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13 Feb 02 - 08:15 PM (#649562) Subject: Lyr Add: THE BOONIE RAT SONG (Viet Nam War) From: Steve in Idaho The following is excerpted from John Del Vecchio's book "The Thirteenth Valley." It is a song held in trust by John and any profits derived from it are to be sent to him for placement in the trust fund for Viet Nam Veterans. No exceptions. But for live performances, Viet Nam Veterans, and the use for Veterans activities it is free. We have no idea who wrote the song. According to John it was given to him by a medic who found it on the body of an M-60 Machinegunner killed in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam in 1970. The Boonie Rat Song I landed in this country, One year of life to give, My only friend a weapon, My only prayer to live. I walked awayfrom freedom, And the life that I had known, I passed the weary faces Of the others going home. Boonie Rats, Boonie Rats, Scared but not alone, 300 days more or less Then I'm going home. The first few days were hectic, As they psyched my mind for war, I often got the feeling They're trying to tie the score. The first day with my unit We climbed a two click hill, To find an enemy soldier, To capture, wound, or kill. Boonie Rats, Boonie Rats, Scared but not alone, 200 days more or less Then I'm going home. The air was hot and humid, The ground was hard and dry, Ten times I cursed my rucksack And I wished that I could die. I learned to look for danger In the trees and on the ground, I learned to shake with terror, When I hear an AK round. Boonie Rats, Boonie Rats, Scared but not alone, 100 days more or less Then I'm going home. 'SKYHAWKS' is our motto, 'AIRBORNE' is our cry, Freedom is our mission, For this we do or die. Boonie Rats a legend For now and times to come, Wherever there are soldiers They'll talk of what we've done. Boonie Rats, Boonie Rats, Scared but not alone, 50 days more or less, Then I'm going home. They say there'll always be a war, I hope the're very wrong, To the Boonie Rats of Viet Nam I dedicate this song. Boonie Rats, Boonie Rats, Scared but not alone, Today I see my Freedom Bird, Today, I'm going home. I am the author of one arrangement to this song and hope to one day put it into an mp3 - but it has several arrangements that have been done over the years. Jazz, country, rock and roll, blues, you name it one of us has done it. Mine, although I wasn't a Folk Musician at the time, probably wrote a Folk arrangement. Steve |
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13 Feb 02 - 11:24 PM (#649681) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: michaelr Great song, Steve... very powerful. Could you enlighten us re the term Boonie Rats? BTW, did you get that tuner yet? Cheers, Michael |
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14 Feb 02 - 12:05 AM (#649709) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: Steve in Idaho Boonie Rats - The "Boonies" was the jungle or anyplace that the Americans did not have a base (and there was a lot of that). American coloquialism "Out in the boonies" I think. But it was out in the field where you fought for your life every day. Down at Da Nang we had a place called the "Arizona Territory" because you could get killed out there. Cowboys and Indians with real guns - 8-10 foot tall razor grass and snipers everywhere. And we were the Rats. Cannon fodder if you will. The Marines called us "bait" or the "grunts" as when you walk with a hundred pounds of gear on your back for 20 miles or so, in 100+ heat, with 100+ humidity you make a grunting noise when your feet hit the ground. They'd put us on a line and troll us through the boonies (or bush) until some poor sucker from the other side shot at us. Then we'd blow them up. Yep got my tuner - Nothing but better Michael! Ol Mose is just better - How you doing anyway? Steve |
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14 Feb 02 - 08:07 PM (#650423) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: GUEST,mgarvey@pacifier.com Great song. I heard it on the "In-Country" album, produced by Dr. Lydia Fish. I think you can buy it still via the internet. mg |
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14 Feb 02 - 08:10 PM (#650425) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: wysiwyg Steve.... Thanks. ~S~ |
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14 Feb 02 - 08:10 PM (#650426) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: artbrooks Norton, it was even more fun with a 12 foot radio antenna sticking up from your back. |
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15 Feb 02 - 02:03 AM (#650644) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: GUEST,mgarvey@pacifier.com here is a good editorial http://thenam2.homestead.com/pg2.html |
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15 Feb 02 - 02:16 AM (#650647) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: Amergin Thanks, Steve...very powerful song....I have a friend who is a webmaster for her local chapter of Rolling Thunder.....in fact it gave me the inspiration to write this: click here |
