Viet Nam War (Pt. 1) & (Pt. 2)

Annotation

Lightnin' Hopkins, born Sam Hopkins on 15 March 1912, in Centreville, Texas, recorded extensively from the 1940s-1970s, typically playing blues in the style that came out of his native Texas, like Blind Lemon Jefferson (acoustic / electric Texas blues). Often singing about topical events, such as the Korean War and Great Depression, in the mid-late 1960s he turned his attention to Vietnam. He died in Houston Texas on 30 January 1982.1 In 1969, he released the anti-war single "Please Settle in Viet Nam" (Joliet # 205). He also recorded the song "Vietnam War" with his cousin Billy Bizor on the album Blowing My Blues Away in 1968, discussed above. In fact, Hopkins released his own version of that song, called "Viet Nam War (Pt.1) & (Pt.2)" (Jewel Records # LPS 5001). Recorded on 17 January 1968 (a few months before the track above), at ACA Recording Studio (Houston, Texas), it displayed the fear of a draft letter arriving from President Johnson (LBJ). It featured Billy Bizor on the harmonica.Sources1Lightnin' Hopkins: His Life and Blues (Alan Govenar, 2010)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Blues songs

Lightnin' Hopkins, born Sam Hopkins on 15 March 1912, in Centreville, Texas, recorded extensively from the 1940s-1970s, typically playing blues in the style that came out of his native Texas, like Blind Lemon Jefferson (acoustic / electric Texas blues). Often singing about topical events, such as the Korean War and Great Depression, in the mid-late 1960s he turned his attention to Vietnam. He died in Houston Texas on 30 January 1982.1 Hopkins released several Vietnam War-related songs (see the info box below). On this album is the song "Viet Nam War (Pt.1) & (Pt.2)" (Jewel Records # LPS 5001), recorded on 17 January 1968, a few month before the song "Vietnam War", performed with his cousin Billy Bizor on the album Blowing My Blues Away in 1968, discussed above. Essentially, it is an alternative version of the same song. Recorded at the ACA Recording Studio in Houston, Texas, it displayed the fear of a draft letter arriving from President Johnson (LBJ). It featured Billy Bizor on the harmonica. Vietnam War songs by Lightnin Hopkins: In 1962 Hopkins released the song "War Is Starting Again" on the album Lightnin' Strikes (Vee-Jay Records # LP-1044). In 1969, he released the anti-war single "Please Settle in Viet Nam" (Joliet # 205). He also recorded the song "Vietnam War" with his cousin Billy Bizor on the album Blowing My Blues Away in 1968. In fact, Hopkins released his own version of that song, called "Viet Nam War (Pt.1) & (Pt.2)" on the 1968 album Talkin' Some Sense (Jewel Records # LPS 5001). Finally, in 1970 Hopkins produced the song "Questionnaire Blues" on film, released in 1970 on video, but unreleased on audio format.Sources1Lightnin' Hopkins: His Life and Blues (Alan Govenar, 2010)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Mama says, 'son, how can you be happy when your brother way over in Vietnam?' / I told her: 'He may get lucky and win some money before he die / He may bring some money back home' / Mama looked at me, she said that ain't no way to talk about your brother when he my child too / See, Mr. Johnson is telling everybody just exactly what he want them to do / Alright my child, what if Uncle Sam were to call you boy / I would miss you so much I may die

About the artist

Born 15 March 1912, in Centreville, Texas. Died 30 January 1982, Houston, Texas, USA

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · Draft

In collections

Blues songs · Draft Songs