Viet Nam Diary

Annotation

The song "Viet Nam Diary" (Amigo # RK117-1) took the format of a woman writing in her diary about her sweetheart, who had "volunteered to go away, willing to fight for his country", which immediately suggested a degree of patriotism. The narrator went a step further, providing an explanation for the war, inline with the US government - the soldiers in Vietnam were "fighting to keep us free". Aside from these patriotic sentiments, the narrator also thought about how the war had an impact on her life, leaving her alone in the US: "I wish...he was still here...I often feel like crying". Released under the artist name Lynn Coleman and Bob Moore's Temptations, out of a Philadelphia label, Ray Coleman produced the record and Fred Bender arranged it.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Dear diary, did you ever love Guy? / He volunteered to go away willing to fight for his country, hoping he'd be back some day / I wish today was yesterday and he was still here with me / But I know this is impossible because he is fighting to keep us free / I often feel like crying but instead I say a prayer... / Dear god I miss him so...love is fine, but hurts so much

Notes

Amigo RK-117-1 (70129), red and white label, 6137 N. 6th St., Phila., Pa. 19120; "Viet Nam Diary" (Coleman - Galbraith), Jean Sawyer Music / Amigo Music (ASCAP); produced by Ray Coleman, arranged by Fred Bender; credited to Lynn Coleman and Bob Moore's Temptations. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Soldier's Perspective

In collections

Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]