Love, Tommy

Annotation

Becky Lamb returned to the scene in 1968, a year after her hit "Little Becky's Christmas Wish" (see above). Billboard reported on 13 January that the "youngster scored heavily at Christmas with her initial outing 'Becky's Christmas Wish'. This follow-up carries the story line through to a patriotic climax. Well done and deserving of attention".1 So the song "Love, Tommy" (Warner Bros. Records # 7158) started with a man, Tommy, narrating a letter to Becky from Vietnam: "Dear Becky, how could a guy be so lucky to have a wonderful sister like you. As you read this letter, I am thousands of miles from home". Then Little Becky took over the narration (reading out Tommy's letter), in which Tommy explained that the US needed to fight the war in order to preserve freedom. Furthermore, Tommy argued that if the US failed, or people refused to fight (i.e. draft dodgers), then Americans might "never have another holiday". Therefore, he felt "a wonderful feeling to wear the uniform of freedom".Sources1Billboard↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: I am thousand of miles from home in a strange land I didn't even know existed a short time ago / I'm sorry I couldn't be home for the holiday and I guess my letter upset mum and dad a lot / But Becky, I have a very important job to do, a job that may not be fun, but a job that has to be done / You know, if we were all good and lived by the golden rule then soldiers would not be needed / But there are people that would take away our freedoms and the freedoms of others / That is why I won't be home... / If young men like me fail or if we refuse to do our duty to our wonderful country we might never have another holiday / Becky, it's the most wonderful feeling to wear the uniform of freedom / In this uniform I'm marching arm in arm with George Washington... / And all the great men that molded our nation / This is an important job little sister / I work shoulder to shoulder with fellows with different colours and different beliefs / But we all believe in America... / We have to do this, no soldier has ever let American down / And Becky, you are America, love Tommy My friend, our country is the greatest but there are some improvements we need immediately now / If I'm elected president, there will be no poverty / I'll plant the seeds for all we need and grow money trees / If I'm elected president, no war will ever be, cause if men fight I'll do what's right, and put them over me knee / I'll talk to Mr. Dirksen, I gallant man is he, he'll read us bed time stories coast to…

Notes

Warner Bros. Records 7158, white promotional label marked "Promotion — Not for Sale", made in U.S.A.; Becky Lamb, produced by Dick Glasser, vocal supervision by Bill Lamb, arranged by Ernie Freeman. "Love, Tommy" (DeAngelo–Casabon), Carlman Music Co., BMI, 2:53, K16261, starred as the plug side; "If I'm Elected President in 1968" (DeAngelo–Casabon–Prince), Stinson Music Co., BMI, 2:20, K16262. Housed in a Warner Bros. company sleeve with a pink triangle pattern. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Becky Lamb was a child performer who, at approximately six years old, recorded the 1967 Warner Bros. spoken-word novelty 'Little Becky's Christmas Wish' (b/w 'Go To Sleep Little Lamb', performed by her father Bill Lamb, described as a longtime radio show host in Flint, Michigan) - a letter to Santa asking for the return of her brother Tommy from Vietnam, strongly implying he had been killed. The pair followed later in 1967 with a non-charting Warner Bros. single, 'Love, Tommy' b/w 'If I'm Elected President in 1968', which continues the same storyline. [Source: AllMusic; Discogs]

Themes

Patriotic · Child

In collections

Children on Record · Draft Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]