William Calley Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs