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
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
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
Lyrics
English: Let me kiss and hold you tight / For what might be the last time tonight / Promise not to cry / And so will I when we say goodbye / There's trouble somethings wrong / They're sending me away to Viet Nam / To fight for my country in a war that shouldn't be / But is necessary / Russian red, China, Viet Nam / Meet Uncle Sam / Ah, he's a mighty big man / He's gonna lend a helping hand / But if my buddies run shy / I bet I start wondering why over there / Bullets parting my hair / When the world doesn't care / They don't care... / So I'll be leaving you / And leaving the things that we do / And when they call us young and reckless kids / Kiss and stop this war / Let me kiss and hold you tight / For what might be the last time tonight / Promise not to cry / And so will I when we say goodbye / Goodbye / Oh goodbye / Yeah goodbye
Notes
Joed TR 119 (45-119-2), "A Zenith Production"; "Vietnam" (Mark Charron), time 1:56, Hornet Music (BMI); A & R Ray Rush; credited "B. J. Thomas & The Triumphs". [From the record sleeve and labels]
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
In collections
Draft Songs · Garage Rock Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]