Vietnam Blues
1971 · Ahura Mazda 45-AMS-101 · Maringouin, Louisiana
- Artist
- Robert Pete Williams
- Title
- Vietnam Blues
- Release
- Goodbye Slim Harpo / Viet Nam Blues
- Year
- 1971
- Label
- Ahura Mazda # 45-AMS-101
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Maringouin, Louisiana, USA
- Songwriter
- R. Williams
- Genre
- Blues · Country Blues · Acoustic Blues
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation
Country Blues artist Robert Pete Williams, born on 14 March 1914 in Zachary, Louisiana, USA, and died on 31 December 1980 in Rosedale, Louisiana, USA. He recorded the song "Viet Nam Blues" (Ahura Mazda Records # 45-AMS-101) in 1970 in Maringouin, Louisiana. Sung in free style, it is difficult to understand the lyrics, but it is another blues protest song. It mentioned a lack of information about US activities in Vietnam, which could be used as an example of the "credibility gap" between what the government said and the actual progress of the conflict. The song also featured on the 1971 album Robert Pete Williams (Ahura # AMS 2002). Also note Williams released the war-related song "This Is a Mean Old World to Me" (1966) on the album Louisiana Blues (Takoma Records # B 1011).
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: Well where are we now? Vietnam... / We don't know what going on there... / Taking our Vietnam boys, I don't like this war that they call Vietnam
Notes
Ahura Mazda 45-AMS-101 (PRP 27142), light blue label; "Vietnam Blues" (R. Williams), time 3:24, Pub.: Zora Delta Music – BMI; produced by Parker A. Dinkins; printed in U.S.A. The picture sleeve reads "Goodbye Slim Harpo by Robert Pete Williams / Viet Nam Blues (Side 'B')", © 1971 Ahura Mazda Records. It shows a photograph of Williams holding up an acoustic guitar beside a pen portrait of him, signed and dated '71. [From the record sleeve and labels]
About the artist
American blues singer, born 14 March 1914 in Zachary, Louisiana ('Vietnam Blues'); died 31 December 1980 in Rosedale, Louisiana. [Source: Wikipedia]