Speak to Vietnam

Annotation

Described on the single as "The Blind Gospel Singer", released in Georgia, Atlanta, USA - otherwise nothing else is know about this artist - in fact, even the description is not entirely accurate, as it's Blues more than Gospel. Both sides of course are related to the Vietnam War, containing anti-war and religious sentiment. There is no date on the record in terms of its release, but there is a clue with regards to when it was written or even recorded. Firstly, it mentions the US president as being Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ). Secondly, the lyrics reference a "Senator brother Kennedy... running for president" - presumable Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), who served as a US senator for New York from 1965-1968, up to the date of his assassination on 06 June '68. He officially entered the race for the Democratic presidential primary nomination on 16 March, shortly before LBJ dropped out of the race on 31 March '68. But, there were rumours of RFK entering the race before March, so people may have thought he was running before then. In any case, we can assume this song is from around this period. The song "Speak to Vietnam" (National Recording Corporation # 45-007) is addressed to the narrator's god: "lord bring peace over in Vietnam". It focuses on the human suffering: "bombing people, shooting... innocent woman". The song makes note of US president LBJ, as wanting to end the war: "well President Johnson said... bring peace over in Vietnam". As discussed above, the narrator references RFK. He ran on a strong anti-Vietnam War platform during the Democratic presidential primary nomination race: "oh senator, brother Kennedy, he tried to stop the war". Also of interest, is the reference to the atomic bomb: "if they drop the atom bomb there won't be anything left".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Oh lord, the holy bible speaks of rumours of war / No one can stop this war but my lord / I'm praying for it's over in Vietnam / Where they're bombing people, shooting... innocent woman, lord... / Bomb the cities, but many pray to hide / So many innocent people and soldiers lost their lives / Oh wives, husbands, lovers, fathers-in-laws, sons, cheering fathers over in Vietnam... / Some mothers, father-in-laws only son give their life in Vietnam / Oh lord...stop this fighting that's carrying on... / Make them lay their weapons down / Lord, there isn't a problem you couldn't solve / Oh lord bring peace over in Vietnam / Well President Johnson said... bring peace over in Vietnam... / Oh senator, brother Kennedy, he tried to stop the war / He said if this war ain't stopped, the worse to come... / If they drop the atom bomb there won't be anything left / Not even the one that dropped the bomb... Got have mercy / What happened to Saigon / The way they're bombing people, oh my lord / Men, woman, and children, they're screaming and crying / People running, trying to save their lives / Killing people, bombing churches and the towns / People running and screaming, ain't no place to hide / Lord have mercy on Saigon / People trying so hard to dodge the bombs / Do your will lord, make them surrender / Let the people live / Lord have mercy now on Korea / Make them lose the ship and let them vote / So the United States won't have war no more /Why don't they surrender and obey / Why…

Notes

NRC 740 / 45-007, blue label headed "Myrtis Hardeman, 169 Elm St. Apt. 47, Atlanta, Georgia"; side 1 "Speak to Vietnam", side 2 "Mercy on Saigon", both credited to The Blind Gospel Singer; arranged by Walter Howard; produced by Harrison E. Smith. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Blind blues-gospel artist based in Georgia, whose single 'Speak to Vietnam' b/w 'Mercy on Saigon' (National 45-007, no date) voiced faith that President Johnson, 'working for peace everywhere he goes,' would 'bring peace over in Vietnam.' [Source: Journal of Texas Music History, Vol. 24 (The Vietnam War Song Project)]

Themes

Peace · Anti-War · Religion · Soldier's Perspective · LBJ · JFK

In collections

Blues songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]