My Call to Vietnam
1966 · Belmar BM-904 · USA
- Artist
- Troy Norris
- Title
- My Call to Vietnam
- Release
- My Call to Vietnam / Earth Quake in Alaska
- Year
- 1966
- Label
- Belmar # BM-904
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Songwriter
- Troy Norris
- Genre
- Country · Country
- Primary theme
- US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
Annotation
In the country song "My Call to Vietnam" (Belmar Record Corp. # 698B-2461), recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, the narrator headed out to Vietnam, saying goodbye to his loved ones. While the title of the song might suggest a patriotic calling, the lyrics expressed disappointment / reluctance about going to Vietnam, which may indicate that the narrator had been drafted. On his way to Vietnam the soldier wrote a letter back home, remembering the good times and displaying sadness at his situation. The lyrics did not explicitly back US government justifications for the war, although it referred to the government's point of view: "they say that we are fighting for peace and liberty". He looked forward to the end of the war when he would be "going back to Nashville" with his "guitar, for I miss that country music".
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: In this wicked world of sorrow there is trouble on every hand / There is a mighty war waging over in Eastern land / I said goodbye to my darling, and my dear old dad and mum / Now I'm on my way to the war in Vietnam / Why I'm aboard this warship I'll try to write a line / It's so hard to write without a satisfied mind / My memory and thoughts go back to the lovely things we've done / My god protect you darling while here in Vietnam / They say that we are fighting for peace and liberty / There has been bloodshed across the land and sea / There's many Americans here that have died... / So that we can have a victory over here in Vietnam / Now when this war has ended and I get back home to you / I'll thank the god in heaven for the old white and blue / I'm going back to Nashville, and taking my guitar / For I miss that country music over here in Vietnam
Notes
Belmar Record Corp., Memphis, Tenn., 1618 Union Ave.; BM-904, with 698B-2461 and T4KM-2461 printed under the artist; "My Call to Vietnam" (Troy Norris), time 2:00; Millionaire Music BMI. White label, rubber-stamped "MAR 8 1966". [From the record sleeve and labels]
Themes
In collections
Draft Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]