What Do You Win When You Win a War

Annotation

Gene Stridel released the anti-war song "What Do You Win When You Win a War" (Mercede Records # JM 3002). He featured in the New York-based 1940s group The Striders (under the name "Eugene Strider"). (1) He died in 1973. The label, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida took its name from its building: The Mercede Building, 2727 East Oakland Park Boulevard. The label also released the Vietnam-P.O.W. song I Promise I'll Wait by Nancy. The lyrics presented war as futile and harmful to society, whether a success or not: "you win nothing! The winners lose, for there's nothing to win except death and destruction". The narrator particularly singled out the negative impact of war on the soldiers and veterans - an early interpretation of their readjustment to civilian life and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) ("the shell shocked...boys who...lost their mind"), themes usually found in post-war songs. Also note the reference to P.O.W.s: "do you think of the cost? Do our prisoner's of war and all that they've lost?". Co-composed by Al Jacobs, who wrote the 1940 (Second World War) patriotic folk song "This Is My Country", and Gerry Granahan (who also produced). Arranged by Arnold Goland.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Gene Stridel (born Eugene Strider, 1927; died 1973, aged 45) was an American popular singer. He began as a member of the male R&B vocal group the Striders in the late 1940s, backing Savannah Churchill and playing the Apollo and the London Palladium; after the group folded he served in the Air Force, then recorded solo from 1958 to 1972 for Ford, Verve, Columbia, Atlantic and Mercede while working the cocktail-lounge circuit, appearing on the Tonight Show. 'What Do You Win When You Win a War' (written by Al Jacobs and Gerry Granahan, produced by Granahan, arranged by Arnold Goland) was issued…

Themes

Anti-War · Vet · P.O.W. · Orphan · K.I.A. · Medals · PTSD

In collections

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