Songs About Vietnam War Part II

Subject: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Allan C.
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 10:52 AM

The first part of this thread was getting a bit long, so here is an extension.

The original thread can be found here.

Subject: Lyr Add: MEMORIAL DAY (David Cowan)^^
From: DebC
Date: 02 Mar 00 - 03:14 PM

My ex-husband wrote a song called "Memorial Day". It appears on our album, "A Dram For the Singer".

MEMORIAL DAY
(David Cowan)

I suppose there was a time when I thought that war meant honor
That it mattered what you fought for, made a difference if you won
But I guess even my father's war was not the kind in stories
Even though it was the good war
Even though they had some heroes
Even so, the things that mattered weren't so easy when it was done

I went off to my war with a hero's words still ringing
Asking not what I was getting, wanting part of something
grand And I thought that if I worked hard and did everything they asked me to
I could really make a difference
I could save what needed saving
I could prove what needed proving
And then things would be ok

I guess what I remember most was always being dirty
Always feeling homesick and always feeling tired
And there were a couple of friends of mine that taught me about honor
In a war that had no heroes
And in places that are nameless
Even though it didn't matter if we lost or if we won

It seems to me as I look back, the best ones didn't make it
What that makes the rest of us, I really couldn't say
But I know that if the tables turned and it was me they were remembering
I would not wish them sorrow
I would want them to be happy
I would need them to live for me
And if they had to shed some tears
Just a few on Memorial Day

--

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Mar 00 - 04:44 PM

I was just watching a TV programme about war and technology, and it was talking about the use of "Agent Orange" in Vietnam.

I knew already that the US government has always refused to pay any kind of compensation to the Vietnamese civilians who are still dying from this, and the children still dying and being born to die disabled by this.

But what I hadn't realised is that servicemen who died because of illnesses they contracted while handling it are not included on the wall war memorial, and permission for a supplementary memorial nearby. (And they had been told it was harmless to humans, both to them and the people they were dropping it on.)

I think I came across a song about Agent Orange somewhere. But I can't remember where.

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 02 Mar 00 - 08:43 PM

I once heard a song taught to me by a friend who served in that war. The music was to the tune of "Movin' On". I later saw partial lyrics written by that most prolific of writers "Unkown" they went: The MacNamara line is a hunmdred miles long, It's completely surrounded by Viet-Cong. I'm moving on. I've never seen the rest of the lyrics but it ranks as a true folk song even if it is a parody. We seem to be really good at the parody thing. Later all, Neil

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Mary G
Date: 03 Mar 00 - 01:34 AM

why would anyone say it was a war with no heroes? I was at a meeting with a few dozen of them just tonight.

mg

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 03 Mar 00 - 06:13 PM

Mary G; Thank You! Being a Vietnam era veteran hand having many friends and a few relatives who spent time in country, it is refreshing to hear someone say that! All too often one hears of the "crazed" vet. Like any experience there were good and bad people involved on both sides. We don't hear about people like John McCain until they run for office but the man spent five years under brutal conditions. All too often we don't hear about the nameless individuals who gave their all for our country. I'm rambling so I'll close, thanks again, Neil

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Biskit
Date: 03 Mar 00 - 07:30 PM

Take down the silver star mother,put up the blue one insted your son just got hit by a morter,and it took off his whole freakin' head. Or on the holidays we'd sing,Jingle bells, shotgun shells there's v.c. in the grass take your merry chritmas and shove it up your @##!I hope none of you were offended by the lyrics me and the buds made up so long ago but we figuered even a bittersweet laugh was better than none at all,peace-Biskit-

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Mar 00 - 07:30 PM

"Like any experience there were good and bad people involved on both sides." Americans and Viet Cong.

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: DebC
Date: 04 Mar 00 - 07:46 PM

MG said: "why would anyone say it was a war with no heroes?"

I spoke to David, author of "Memorial Day". He said that his line "in a war that had no heroes" was meant to mean the ones with the name recognition like JFK, MacArthur, or Eisenhower from past conflicts. I thought that is what he meant, but I wanted to make sure :-)

I think that we all agree that the thousands of men and women who gave their lives and their souls (as my ex-husband did) in that war are the real heroes.

Cheers, Deb

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: CamiSu
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 04:33 AM

McGrath-- the song you mentioned may have been the one by Kate Wolf (not sure if she wrote it and I don't want to go down to the house to look--sorry)with the line

I just found out this morning The doctor told me so They killed me in Vietnam And I didn't even know

It goes into the troubles with his kids' learning disabilities and his own problems and how they all go back to Agent Orange.

