War Is Starting Again
1961 · Ivory 91272 · Houston, Texas
- Artist
- Lightnin' Hopkins
- Title
- War Is Starting Again
- Release
- Got Me a Louisiana Woman / War Is Starting Again
- Year
- 1961
- Label
- Ivory # 91272
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Houston, Texas, USA
- Genre
- Blues · Blues
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation
Lightnin' Hopkins, born Sam Hopkins on 15 March 1912, in Centreville, Texas, recorded extensively from the 1940s-1970s, typically playing blues in the style that came out of his native Texas, like Blind Lemon Jefferson (acoustic / electric Texas blues). Often singing about topical events, such as the Korean War and Great Depression, in the mid-late 1960s he turned his attention to Vietnam. He died in Houston Texas on 30 January 1982. (1) He released several Vietnam War-related songs (see the info box below) On this 1962 LP featured the song "War Is Starting Again" (Vee-Jay Records # LP-1044), also released on the 1961 single War Is Starting Again (Ivory Records # 91272), which may have been too early to specifically be in reference to the Vietnam conflict. The narrator expressed fear of war coming, "well, I got news this morning, right now they need a million men". This song also included a "Jody" reference - the term "Jody" originated from "Joe the Grinder" (dated c.1939) - a mythical man in blues and jazz tunes who seduced the wives and girlfriends of soldiers, prisoners, and those away from home. "Grinder" was an old slang word for sex (dated c.1647). It is thought to have been…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — US Domestic Perspective Songs
Lightnin' Hopkins, born Sam Hopkins on 15 March 1912, in Centreville, Texas, recorded extensively from the 1940s-1970s, typically playing blues in the style that came out of his native Texas, like Blind Lemon Jefferson (acoustic / electric Texas blues). Often singing about topical events, such as the Korean War and Great Depression, in the mid-late 1960s he turned his attention to Vietnam. He died in Houston Texas on 30 January 1982. (1) He released several Vietnam War-related songs (see the info box below) On this 1962 LP featured the song "War Is Starting Again" (Vee-Jay Records # LP-1044), also released on the 1961 single Got Me a Louisiana Woman / War Is Starting Again ({Label185167] # 91272), which may have been too early to specifically be in reference to the Vietnam conflict. The narrator expressed fear of war coming, "well, I got news this morning, right now they need a million men". This song also included a "Jody" reference - the term "Jody" originated from "Joe the Grinder" (dated c.1939) - a mythical man in blues and jazz tunes who seduced the wives and girlfriends of soldiers, prisoners, and those away from home. "Grinder" was an old slang word for sex (dated c.1647).…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Born 15 March 1912, in Centreville, Texas. Died 30 January 1982, Houston, Texas, USA