Letter From Vietnam

Annotation

Country artist Wally White, from Australia, released the song "Letter From Vietnam" (CM # CMEP-510), which as suggested in the title, took a letter format, from a soldier to his mother, about life in Vietnam, with the hot jungle: "the Aussie boys are dug in, the cold and muddy ground, as they faced the other side: "it is eerie in the jungle when the Viet Cong are around"" - Vietcong (or "VC") - the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (Vietnamese: Mặt trận Dân tộc Giải phóng Miền Nam Việt Nam) (NLFSV or NLF), the political and military resistance to the US and South Vietnamese government from within South Vietnam. He recalled seeing singer Johnny Winter perform: "do you remember Johnny Winter, he joined us in the fall...". It ended with the soldier looking forward to receiving a letter "from my girlfriend back in Aussie". Note he also released the EP "Return From Vietnam" (CM # CMEP 505) (although the relevant song was actually titled "Home From Vietnam"), date unknown, discussed below, which took a patriotic perspective..

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs

Country artist Wally White, from Australia, released the song "Letter From Vietnam" (CM # CMEP-510), which as suggested in the title, took a letter format, from a soldier to his mother, about life in Vietnam, with the hot jungle: "the Aussie boys are dug in, the cold and muddy ground, as they faced the other side:" "it is eerie in the jungle when the Viet Cong are around" - Vietcong (or "VC") - the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (Vietnamese: Mặt trận Dân tộc Giải phóng Miền Nam Việt Nam) (NLFSV or NLF), the political and military resistance to the US and South Vietnamese government from within South Vietnam. He recalled seeing singer Johnny Winter perform: "do you remember Johnny Winter, he joined us in the fall...". It ended with the soldier looking forward to receiving a letter "from my girlfriend back in Aussie". Note he also released the EP "Return From Vietnam" (CM # CMEP 505) (although the relevant song was actually titled "Home From Vietnam"), date unknown, discussed below, which took a patriotic perspective.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: I was talking to a mother about her dear son far away / She showed to me a letter that the postman bought that day / As I read through in silence about a foreign, foreign land / I saw a trace of tear stain on the letter from Vietnam / 'Dear mum', was how it started, 'all is well with me out here / Though we have our share of troubles...never fear... / I'm always thinking when I'll be home again / How are the sheep and cattle, I've heard you need some rain... / We had a concert here, a singing group from home / And it kind of makes you homesick when you're all alone / Do you remember Johnny Winter, he joined us in the fall... / We often laughed when we kids, of the fights we had, what fools / Now that's all behind us, like the happy days at school / It is eerie in the jungle when the Viet Cong are around / And the Aussie boys are dug in, the cold and muddy ground / But we know the day is coming when we'll come home to our land / It will only be a memory, the war here in Vietnam / So I'll close and wait for a letter I hope will soon come / From my girlfriend back in Aussie

Notes

With Judy White. Recorded by Brian Callcott, 2TM, 18 April 1970; matrix Z4KB-0154. Four-track EP (Letter From Vietnam / Answer to Sweeney / Old Battered Rodeo Boots / Rock Miners in the Mountain); band: Des Whimen (bass), Barry Whimen (lead), Wally White (rhythm), Geoff Cuneo (drums), John Minson (harmonica). CM Twin City Country Sound CMEP-510, gold label, "Australian Made", Box 507, Dubbo and Box 41, West Tamworth; side 1: "Letter From Vietnam" (with Judy White) (W. White) (2.46) C.M. Control and "Answer to Sweeney" (W. White) (2.34) C.M. Control. The front cover, printed in green, reads "Presenting Wally White — Letter From Vietnam", with an inset portrait of White in a hat and a photograph of a Gibson guitar, a hat and riding boots on grass. The back carries a cover note by Geoff Brown (RCA & Hadley Records), who calls this White's first release and says "A Letter From Vietnam"…

About the artist

Australian country singer-songwriter. Both master tracks are White's own compositions from his Australian EPs 'Letter From Vietnam' (CM Records CMEP-510, 1970) and 'Return From Vietnam'; his other recordings ('Old Battered Rodeo Boots', 'Answer to Sweeney') are likewise in the Australian bush-country vein. No personal biographical details documented. [Source: Discogs / 45cat]

Themes

ANZUS · Soldier's Perspective · VC

In collections

Australian & New Zealand Songs