The Wall
1982 · Echo [Cincinnati] E-104 · Cincinnati, Ohio
- Artist
- Vettz
- Title
- The Wall
- Release
- The Wall
- Year
- 1982
- Label
- Echo [Cincinnati] # E-104
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Songwriter
- Wayne Barker Jr.
- Genre
- Country · Country Rock
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
The group formed in Ohio, US, in 1981, led by Wayne Barker Jr., a Vietnam veteran. The group often performed at veteran gatherings. The back of this single said that "the group was formed to help the Vietnam veterans, through the support of the Vietnam Veteran of America, Ohio State Council. Funds raised through the sale of records, show, concerts, etc. will be donated to the Vietnam Veterans of America for veteran-related projects".1234 The group released several Vietnam-related singles: "God Bless America Tonight" (discussed below), "American Heroes", and "Orange Ribbons", the last two of which are also related to the 1990 First Gulf War. The song "The Wall", which started with helicopter sound-effects, of course focused on the memorial, the place to "shed a tear", as "they died by the thousands in the Vietnam War". At the end of the song, the narrator said that he loved his country but hated the Vietnam War, so it contained some anti-war sentiment from a Vietnam veteran.Sources1Wall, The (The Vettz)↩2engineersvietnam.com (archived copy)↩3ReverbNation (link no longer available)↩4efolkmusic.org: Wayne barker (link no longer available)↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Veterans Memorial Wall Songs
The group formed in Ohio, US, in 1981, led by Wayne Barker Jr., a Vietnam veteran. The group often performed at veteran gatherings. The back of this single said that "the group was formed to help the Vietnam veterans, through the support of the Vietnam Veteran of America, Ohio State Council. Funds raised through the sale of records, show, concerts, etc. will be donated to the Vietnam Veterans of America for veteran-related projects".1234 The group released several Vietnam-related singles: "God Bless America Tonight" (discussed below), "American Heroes", and "Orange Ribbons", the last two of which are also related to the 1990 First Gulf War. The song "The Wall", which started with helicopter sound-effects, of course focused on the memorial, the place to "shed a tear", as "they died by the thousands in the Vietnam War". At the end of the song, the narrator said that he loved his country but hated the Vietnam War, so it contained some anti-war sentiment from a Vietnam veteran. Sources1Wall, The (The Vettz)↩2engineersvietnam.com (archived copy)↩3ReverbNation (link no longer available)↩4efolkmusic.org: Wayne barker (link no longer available)↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: Did you see all my brothers going hand to hand / To fight for this freedom in a foreign land... / They died by the thousands in the Vietnam War / Shed a tear for my brothers / Shed a tear for their mamas / Shed a tear for each other / Shed a tear at the Wall / Shed a tear for our nation / Shed a tear for us all / Shed a tear for the new generations / Shed a tear at the Wall / The Wall / Did you see all the old men with the...the lines are all but broken / Their sons will never come back... / We still love our country but we hate and we curse Vietnam / Shed a tear for my brothers...
Notes
Echo Records E-104 (U-20899M), Side A; "The Wall" (Wayne Barker, Jr.), 4:00, Ashley Erin Music, BMI; producer Kerry Tolley; R.C. Enterprises, 440 Fairway Drive, Springboro, OH 45066. [From the record sleeve and labels]
About the artist
Formed 1981, USA. Currently Franklin, Ohio, USA