Credited on the record as Mel Rearick (Narrator), Homer Grosz and the Country Squires Band.
A Letter to the President
ARM 1001 · USA
- Artist
- Mel Rearick
- Credited on the record as
- Mel Rearick (Narrator), Homer Grosz and the Country Squires Band
- Title
- A Letter to the President
- Release
- A Letter to the President / Cincinatti, Ohio
- Label
- ARM # 1001
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Songwriter
- James Liprando
- Genre
- Country · Country
- Primary theme
- Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective
Annotation
Letter to the President, A (Rearick, Mel) plight, demonstration, VC, leans towards anti-war.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs
Bluegrass, soldier's perspective. Both anti-war / peace and patriotic. Probably Nixon era, early 70s. Letter to the president - know you're busy with riots, rush on gold, the budget. But it's my 21st birthday, here in a foxhole, with my gun fighting the Vietcong Many of my friends have died. Here to keep country free, I'll do my part. But tired of the jungle and the killing. Please end the war, and bring peace
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: Precious memories, precious memories / How I long to be back home...never again to be alone / Dear Mr. President, this letter is hard to start / But sir, I'll do my very best to say what's in my heart / I've read about your problems, riots...your struggle with the budget / I know your job is endless and how weary you must be / But sir, I hope you take the time to read these lines from me / Today sir is my birthday, I'm finally twenty-one / I'll spend it in my foxhole, accompanied by my gun / The last year of my life sir I've fought the Vietcong / In battle after battle I've managed to stay strong / I've made a lot of friends sir, now many who are dead / God bless those brave young men in their final resting bed / Mr. President, I know I'm here to keep this country free / And I'll perform my dangerous duties with honour and dignity / But sir, I'm too am getting tired of jungles drenched in rain / And I long to have my mothers arms around me once again / To loaf about the sidewalk and watch the girls go by / And tease my little sister until I make her cry / Please Mr. President, please try to end this war / Return me to my home and the life I knew before / Let me see the smiling faces of the friends I once knew / Please Mr. President, each day I'll pray for you
Notes
ARM #1001 A, green label, RD #3 – Box 392A, Leechburg, Pa. 15656, 45 RPM, matrix 22515-2; "A Letter to the President" (James Liprando), time 3:30; Mel Rearick (narrator) with Homer Grosz and the Country Squires Band. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Themes
In collections
Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years] · US Combat Perspective Songs [War Years]