Prisoner of War

Annotation

The song "Prisoner of War" (Orbit # OR-2507), a post-war country track that looked at the P.O.W. issue. The front cover of the picture sleeve said: "a tribute to all Ex-POW's as recorded by Pat Murphy, US Army Special Forces Vietnam (1968-71)".1 The back of the picture sleeve claimed: "Murphy spent a short time as a POW in Vietnam, but the former Green Beret admits it was the most terrible experience of his life. It ended 15 years of military service in the US army...for each order we will donate one dollar to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Fund" - unable to verify any of this information.2 Is this the same Patrick Murphy who falsely claimed to be a P.O.W.?3 Wayne "Slim" Caddell originally wrote the song, while in P.O.W. Camp # 3 during the Korean War. The song subsequently spread. Narrated from the perspective of a prisoner, the soldier described how he missed home life, spending time with his wife and baby boy: "I think about the day we'll sit at home lovingly and watch our baby play". The prisoner took comfort in having "a piece of our flag" in his battered bag, so a small patriotic reference. Released in Nashville, Tennessee. Produced by Ray McGinnis and Frank Jeter. Note that Murphy also released the 1987 single "Combat Vet" (OL Records Inc. # OLR-45-123) about Vietnam.Sources1Prisoner of War (Pat Murphy) (PS Front)↩2Prisoner of War (Pat Murphy) (PS Back)↩3ptsdmanual.com↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs

The song "Prisoner of War" (Orbit # OR-2507), a post-war country track that looked at the P.O.W. issue. The front cover of the picture sleeve said: "a tribute to all Ex-POW's as recorded by Pat Murphy, US Army Special Forces Vietnam (1968-71)".1 The back of the picture sleeve claimed: "Murphy spent a short time as a POW in Vietnam, but the former Green Beret admits it was the most terrible experience of his life. It ended 15 years of military service in the US army...for each order we will donate one dollar to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Fund" - unable to verify any of this information.2 Is this the same Patrick Murphy who falsely claimed to be a P.O.W.?3 Wayne "Slim" Caddell originally wrote the song, while in P.O.W. Camp # 3 during the Korean War. The song subsequently spread. Narrated from the perspective of a prisoner, the soldier described how he missed home life, spending time with his wife and baby boy: "I think about the day we'll sit at home lovingly and watch our baby play". The prisoner took comfort in having "a piece of our flag" in his battered bag, so a small patriotic reference. Released in Nashville, Tennessee. Produced by Ray McGinnis and Frank Jeter. Note that Murphy also released the 1987 single "Combat Vet" (OL Records Inc. # OLR-45-123) about Vietnam. Sources1Prisoner of War (Pat Murphy) (PS Front)↩2Prisoner of War (Pat Murphy) (PS Back)↩3ptsdmanual.com↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Your letter came this afternoon, it filled my heart with joy / Because it brought me news / I longed to hear about our baby boy / I can't explain about all these aches and pains that are now in my heart / Since I've been a prisoner here and we've been apart / While sitting here in this prisoner camp I think about the day we'll sit at home lovingly and watch our baby play / I remember you and the love we knew and love you more and more / But life is hopeless while I'm still a prisoner of war / I'm a prisoner of war on a far, far away shore / Where I fought for the red, white, and blue / And in my old battered bag there is a piece of our flag, it cheers me and helps to pull me through / Well I'll be coming home some day and we'll start our life once more / And happiness will fill our heart, just like it did before / So once again I'll tell you dear I love you more... / But our plans we'll set aside while I'm a prisoner

Notes

Orbit OR-2507 (U-26494), stereo, Side One, ℗ 1990 Orbit Records, distributed by Orbit Records, P.O. Box 120675, Nashville, Tn. 37212; "Prisoner of War", 3:13, Nautical Music Co. (BMI); produced by Ray McGinnis and Frank Jeter. The picture sleeve front, headed The "Prisoner of War" Song, "A Tribute to All Ex-POW's", shows a photograph of Pat Murphy in fatigues, credited "U.S. Army Special Forces, Vietnam (1968-71)", produced by Ray McGinnis & Frank Jeter, "Ex-Korean POW's", and is inscribed in ink "No more war". The back lists Side 1 "Prisoner of War" (Wayne Caddell Sr.) and Side 2 "A Little Guy Called Joe" (M. Wilkins, M. Walker), with a photograph of Murphy in a beret; its notes say the song was first written and recorded by Wayne "Slim" Caddell, composed while a POW in Camp #3 during the Korean War, and released on Orbit in May 1984, and that this re-release by two former POWs raised…

About the artist

Pat Murphy served with the U.S. Army Special Forces in Vietnam (1968-71); the sleeve describes him as a former Green Beret who spent a short time as a POW in Vietnam, ending 15 years of military service in the U.S. Army. [Source: record sleeve and labels]

Themes

P.O.W.

In collections

P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs · US Military & Veteran Songs