Minute Men (Are Turning In Their Graves)
1966 · Columbia 4-43552 · New York City, New York
- Artist
- Stonewall Jackson
- Title
- Minute Men (Are Turning In Their Graves)
- Release
- The Minute Men (Are Turning in Their Graves) / I Wish I Had a Girl
- Year
- 1966
- Label
- Columbia # 4-43552
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- New York City, New York, USA
- Genre
- Country · Country
- Primary theme
- US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
Annotation
Stonewall Jackson, born in Emerson, North Carolina (6 November 1932), known as a star of the Grand Ole Opry, released the pro-government Vietnam song "The Minute Men (Are Turning in Their Graves)" (Columbia Records # 4-43552) in 1966. (1) Like other patriotic country songs of the era, the narrated defined his political position in relation to the protest movement (protesting against protesters), strongly criticising those who "march in line and carry signs", questioning their loyalty to the country. The title of the song referred to the founding fathers of the US, such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, whom the narrator claimed were "crying tears of shame" because of the "free Americans" who "pull for the other side". The narrator also referenced World War Two, saying that people did not "send food to Hitler's troops or praise the enemy" - a direct attack on members of the anti-war movement, who sent aid to the North Vietnamese, and backed their cause. Columbia Records certainly promoted this single heavily, giving it a half-page advertisement in Billboard on 16 April 1966, which described the song as a "star-spangled hit!" (2) It peaked at # 24 in the Billboard country…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
American country singer, born 6 November 1932 in Tabor City, North Carolina ('The Minute Men Are Turning in Their Graves'); died 4 December 2021 in Brentwood, Tennessee. [Source: Wikipedia]