Soldier's Letter to Congress
Sable 45-104 · Jackson, Mississippi
- Artist
- Paul Really
- Title
- 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
- 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. "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…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Draft Songs
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. "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…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Unknown - credited as "Paul Really with Jimmy Mullen Music" on "A Soldier's Letter To Congress", the A-side of Sable Records 45-104, whose flip is "Ode To Sugar Creek" by Clyde Satterwhite and The Sam Hill Singers; catalogued as spoken word / country. "Jimmy Mullen Music" reads as a publishing credit rather than a performer. No biography was located. [Source: Discogs]