'Oppression', 'ownership'? What twaddle. What unmitigated balderdash. As I understand it, the song was written in the early 1950s when a lot of US troops and civilians were serving overseas or waking up to the joys of travelling. Some of these guys found the company of local girls irresistible - the popularity of songs like 'Filipino Baby', 'Geisha Girl' and 'Fraulein' (and many others) in the country genre testifies to this. It would be understandable if the 'girl at home' might have the odd concern. As indeed might the 'boy away from home' have about getting a 'Dear John' letter. Whether any of these thoughts were in the songwriter's mind I have no idea but it certainly would explain why the song was requested repeatedly on radio. I shudder to think what people make of 'My Boy Lollipop' or 'Wear My Ring Around Your Neck'.
|