Pray for the Boys in Vietnam

Annotation

Little Betty Pruett, "aged 10" - as printed under her name on the record label - joined the group of children singing about political issues. The song "Pray for the Boys in Vietnam" (Arlee Records # 20967) took the religious route - asking for people to pray because "only god will help them win this war". The song displayed support for the freedom argument: "they're dying so that we can keep our freedom". Released in Hickory, North Carolina.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: We prayed when the other war was over / That peace would come to all the world around / In Vietnam another war had started / Our soldier boys are falling to the ground / Pray for our soldier boys in Vietnam / Only god will help them win this war... / Prayer is all that keeps our nation strong / They're dying so that we can keep our freedom / The freedom we still have in our great land / Lets tumble down before god and ask him to hold our soldier in his loving hands / Pray for our soldier boys in Vietnam / Only god can help them win this war

Notes

Arlee Records, Arlee Recording Co., Hickory, N.C., Side 1, 20967, blue label; "Pray for the Boys in Vietnam" (Dudley Watson - G. E. Shelton & Dean Smith), 2:10, Road Runner Pub.; The Gospel Hour, Valdese, N.C.; Little Betty Pruett, age 10. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Child gospel singer from North Carolina, credited on the Arlee label of 'Pray for the Boys in Vietnam' as aged 10. [Source: record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Patriotic · Child

In collections

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