The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #1945 Message #3638958
Posted By: GUEST
04-Jul-14 - 08:44 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Doesn't Anybody Know My Name (Rod McKuen)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Doesn't Anybody Know My Name (Rod McKuen)
The question of which war the song comes from is a good one. The song was adapted by the Kinston Trio for the album "Sunny Side" released in 1963 so the Vietnam war might have "come", but certainly hadn't "gone".
McKuen would have been in his early teens post WWII and thus aware of the soldiers returning. His bio on the Poetry Foundation web site states that he served in Korea, so there might be some influence of his own return. The Korean war may also suggest the tone where the people are busy with their own lives, not concerned with a soldier, blind or not.
If I may add to the puzzle, the train station may have been in Europe. Mckuen spent much of the 60's living in France. The song is not credited as a translation of Jacques Brel's work, but could have been influenced by him.
To me, the song catches the essence of a warrior returning to a different world. It does not matter if they return by train, or by sailing ship, or by airplane, or by bus, or on crutches. It could be any war, or any country. Even if the initial welcome is warm, the world goes on and some feel left out