M.I.A. (Missing in Action)

Annotation — Children on Record

Bobby Flores, a Mexican-American from San Antonio, Texas, started his career as a child performer, said to be aged of 9 in 1970, around the time that this record was probably released.12 The song "M.I.A. - Missing in Action" looked at the P.O.W. issue, narrated by the son of the captured soldier. The soldier asked his son to look after the family while he was away. The son said that his father was in Vietnam "to preserve the right of freedom for people", thus taking a patriotic perspective.Sources1polkabeat.com: Postid 4 (archived copy)↩2trucountrymusic.com: Bobby flores (archived copy)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs

"Dedicated to all the M.I.A." written on back of picture sleeve.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Just before my daddy left to go to war / He told me son don't worry for me anymore / Just wait and I'll be back again someday / Take care of the family and yourself / While I'm away, that was the last we heard of him since he's been gone / How much longer can we last without him home / He sought to make a living without his love / I miss our daddy and the family does to / We're still leaning on his words that he'll be back some day / Mommy got a phone call from D.C. today / The words she heard made tears fall down / Her face, then later she told us, dad's an M.I.A. / He left knowing what he had to do / To preserve the right of freedom for people... / And I know I'll wear this bracelet until my daddy comes back home / I know god will bless him for the courage he has shown

Notes

Joey JOEY-5003-B, blue and silver label, stereo, "English Series", 6711 W. Commerce, San Antonio, Texas 78228; "M.I.A. - Missing in Action -" (Bobby Flores), Elzaz Music, BMI; Bobby Flores & Country Gentleman; "Distributed by Rangel Record Dist." [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Robert 'Bobby' Daniel Flores Jr. (1961-2022), born in San Antonio, Texas, was a Grammy-winning Texas country fiddler who performed with Ray Price and Johnny Bush, led the Yellow Rose Band and won a 2002 Grammy for his work on Freddy Fender's 'La Musica de Baldemar Huerta'; as a San Antonio child prodigy he cut 'Spin the Bottle' b/w 'M.I.A. - Missing in Action' with the Country Gentleman (Joey Records, c. 1974). He died in Blanco, Texas in June 2022. [Source: Crofts-Crow Funeral Home obituary; Praguefrank's]

Themes

P.O.W. · M.I.A. · Child

In collections

Children on Record · Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs · P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]