M.I.A. / P.O.W. (Prisoner Of War Song)
1970 · MGM K14192 · Hollywood, California
- Artist
- John Canty
- Title
- M.I.A. / P.O.W. (Prisoner Of War Song)
- Release
- M.I.A. / P.O.W. / Blow Ye Winds
- Year
- 1970
- Label
- MGM # K14192
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Hollywood, California, USA
- Genre
- Country · Country Pop
- Primary theme
- Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective
Annotation
The song "M.I.A. / P.O.W. (Prisoner of War Song)" (MGM Records # K14192) by Captain John R. Canty, of the US air force, who served in Vietnam 1964-1965 - and therefore a military perspective, sometimes referred to as "In Country", although the recording of this single took place in the US. The song centred on the issues of those Missing in Action (M.I.A.) and Prisoners of War (P.O.W.), as stated in the title. Billboard reported on the song on 5 December 1970, displaying a photo, with the caption: "Hugh Downs, left, host of the "Today" show, listens to Capt. John R. Canty, U.S.A.F., as he sign his "M.I.A./P.O.W. (Prisoner of War Song)", on the show. The record has just been released in the MGM label".1 The first part told the story of Captain Richard Hall whose plane had been shot down over North Vietnam. "Rescue pilots search the jungle floor", but they found nothing, and thus "upon a list his name has got to stay", as an M..I.A. The narrator then looked at the impact of that on the soldier's wife, who wondered if her husband had been captured or killed in action. It is revealed in a letter postmarked Hanoi, that the soldier "is a prisoner of war". Then the vocalist narrated a letter from the P.O.W., who said that he hoped to return home soon. Note the reference to the "Hanoi Hilton" - the nickname given to the Hỏa Lò Prison used by North Vietnam for US P.O.W.s2Cover: Pat Boone - M.I.A. / P.O.W. (Prisoner of War Song) (1971 / MGM Records # K-14242).3 Sources1Billboard, 5 December 1970↩2Wikipedia: Hỏa Lò Prison↩3Billboard, 10 April 1971↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: In November 1965 through North Vietnam skies / Rescue pilots search the jungle floor, Captain Richard Hall was down... / No parachute was seen... / Missing in action, prisoner of war / Upon a list his name has got to stay / And if he's killed in action, his wife will surely say / Please keep him on that list as M.I.A. / M.I.A., P.O.W., which will it be / Please don't make it K.I.A... / Then one day a letter came, the postmark said Hanoi / But the writing she'd seen many times before, excitement froze her mind / And so she trembled as she cried, he's alive / But he's a prisoner of war... / She opened up the letter and then began to read / It appears his health and everything is fine / He speaks about the simple things he seems to have no need / Then she begins to read in between the lines / Tell Johnny, Kay, and Patty to study extra hard... / 'My sweet Ann, I love you more than I can tell / You should know how much I really care / Someday I shall come home'... / He's in the Hanoi Hilton, she prays that he's alright