Prisoner of War (Do You Know My Name)
1972 · Magic M-1972-110 · USA
- Artist
- Zachary & Alexander
- Title
- Prisoner of War (Do You Know My Name)
- Release
- Prisoner of War (Do You Know My Name) / Lord Help Me
- Year
- 1972
- Label
- Magic # M-1972-110
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Songwriter
- Robby Robinson
- Genre
- Folk · Contemporary Folk
- Primary theme
- Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective
Annotation
The 1972 Vietnam War song "Prisoner of War (Do You Know My Name)" (Magic # M-1972-110) looked at the impact of the war on a US soldier, narrated from the perspective of a P.O.W. Released by Zachary & Alexander in Birmingham, Alabama. Written by Robby Robinson. The soldier described fragments of sounds that he experienced in Vietnam, what he saw, and being shot: "twilight in this tropic land...mortar walking round after round...my shirt turned red, I felt the pain". The soldier, taken prisoner, wondered if anybody back in the US knew about him, his name, and whether he would be rescued: "I'm the prisoner and the chains are on me...do you know my name". The lyrics also described the purpose of the war, as seeking to "to set their people free", which thus followed the US government's position on the war.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Unknown - the duo Zachary & Alexander released "Prisoner Of War (Do You Know My Name)" b/w "Lord Help Me" (Magic label / Magic City Music M1972110, 1972, pressed at RCA Indianapolis), the A-side written by Robby Robinson. No real names, hometown or other releases are documented. [Source: Discogs]
Themes
In collections
P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs