While I'm Away (Baby Keep The Faith)
1967 · Murco 1034 · USA
- Artist
- Eddy G Giles & The Jive Five
- Title
- While I'm Away (Baby Keep The Faith)
- Release
- Eddie’s Go Go Train / While I'm Away (Baby Keep the Faith)
- Year
- 1967
- Label
- Murco # 1034
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Genre
- Soul, Gospel & Funk · Soul
- Primary theme
- US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
Annotation
The song "While I'm Away (Baby Keep the Faith)" (Murco # 1033) is another soul love song about a soldier leaving the US to fight in Vietnam. While the central theme is about a soldier requesting that his girlfriend stick by him, a fascinating few lines revealed a patriotism and support for the country's perceived ideals, despite a growing opposition to the war from African-Americans: "I had to go fight for the country we love dear...This is our country, land of liberty, justice for all" - was this a subtle civil-rights message? The song was composed and performed by Elbert ("Eddy") Wiggins Giles, from Shreveport, Louisiana, and recorded on the Dee Marais label Murco, sub-label of Peermont. Also released on the single Eddie’s Go Go Train / While I'm Away (Baby Keep the Faith) (Murco # 1034).
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Civil Rights Songs
The song "While I'm Away (Baby Keep the Faith)" (Murco # 1033) is another soul love song about a soldier leaving the US to fight in Vietnam. While the central theme is about a soldier requesting that his girlfriend stick by him, a fascinating few lines revealed a patriotism and support for the country's perceived ideals, despite a growing opposition to the war from African-Americans, and thus a Civil Rights message: "I had to go fight for the country we love dear... This is our country, land of liberty, justice for all" - was this a subtle Civil-Rights message? The song was composed and performed by Elbert ("Eddy") Wiggins Giles, from Shreveport, Louisiana, and recorded on the Dee Marais label Murco, sub-label of Peermont. Also released on the single "Eddie’s Go Go Train / While I'm Away (Baby Keep the Faith)" (Murco # 1034).
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Eddy Giles (Eddie Giles, born 17 March 1938 in Frierson, Louisiana; died 5 February 2019) was a Louisiana deep-soul and gospel singer who spent his whole life and career around Shreveport, cutting seven 45s for Dee Marais's Murco label (1966-1970), including the regional hit 'Losin' Boy', before returning to the church as a pastor and long-serving gospel DJ on KOKA Shreveport. "While I'm Away (Baby Keep the Faith)", cut with his band the Jive Five, appeared on Murco 1033 in 1967. [Source: Wikipedia; Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven]
Themes
In collections
Civil Rights Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs · Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs