Yes I Want to Be a Yankee Soldier Boy

Annotation — Latin & Central American, & Caribbean Music

The song "Yes I Want to Be a Yankee Soldier Boy" by Sir Jablonski - while unable to find much biographical information about this artist, he featued on a collection of music from Panama (Panama! 2: Latin Sounds, Cumbia Tropical & Calypso Funk on the Isthmus 1967-77), so has some connection to that Central American country. Released in New York City, the back of the picture sleeve said that the composer of the song, Ismael Douglas, wrote the song to help inspire the US troops: "The author of the song, title 'Yes I want to Be a Yankee Soldier Boy', Ismael Douglas; was motivated to write a tune, for the moral of the soldiers now serving in Viet Nam. After making a trip to Viet Nam, as a merchant seaman for four years. He felt that the song could well serve the purpose of filling in the gaps of lonliness of our fighting men in Viet Nam. The fantastic, Sir Jablonski, the voice of echo was presented the opportunity of featuring...whose spontaneous version of this tune makes it a delightful listening material". It take a patriotic position, with the narrator saying that he wanted to add to American history.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Unknown - "Yes I Want To Be A Yankee Soldier Boy" (Duque Records, c.1961), credited to Sir Jablonski With The Unknowns. "Sir Jablonski" is a novelty pseudonym: Discogs attributes the real name Vincent Hill, with variant billings (Jablonski, Sir Jablonsky, Sir Jobulonsky) across many small labels and backing bands through the 1960s-70s. No independent biography of Vincent Hill was located. [Source: Discogs]

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · Patriotic

In collections

Latin & Central American, & Caribbean Music · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs