There Won't Be Any Snow (Christmas in the Jungle)

Annotation

Released in December 1965, the song "There Won't Be Any Snow (Christmas in the Jungle)" (Roulette Records # R 4656) reached # 10 in the Cash Box singles chart. Written by Lee Pockriss (born in Brooklyn, New York, 20 January 1924; died Bridgewater, Connecticut, 14 January 2011) and Paul Vance (born in Brooklyn, New York, 4 November 1929; last known location Boca Raton, Florida). Performed by Derrik Roberts (unknown biography), it offered a pro-war sentimental stance on the war. The narrator, a soldier in Vietnam, writing to his sweetheart, noted that the protesters back home "think we are fools to be here". But the soldier declared that fighting compared to "taking out insurance for the future, our future, yours too". Apart from a female background vocal harmony, the narrators largely spoke, along with sound effects of the jungle and war (such as gun shots). As the soldier wrote the letter, informing his girlfriend of the good news that "I'm coming home", the listener heard a gunshot, thus indicating his death. His army friend found the letter, and sent it to the soldier's wife. George Goldner and Joe Kolsky founded the record label in New York, in 1956. (1)

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Derrik Roberts was an American singer, born 4 August 1941 in Livermore, Colorado according to his Discogs artist profile. 'There Won't Be Any Snow (Christmas in the Jungle)' was issued on Roulette R-4656 in 1965; the song was written by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss. No obituary or press biography has been located to corroborate the birth data. [Source: Discogs; Roulette label discography]

Themes

Christmas · Patriotic · Demonstration · Soldier's Perspective · Combat · K.I.A.

In collections

Christmas Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs