Vietnam

Annotation — European Songs

Vietnam

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: In Vietnam there were flowers... / Now there is a desert / In place of those flowers / In Vietnam there were rivers... / Now there is a desert / The effect of napalm / Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam / I saw a president... / Who with a smile / Has people killed / I saw the marines... / Shooting at children / As if at a target / Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam / The Yankee bombers / Scatter the seed / And death will reap / I have seen hospitals / I have seen many schools / With children inside / Under napalm / Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam / But I have also seen people / I have seen many people / Shooting with rifles / At those aeroplanes / People and rifles... / United, they have already won / In Vietnam there were flowers / Now there is a desert / In place of those flowers / In Vietnam there were rivers... / Now there is a desert / The effect of napalm / Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam __________ Italian: Nel Vietnam c'eran fiori... / Ora c'è un deserto / Al posto di quei fiori / Nel Vietnam c'eran fiumi... / Ora c'è un deserto / Effetto del napalm / Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam / Ho visto un presidente.... / Che con un sorriso / La gente fa ammazar / Ho visto i marines.... / Sparare sui bambini / Come a un bersaglio / Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam / I bombardieri yankee / Spargono la semina / E la morte mieterà / Ho visto ospedali / Ho visto tante scuole / Con dentro i bambini / Sotto il napalm / Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam / Però ho anche visto gente / Ho visto tanta gente / Sparare col fucili…

Notes

Il Contemporaneo CONT. 4 (side CONT. 4/A), red label, 45 giri, D.R.; side A carries "Argento e oro" (Barbara Beitler – Il Contemporaneo) and "Vietnam" (Il Contemporaneo). The front of the picture sleeve ("Cont. 4") lists four titles ("Filastrocca governativa", "Vinceremo", "Argento e oro", "Vietnam") over a photograph of the group performing beneath an "F.L.M. – Modena" union banner. The back prints the lyrics of "Argento e oro" ("Ascoltate americani / ascoltate a lungo / gli urli dei bambini / nella giungla di Haifong!"), described as a poem written after the 1966 bombings of Haiphong and Hanoi by a twelve-year-old American girl, Barbara Beidler of Vero Beach, Florida. It also prints the lyrics of "Vinceremo" ("Inno del Fronte di Unità Popolare del Cile"). The performers are listed as Carla Artioli, Corrado Bignardi, Enea Longhi, Lara Malagoli, Sauro Malagoli, Marisa Mazzelli, Alberto…

About the artist

Italian political-folk ensemble from Modena, active 1967-1979, which self-released low-cost records of protest, partisan and topical songs; the group's history is documented in Alberto Meschiari's book 'Canzoniere. Il contemporaneo' (Edizioni Tassinari), and its Vietnam repertoire is archived at ilDeposito.org. [Source: Meschiari (book); Discogs; ilDeposito.org]

Themes

Anti-War · Napalm

In collections

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