Credited on the record as Paul Really with Jimmy Mullen Music.
A Soldier's Letter to Congress
Sable 45-104 · Jackson, Mississippi
- Artist
- Paul Really
- Credited on the record as
- Paul Really with Jimmy Mullen Music
- Title
- A Soldier's Letter to Congress
- Release
- A Soldier's Letter to Congress / Ode to Sugar Creek
- Label
- Sable # 45-104
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Songwriter
- Houston Davis, Dave Danley
- Genre
- Traditional Pop · Traditional Pop
- Primary theme
- US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
Annotation
Paul Really - Soldier's Letter to Congress, A (Really, Paul) (Sable # 45-104) Jackson, Mississippi. Spoken-word narration to marching drums Draft inequality. Criticised lack of vote for 18-21 year old - franchise expanded in 1972 presidential election. Narrated from perspective of soldier. Reference / answer to Kennedy's 'what you can do for your country' speech.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: Dear members of Congress, may I speak to you / I have an important message, I hope you'll hear my through / I can not personally see you, but I know you're sincere and fair /I know you're ultra Americans, I know that you really care / I'm a nineteen year old soldier, I wish things weren't what they are / Yes, I'm a soldier in this man's army, on the way to war / So you see, I have a problem, there is one thing I wish you would note / If I'm old enough to fight, why in the world can't I vote / I can marry, pay taxes, and die, carry firearms, draft cards / And I quote, be sent to jail like an adult / But there is not a way in the world I can vote / I'm not alone in this project, I speak for twelve million more / The big, and the wide, and the tall, the ultra rich and the poor / So here's twelve million potential new voter, from 18 to 21 years old / Give us a chance to be heard, don't leave us out in the cold / Only four states now consider us human / Georgia and Kentucky are two / Hawaii and Alaska are the others / That's just 46 states too few / As a civilian I had a good job, tried hard to get credit / But oh no, you've got to get someone to sign boy, you're under age... / So it all boils down to this, the issue just as plain as can be / I'm trying to help my country, how about my country help me / Well, we're getting ready to leave / Their bringing the plane around now / I hope you'll consider this message and give us a break somehow / I just may not get back but…
Notes
Sable Record No. 45-104-A, yellow label, "2224 Belvedere Dr., Box 10542, Jackson, Miss. 39209"; "A Soldier's Letter to Congress" (Houston Davis & Dave Danley), 2:35, Johnny Angle Pub.–BMI; Paul Really with Jimmy Mullen Music; "An Angle-Davis Production". The label carries a handwritten ink signature. [From the record sleeve and labels]
Themes
In collections
Draft Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]