Willing Conscript
1965 · Elektra EKL 298 · New York City, New York
- Artist
- Tom Paxton
- Title
- Willing Conscript
- Release
- Ain't That News
- Year
- 1965
- Label
- Elektra # EKL 298
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- New York City, New York, USA
- Songwriter
- Tom Paxton
- Genre
- Folk · Contemporary Folk
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation
The song "Willing Conscript" (Elektra Records # EKL-298) took a satirical approach to the draft, with sharp lyrics about a draftee off to war, who needed to learn how to kill: "I'll need instruction, sergeant, for I've never killed before". As written immediately above, the lyrics and notation of the song first appeared in the June 1963 addition of Broadside # 28. Initially, Pete Seeger covered the track for Broadside, then Paxton performed the song at the Newport Folk Festival in 1963 - the live version was captured on the album Newport Broadside: Topical Songs at the Newport Folk Festival 1963 (Vanguard Records # VRS-9144). Finally, the studio version featured on the 1965 album Ain't That News! (1) (2)
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs
The song "Willing Conscript" (Elektra Records # EKL-298) took a satirical approach to the draft, with sharp lyrics about a draftee off to war, who needed to learn how to kill: "I'll need instruction, sergeant, for I've never killed before". The lyrics and notation of the song first appeared in the June 1963 addition of Broadside # 28. Initially, Pete Seeger covered the track for Broadside, then Paxton performed the song at the Newport Folk Festival in 1963 - the live version was captured on the album Newport Broadside: Topical Songs at the Newport Folk Festival 1963 (Vanguard Records # VRS-9144). Finally, the studio version featured on the 1965 album Ain't That News! (1) (2)
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Born 31 October 1937, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Folk singer-songwriter central to the 1960s Greenwich Village scene; his Vietnam-era songs include Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation (1965) and Jimmy Newman. [Source: Wikipedia]