A Letter From Vietnam

Annotation

The song "A Letter From Viet Nam (To Mother)" (RCA Victor # 47-9012) from 1966 is written in the first person - a soldier writing to his mother about the death of a friend. This came from the Canadian country singer Hank Snow (1914-1999), who played the Nashville sound from the 1950s - introducing pop elements into country music, and known to occasionally do some country yodeling. In this track the man narrating showed sympathy for the plight of the soldier and displayed a sense of national loyalty: "I'll do my best for Uncle Sam" and "old glory, the red, white, and blue" - praise for the flag being a frequently used technique in pro-government, patriotic songs.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: The sun was slowly setting on the land of Vietnam / Our captain gave his orders and I quickly took my stand... / Mum, I'm writing this from a tree top... / Where I sit I watch for the enemy / Because as you know they are our deadly prey... / I heard a shot: My god, they killed my best friend Joe... / He gave his life for you and my sweetheart / And above all for Uncle Sam... / They wrapped him in old glory, the red, white, and blue... / I'll do my best for Uncle Sam, and mother dear, for you

Notes

RCA Victor 47-9012, black label with the Nipper logo, 45 RPM, matrix TWKM-1308; "A Letter From Viet Nam (To Mother)" (Hank Snow), 2:44, Hank's Music BMI; producer Chet Atkins. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Canadian-American country singer, born 9 May 1914 in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, Canada; died 20 December 1999 in Madison, Tennessee. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Patriotic

In collections

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