Vietnam
1965 · Joed TR-119 · Big Spring, Texas
- Artist
- B.J. Thomas & The Triumphs
- Title
- Vietnam
- Release
- Keep It Up / Vietnam
- Year
- 1965
- Label
- Joed # TR-119
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Big Spring, Texas, USA
- Songwriter
- Mark Charron
- Genre
- Garage Rock · Garage Rock
Annotation
B.J. Thomas, born 7 August 1942 in Hugo, Oklahoma, USA, and died on 29 May 2021 in Arlington, Texas, USA, spent most of his career in Texas. Usually known as a country pop artist, he released the garage rock song "Vietnam" (Joed Records # TR-119), a rare single released in Big Spring, Texas. It presented mixed political opinions regarding the war, taking an anti-communist position, but resentment towards the draft, noting he’s off "to fight for my country in a war that shouldn't be but is necessary", to fight against "Russian red, China, Viet Nam". It also featured a generational message, noting that the adults "call us young and reckless kids", so "stop this war", displaying a more nuanced perspective.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Born 7 August 1942, Hugo, Oklahoma, USA. Currently Arlington, Texas, USA
Themes
Draft · Soldier's Perspective · Pro-Soldier · Protest · Russia · China (Cold War) · Generation Gap