A Soldier's Sad Story

Annotation

The title of Tiny Watkins soul song "Soldier's Sad Story" (Excello Records # 2287) sought to portray the feeling of the drafted soldier in Vietnam: "I'm not so very brave, but still I have to fight". In a first person narration, at the end of the song the soldier pleads with the president, Lyndon B. Johnson: "LBJ...help me if you can" because "I don't want to lose my baby", thus also reflecting a common fear among soldiers (often referred to in Vietnam War songs). This was the title track of the 2003 Vietnam compilation A Soldier's Sad Story: Vietnam Through the Eyes of Black America 1966-73 (Kent # CDKEND 226).

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: I am a soldier in the US army / I'm not so very brave but still I have to fight... / Soon they'll say this terrible war is over / And I'll take this pack away from my back / And I'll head for home... / LBJ I know you mean to do good / I believe you would help me if you only could / But please, Mr. President help me if you can / I don't want to lose my baby

Notes

Excello Records 2287 (8722); "Soldier's Sad Story" (Watkins), 2:58, Rub-Hu-Seeus BMI; produced by Rogana Prod.; arranged by Aaron Varnell. "Nashboro Record Co., 1011 Woodland St., Nashville, Tenn." [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Eugene "Tiny" Watkins was a deep soul singer; on his Aquarian 45 he described himself as "a native of Mobile, Alabama", though other accounts call him originally Mississippian. "A Soldier's Sad Story" b/w "Love Flows Like A River" (Excello 2287, 1967), his first Excello release, carries an Aaron Varnell arrangement; the flip remakes a song from his 1958 Sandy 45. The A-side titles Ace's compilation "A Soldier's Sad Story: Vietnam Through The Eyes Of Black America". [Source: Sir Shambling's; Discogs]

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · LBJ · Draft

In collections

Draft Songs · Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs · US Combat Perspective Songs [War Years]