Singin' In Vietnam Talkin' Blues
1971 · Columbia 4-45393 · New York City, New York
- Artist
- Johnny Cash
- Title
- Singin' In Vietnam Talkin' Blues
- Release
- Singin' In Vietnam Talkin' Blues / You've Got a New Light Shining
- Year
- 1971
- Label
- Columbia # 4-45393
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- New York City, New York, USA
- Genre
- Country · Country
- Primary theme
- Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective
Annotation
Johnny Cash (1932-2003), a key country singer, and one of the most influential musicians in the 20th century, released in 1966 the anti-protest single The One on the Right Is on the Left (Columbia Records # 4-43496), which called on folk singers to keep politics out of their songs. It also referenced the draft. Several years later his views had changed, releasing in March 1971 the single Man in Black (above) in which he explained that "I wear the black...for the thousands who have died", which displayed support for the anti-war movement. He followed this up in May 1971 with the song "Singin' in Vietnam Talkin' Blues" (Columbia Records # 4-45393) which recalled a trip that Cash and June Carter took to Vietnam in 1970 to visit US troops. It started with Cash and Carter doing "about four shows for the boys". Then during the night, while in bed, the "bullets and the bombs, and the mortar shells...fell...all night long". The next day a soldier informed them that seven soldiers had died. Cash concluded with a strong anti-war message, describing their visit as a "trip into livin' hell", and hoping that the "war is over" soon. This song featured on the album Man in Black (Columbia #…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Born 26 February 1932, Kingsland, Arkansas, USA. Died 12 September 2003, Nashville, Tennessee, USA