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15 Feb 02 - 09:44 AM (#650775) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: Steve in Idaho Art - I was a radio operator. I was crosstrained with ANGLICO (Air and Naval Gunfire Liason Company) so did both FO (Forward Observer)and FAC (Forward Air Controller) work. Danged antennas make for an inviting target eh? Mary - who recorded the song on that album? Amergin - My goal is to make the Rolling Thunder ride to The Wall next year. Just couldn't do it this year. I'll try to get to the writing today and see what you've done. Thanks for the link - Steve |
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15 Feb 02 - 04:11 PM (#651040) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: Irish sergeant Very evocotive and moving. I was in 'Nam myself but my older brother and several friends were. Is the In country album available? Kindest regards, Neil |
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15 Feb 02 - 09:15 PM (#651239) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: GUEST,mgarvey@pacifier.com I'll check about the in-country album and get back. mg |
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15 Feb 02 - 10:04 PM (#651255) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: MarkS Here is my war story (folk related) It' Spring of '69 and I'm sitting on an LZ near the Cambodian border in war zone C, and I'm playing "The Big Muddy" on a Vietnamese guitar. Got the lifers really cheesed off. Mark (Tooshortforthiss**t)S |
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14 Dec 09 - 04:57 PM (#2788333) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: GUEST,Pavel From Russia To Steve in Idaho Mr.Steve, thank you so much for comment about Boonie and Grunt There is my email, let me ask you a few question about 'Nam? I am writing the book about it and studying that war. Thank you. P.S.It does not "Don't mean nothing"!! |
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14 Dec 09 - 05:00 PM (#2788337) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: GUEST To Steve paulmeier@mail.ru |
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14 Dec 09 - 05:04 PM (#2788340) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: GUEST,Pavel From Russia To Steve paulmeier@mail.ru |
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14 Dec 09 - 05:38 PM (#2788367) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: oldhippie Chuck Rosenberg sang it on the "In Country" cd. |
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15 Dec 09 - 03:09 AM (#2788581) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Boonie Rat Song ( Viet Nam War) From: GUEST,Pavel From Russia Hey Guys! Who knows how to plat that song? Who knows the chords? |
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15 Jan 10 - 05:35 AM (#2812453) Subject: Chord Req: Lookin' for Boonie rat song chords From: GUEST Hi there everyone! I need sone assistane. I am looking for chords for "Boonie rat song" And text of "Sitting in the cab of my truck" by Chip Dockery Both from "In-country" album. Will be very appreciate! Really like taht songs and wanna play them on guitar. |
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15 Jan 10 - 05:40 AM (#2812456) Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lookin' for Boonie rat song chords From: Joe Offer Hi, Paul - I moved you over here because there already was a thread on the "Boonie Rat Song." Keep checking this thread and the Vietnam thread for responses. Sometimes, it takes a few days. Sometimes, even a number of years. Good luck. -Joe- |
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15 Jan 10 - 10:27 PM (#2813315) Subject: RE: ADD: The Boonie Rat Song (Viet Nam War)-chords? From: Joe Offer Can somebody work out the chords for Paul? The recording is available online here (click). -Joe- |
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21 Aug 15 - 10:27 AM (#3732094) Subject: RE: ADD: The Boonie Rat Song (Viet Nam War)-chords? From: cnd Well, since Joe's link died, here's a new link: Youtube. Someone on the Youtube video claimed "written by: Spec. Ronald Jordan, Co. A, 1st Bn. 327th Inf., 101st Abn. Div., 1969 while in the field." Another website attributes it to "In the spring of 1970 the men of the second battalion of the 502nd brigade of the 101st Airborne Division created one of the most powerful songs of the war, "The Boonie Rat Song," and appointed a keeper of the company song (Del Vecchio 1983: i, 100-101; Rosenberg 1988) [SOURCE] Also, there's a very cool video with the chords going along with it, but I'll put it here with lyrics for anyone who wants to see it. You can see the video here
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21 Aug 15 - 10:28 AM (#3732096) Subject: RE: ADD: The Boonie Rat Song (Viet Nam War)-chords? From: cnd The book the website sited was: Del Vecchio, John. 1983. The Thirteenth Valley. New York: Bantam Books. |
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04 Apr 21 - 07:40 PM (#4100800) Subject: RE: ADD: The Boonie Rat Song (Viet Nam War)-chords? From: GUEST,# https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7vCxVYpzc4 The song is sung there by Chuck Rosenberg |