Ya volvi de Vietnam

Annotation — US Domestic Perspective Songs

Double-sided Vietnam War single featuring the track "El padre de un soldado" ("The Father of a Soldier"). The song writing credit is given to Francisco Montalvo. Copyright was filed in 1968 - thus the same song that appeared on the Los Ideales del Norte single El padre de un soldado / Cartas que vienen discussed below. (1) This also featured another version of the song "Ya volvi de Vietnam". Released on Gapoca Records (# GA-252), from Houston, Texas, USA. The first song was from the home front perspective, narrated by the father of a soldier, who prayed to god to "protect all the soldiers that find themselves in Vietnam" - making particular reference to the "Virgin of San Juan", the Roman Catholic title of the "Virgin Mary" used in Mexico and Texas. As the soldier went off to war, he told his parents that "I am pure Mexican and I am not afraid to die". At the end of the song, the father offered his own life in the place of his son: "in place of the life of my son I offer you my own". Transcription by Eric Silberberg and Ignacia Morales Reyes. Translation by Eric Silberberg. (2)

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

American Tejano conjunto singer, bandleader and songwriter who led the Conjunto Popular de Shorty Martinez and recorded for the Houston-based Popular and Coyote labels. 'Ya Volvi De Vietnam' (a corrido written by Roberto Cantu) appears on the Coyote LP 'Corridos De Aqui Y De Alla' (COY-001); 'El Padre De Un Soldado' is its companion soldier corrido. No personal biographical details documented. [Source: UCLA Strachwitz Frontera Collection]

Themes

Combat · K.I.A. · Anti-Communism · Patriotic · Religion

In collections

US Domestic Perspective Songs · Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs