What's Been Going On In Viet Nam

Annotation

Ginger and Jean, two of the sisters from the country group The Dinning Sisters, based in Oklahoma, US, released the song "What's Been Going on in Vietnam" (Parrot # PAR-322). The narrator described that a man had just returned from Vietnam. His wife felt that something strange had come between then. She searched his suitcase and found a picture, with the narrator providing a racist description: "a picture of a slant-eyed girl...she's holding a baby". So while the GI was away he had an affair with a Vietnamese girl, and apparently fathered a child. A similar theme appeared in the song "Something You Couldn't Write About" by soul singer Gloria Edwards, whose protagonist also found a picture, also using a racist description: "some slant-eyed woman". Note: furlough - a temporary leave of absence from military duty.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: What went on in Vietnam / You finally got a furlough, I met you at the train / You hugged me and kissed me, but it was not the same / Something's come between us and I'll find out somehow / You loved me when you left me, why don't you love me now? / What went on in Vietnam, what was it you forgot to write about / I'll find out, I've been true waiting just for you / Tell me, what's been going on in Vietnam / As I unpacked your suitcase hidden away I see a picture of a slant-eyed girl pretty as can be / That's not all I'm seeing, I imagined two and two / She's holding a little baby and it looks a lot like you... / Tell me, what's been going on in Vietnam

Notes

Parrot 45-PAR-322, matrix CL 7635; "What's Been Going On in Viet Nam" (Jean Surrey), 1:54, Pub: Iris-Trojan Music Corp., BMI; credited to Ginger and Jean; "A Product of London Records, Inc.", Made in U.S.A.; black label with parrot-in-top-hat logo. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Ginger and Jean Dinning were two of the American singing Dinning Sisters, who broadcast on WENR Chicago from 1939 and on National Barn Dance before moving to Hollywood in 1949. Jean (Eugenia Doy Dinning, 29 March 1924 - 22 February 2011, Garden Grove, California) co-wrote the 1959 hit 'Teen Angel' under her married name Jean Surrey; Ginger (Virginia Moy Dinning, 1924-2013) sang alongside her. "What's Been Going On in Viet Nam", written by Jean Surrey, was issued on Parrot 45-PAR-322 in July 1967, backed with 'Miss, May I Drive You Home'. [Source: Wikipedia; Discogs]

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · Vietnamese Girls

In collections

US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years]