Vietnamissa, Vietnamissa

Annotation

Agit-Prop - another Finnish Folk Pop group, influenced by the Nueva canción latinoamericana movement which developed in Latin America in the 1960s, usually with leftist political and social messages. Formed in 1970, in Helsinki, Finland, it featured Pekka Aarnio (vocals), Monna Kamu (vocals), Martti Launis (vocals), Sinikka Sokka (vocals), Kirsi Neuvonen (vocals, 1971), and Anu Saari (vocals, 1972). Note Kirsi Neuvonen also recorded the song "Pieni Vietnam-laulu" ("A Small Vietnamese Song") as a solo artist on the album Marja-Leena Mikkolan lauluja, discussed below. This album contained the song "Vietnamissa, Vietnamissa" ("In Vietnam, In Vietnam") (Love Records # LRLP-61), which focused on the impact of the war on civilians, "a boy is fleeing upon the rice fields", the environmental effects, "birds' nests are burning in the thicket", and the destruction of homes, "thatched roofs are burning". The lyrics warned the US that the "fight for freedom will not be discouraged by rifles". This song also references prisoner's of war (P.O.W.s), but presumably from the North Vietnamese side, rather than American prisoners, which is rare, "in a tiger's cage, a young prisoner dies". See , about US prisoners of war.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — European Songs

Agit-Prop - another Finnish Folk Pop group, influenced by the Nueva canción latinoamericana movement which developed in Latin America in the 1960s, usually with leftist political and social messages. Formed in 1970, in Helsinki, Finland, it featured Pekka Aarnio (vocals), Monna Kamu (vocals), Martti Launis (vocals), Sinikka Sokka (vocals), Kirsi Neuvonen (vocals, 1971), and Anu Saari (vocals, 1972). Note Kirsi Neuvonen also recorded the song "Pieni Vietnam-laulu" ("A Small Vietnamese Song") as a solo artist on the album Marja-Leena Mikkolan lauluja, discussed below. This album contained the song "Vietnamissa, Vietnamissa" ("In Vietnam, In Vietnam") (Love Records # LRLP-61), which focused on the impact of the war on civilians, "a boy is fleeing upon the rice fields", the environmental effects, "birds' nests are burning in the thicket", and the destruction of homes, "thatched roofs are burning". The lyrics warned the US that the "fight for freedom will not be discouraged by rifles". This song also references prisoner's of war (P.O.W.s), but presumably from the North Vietnamese side, rather than American prisoners, which is rare, "in a tiger's cage, a young prisoner dies".about US prisoners of war.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

Finnish: In Vietnam, in Vietnam / The thatched roofs are burning in the clearing / The birds' nests are burning in the thicket / Mother's black braided hair is burning / Fire, stick to the soot clouds / Bring them to the ends of the earth / So that people will ask one another / Why is the day so dark? / In Vietnam, in Vietnam / A boy is fleeing upon the rice fields / Soldier, how many bullets do you need / For such fragile temples? / Run faster, boy / Run to the ends of the earth / Say that the fight for freedom / Will not be discouraged by rifles / In Vietnam, in Vietnam / In a tiger's cage, a young prisoner dies / The guard stands, blood on his hands / The cursed corpse, is it singing? / Song, travel high / Travel to the ends of the earth / Say that the fight for freedom will not be stopped by bars Vietnamissa, Vietnamissa / palavat olkikatot aukiolla / palavat linnunpesät kaislikossa / palavat äidin mustat palmikot / Tuli tartu tuhkapilviin / vie ne maailman ääriin / että ihmiset kysyisivät toisiltaan: Miksi päivä on niin hämärä? / Vietnamissa, Vietnamissa / pakenee poika riisivainiolla / Sotilas, montako luotia tarvitset / noin hauraita ohimoita varten? / Poika, juokse nopeammin / juokse maailman ääriin / Kerro, että taistelua oikeudesta / eivät lannista kiväärit / Vietnamissa, Vietnamissa / tiikerihäkkiin kuolee nuori vanki / Vartija seisoo, verta kämmenissään / Kirottu ruumis, sekö täällä laulaa? / Laulu kiiri korkealle, kiiri maailman ääriin / Kerro, että taistelua…

About the artist

Formed in 1970, in Helsinki, Finland, it featured Pekka Aarnio (vocals), Monna Kamu (vocals), Martti Launis (vocals), Sinikka Sokka (vocals), Kirsi Neuvonen (vocals, 1971), and Anu Saari (vocals, 1972).

Themes

Anti-War

In collections

European Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · P.O.W. / M.I.A. Songs