Why Is It?

Annotation

Double-sided anti-Vietnam War single, with the tracks "Why Is It?" and "When I Come Home" (A & G Records # AG 2041) - this label was almost certainly based in New York, with A & G standing for Al Grannum, a radio DJ for WLIB. His program in the late 1960s and early 1970s focused on R&B groups. This record was released under the name "Al Grannum & the Granulated Souls". There is a picture of Grannum in a 1971 article from the The Daily Register, based in Red Bank, New Jersey, in which Grannum was helping out at a community party. Is there a connection to Hugh Grannum, the Detroit based photographer? The record was also released in Jamaica - Why Is It? / When I Come Home (Dynamic Sounds # AG 2041).So in the first track, "Why Is It?", the narrator, in spoken-word, said that he was "sick and tired" of hearing about children starving and "soldiers dying". He wanted to know "how many men must die". At the end of the song, he turned his attention to problems in the US, such as child malnutrition, while "millions of dollars are being spent on the war". Thus, this was a peace song, questioning the human cost of war.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs

Double-sided anti-Vietnam War single, with the tracks "Why Is It?" and "When I Come Home" (A & G Records # AG 2041) - this label was almost certainly based in New York, with A & G standing for Al Grannum, a radio DJ for WLIB. His program in the late 1960s and early 1970s focused on R&B groups. This record was released under the name "Al Grannum & the Granulated Souls". There is a picture of Grannum in a 1971 article from the The Daily Register, based in Red Bank, New Jersey, in which Grannum was helping out at a community party. Is there a connection to Hugh Grannum, the Detroit based photographer? The record was also released in Jamaica - Why Is It? / When I Come Home (Dynamic Sounds # AG 2041). So in the first track, "Why Is It?", the narrator, in spoken-word, said that he was "sick and tired" of hearing about children starving and "soldiers dying". He wanted to know "how many men must die". At the end of the song, he turned his attention to problems in the US, such as child malnutrition, while "millions of dollars are being spent on the war". Thus, this was a peace song, questioning the human cost of war.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: The way things are today are really bad... / It makes you really mad, you know / I'm so sick and tired of reading the news each morning about what is going on... / Children are starving, and soldiers dying in the land so many miles away / And I've got to ask: how many men must die? / I wonder how many men must die? / How long will it take before the human race can truly learn to live together... / While children are suffering for malnutrition right here in the USA / Millions of dollars are being spent on the war across the sea... / Why so many...make the ultimate sacrifice / What does it represent? / A young man life being spent A soldier serving my country in a way off foreign land / And I wonder it, why is it, I have the task of killing my fellow man / You know, this world could be such a beautiful place if everyone, just had a little more faith... / Our burdens would be a little lighter... / Instead of fighting each other people should take the time to pray... / When I come home here's hoping the grass will be greener... / When I come home, yes there will be peace, love and joy / And there will be no more guns to make the noise of war / And for the boys that went to die, let it not be in vain... / Hoping there will only be a lasting peace...

Notes

A & G Records, green labels, 45 RPM, Manaster Music BMI; Al Grannum and His Granulated Souls. "When I Come Home" (Forman & L. Ortiz), AG 2041, 2:55; "Why Is It?" (Forman & Grannum), AG 2040, 2:55. The accompanying Red Bank Register clipping reports the Red Bank Community Center block party, where WLIB disc jockey Al Grannum helped with the programme; its photo shows him at the turntables. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Anti-War

In collections

Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs