Soldier's Last Letter
1971 · Capitol 3024 · Los Angeles, California
- Artist
- Merle Haggard
- Title
- Soldier's Last Letter
- Release
- The Farmer's Daughter / Soldier's Last Letter
- Year
- 1971
- Label
- Capitol # 3024
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Los Angeles, California, USA
- Songwriter
- Redd Stewart and Ernest Tubb
- Genre
- Country · Country
- Primary theme
- US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
Annotation
Soldier's Last Letter (Haggard, Merle) Originally a Second World War song, released here during the Vietnam-era. The lyrics included a contemporary note. (1) # 3 in Billboard Hot Country singles, 27 March 1971. (1) I'm writing this down in a trench mom Don't scold if it isn't so neat The way that you did, when I was a kid When I'd come home with mud on my feet The captain just gave us our orders And mom we must carry them through I'll finish this letter the first chance I get But for now I'll just say I love you Then the mothers old hands began to tremble And she fought back the tears in her eyes But they came unashamed,for there was no blame And she knew that her soldier had died Then the mother knelt down by her bedside And she prayed Lord above hear my plea Please protect all the boys who are fighting tonight
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Born 6 April 1937, Oildale, California, USA. Country singer-songwriter and pioneer of the Bakersfield Sound (Okie from Muskogee, The Fightin' Side of Me). Died 6 April 2016 at his home in Palo Cedro, California, USA. [Source: Wikipedia]
Themes
Home Front Perspective · Soldier's Perspective · K.I.A. · Patriotic · WW2 · Combat · Foxhole