Train to Vietnam

Annotation

The Rudies, a UK based reggae group, active between 1966 and 1975. Members included Earl Dunn (lead guitar), Ardley White (bass), Sonny Binns (organ), Danny Smith (drums), Alfred Peters [a.k.a. Freddie Notes] (vocals, drums, ?-1970), Glenroy Oakley (vocals, 1970-75). The song "Train to Vietnam" (Nu Beat # NB 001) leaned towards the anti-war side, questioning the death in Vietnam: "how many Vietnamese...Chinese are dying". This was the first release on the new label Nu Beat, a sub-label of Pama Records, based in London, UK.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — European Songs

The Rudies were a UK based reggae group, active between 1966 and 1975. Members included Earl Dunn (lead guitar), Ardley White (bass), Sonny Binns (organ), Danny Smith (drums), Alfred Peters [a.k.a. Freddie Notes] (vocals, drums, ?-1970), Glenroy Oakley (vocals, 1970-75). The song "Train to Vietnam" (Nu Beat # NB 001) leaned towards the anti-war side, questioning the death in Vietnam: "how many Vietnamese...Chinese are dying". This was the first release on the new label Nu Beat, a sub-label of Pama Records, based in London, UK.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: I need to take a train to South Vietnam... / Find out how many Vietnamese are dying? / How many Chinese are dying? / And how many other nations are dying?... / I am the rudest of all rude boys / nN don't run away / That is only half the story / Come to the 7eleven and I'll show you / The eleventh commandment of the Rudies / What is it? / I'll tell you my friend, this is it, take off / Thy show off thy feet and rocksteady / That's the eleventh Commandment... / Train to South Vietnam I need to take a train to South Vietnam... / Find out how many Vietnamese are dying? / How many Chinese are dying? / And how many other nations are dying?... / I am the rudest of all rude boys / And don't run away / That is only half the story / Come to the 7eleven and I'll show you / The eleventh commandment of the Rudies / What is it? / I'll tell you my friend, this is it, take off / Thy show off thy feet and rocksteady / That's the eleventh Commandment... / Train to South Vietnam

Notes

Nu Beat NB.001A, 45 RPM, orange and green label with push-out centre; "Train to Vietnam" (Mitchell), Palmer Music, ℗ 1968; distributed by Pama Records Ltd., London, England. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

The Rudies were a UK-based, Jamaican-rooted reggae/rocksteady outfit of the late 1960s - also recording as Freddie Notes and the Rudies, the Tillermen and Des All Stars - who regrouped as Greyhound in 1970. "Train To Vietnam" b/w "Skaville To Rainbow City" appeared in 1968 as Nu Beat NB.001, distributed by Pama and pressed by Orlake, all UK companies; the writing credit reads "Mitchell". [Source: Discogs; Wikipedia (Greyhound)]

Themes

Soldier's Perspective

In collections

European Songs · Latin & Central American, & Caribbean Music · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]