The War in Vietnam

Annotation

Brother Will Hairston, blues gospel artist, born on 22 November 1919 in Brookfield, Mississippi, USA (died 7 March 1988), known as the Hurricane of the Motor City, released several topical, history records, including the JFK tribute, Story of President Kennedy, and the MLK and Civil Rights single, Rev. King Had a Time / Alabama Bus. Also related to Civil Rights, he released one of the rare pre-MLK assassination songs, March on to Montgomery about the Selma to Montgomery march. The song "The War in Vietnam" (Knowles Recording Co. # K-106) took an anti-war position in the first line, and repeated throughout, "oh lord, stop the war in Vietnam". It noted the government's war objectives: "Congress says they are dying for victory" and "Uncle Sam says they are dying for liberty". However, the narrator rejected this, focused on the death and suffering: "our soldiers they are dying". Of course, it also contained religious sentiment as often found in these gospel / blues songs: "our soldiers, they are praying in fox holes". Also note the reference to the atomic bomb: "real worried about that atomic bomb" - a reflection of the Cold War period. Released on his own Detroit, Michigan label.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Oh, lord, stop the war in Vietnam, oh lord / Oh lord, stop the war in Vietnam / Oh, then we will all rise together and face the rising sun / Oh lord, stop the war in Vietnam / Our soldiers they are dying in Vietnam, oh lord / Our soldiers they are dying in Vietnam... / Congress says they are dying for victory / But Uncle Sam says they are dying for liberty... / Our mothers are here in America on their knees / 'Bring my son back, saviour, if you please... / My sons are still around / I don't know when he'll go / I have a very funny feeling the mailman knocked upon my door.... / Everybody's real worried about that atomic bomb / Ain't none of 'em worried about the day my lord will come... / Our soldier, they are praying in fox holes... / My son wrote a letter, he was still alive / You know the army sent a telegram / 'He was killed at half past five' / Oh, then we will all rise together and face the rising sun / Oh lord, stop the war in Vietnam

Notes

Knowles Recording Co., Detroit, Mich. 48212, K 106 A, 45 RPM; Brother Will Hairston, "The Hurricane of the Motor City", phone 871-0144; "The War in Vietnam", with pianist Magnolia Tillman and drummer Washboard Willie. Red label. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Born Brookfield, Mississippi, USA (22 November 1919). Died 7 March 1988.

Themes

Anti-War · Soldier's Perspective · Religion · Atomic

In collections

Blues songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]