Big Mick. Spaw. ALL of you who have posted to this one. Thank you. I was on the tail end of that generation, and so didn't have so many I knew go over, but every day I pray to keep our (all of our) children safe from the horrors of war, and pray for the children there now. There HAS to be a way to end this madness.

I too would like to see a play from this. Our local theater group would put it on in a heartbeat.

Cami Su

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: L R Mole
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 12:25 PM

Hm. Last night I was trying to frame a note to those I read yesterday who stormed out of the threads trailing sniffs of elitism and trivialization. And today I sit at the end of all this thought and heart. I'll just take this seat at the back of the choir, if nobody minds...

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: GUEST,Colwyn Dane
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 02:28 PM

Irish Sergeant,

I came across one called "Moving On" which was about service during the Korean War and it has lines like:

See an old leave train coming down the track,
An Aussie on the front and a Yankee on the back.

(Chorus}
I'm moving on; I'll soon be gone.
I'd like to stay but the MP's say:
'Keep moving on.'

Toodle-pip.

Subject: Lyr Add: BROTHERS IN ARMS (Mark Knopfler)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 04:59 PM

One that noone has mentioned so far is this one, by Mark Knopfler - and here is a link to a site with a Real Audio of the song.

BROTHERS IN ARMS
Written by Mark Knopfler
As recorded by Dire Straits on "Brothers in Arms" (1985)

These mist covered mountains – Are a home now for me,
But my home is the lowlands – And always will be.
Some day you'll return to – Your valleys and your farms,
And you'll no longer burn to be brothers in arms.

Through these fields of destruction, – Baptisms of fire,
I've witnessed your suffering – As the battle raged higher,
And though they did hurt me so bad – In the fear and alarm,
You did not desert me, my brothers in arms.

There's so many different worlds,
So many different suns,
And we have just one world,
But we live in different ones.

Now the sun's gone to hell, – The moon riding high.
Let me bid you farewell. – Every man has to die.
But it's written in the starlight – And every line in your palm:
We're fools to make war on our brothers in arms.

No specific mention of Vietnam, and in fact it isn't about that any more than so many other wars. But I love its ambiguity - you can read it several ways. I read it as a tribute to the soldiers of the other side in some messy Vietnam type war - the idea being that, in a sense, the people you are fighting can be far closer to you than the people back home, because of shared experience.

But even if that is the meaning, it's not the end of the story - because it's left totally open to the listener to decide which side they imagine "the singer" as fighting on. And that is perhaps the real point.

Subject: Lyr Add: Rose of Vietnam^^
From: mg
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 09:51 PM

I think Johnny Cash has perhaps the best one...sort of a talking blues...it is on his American something CD...he was there actually as an entertainer I guess...

---

well, here is another one I wrote...for all the women who were there..I have lots for the men too..

remember, women does not only equal nurses..many more women served...

first line by Kipling and will try honest to put the little symbol in..

Rose of Vietnam...

Tell me how a rose can bloom and be a bud again
Tell me how it really was and how it might have been
Show me how such beauty grows from such a bitter thorn
And I'll show you a rose so true that bore what must be borne..

Red is for the blood we shed and white for those who died
Orange for the living fear that feeds on us inside
Pink is for a woman's heart that was not meant to break
And yellow for the friends we swore we never would foresake

When the call came to their ears it was both soft and low
Womenfolk leave off your fears it is your time to go
Some were forced to bloom too soon some withered on the vine
Some were cherished some have perished some were left behind

It was not so just long ago in other days and climes
I say to you that roses grew in all our troubled times
She might be right before your eyes the woman no one knows
Look in the garden where you stand there blooms a lovely rose..
Look in the garden where you stand there blooms a lovely rose..

mg

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Clifton53
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 01:11 AM

Johnny Cash's song is indeed simple and beautiful, and from a warrior's retrospective point of view. The title is " Drive On".

The chorus is,

Drive on, it don't mean nothin', My children love me but they don't understand, And I got a woman who knows her man, drive on' It don't mean nothin', it don't mean nothin', Drive on.

Clifton53

Subject: Lyr Add: WEAPON OF PRAYER (Louvin Brothers)^^
From: rangeroger
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 02:20 AM

Mark Knopfler also did a song on the "Notting Hillbillies" CD called:
"Weapon of Prayer"

In that land across the sea
There's a job for you and me
Though our presence there may not be found
We must stay standing there on the battle lines and pray
We must never lay our weapons down.

Chorus:
We don't have to be a soldier in a uniform
To be of service over there
While the boys so bravely stand with the weapons made by hand
Let us trust and use the weapon of prayer

Many thousand miles away someone shed their blood today
With a heart so true and brave they're gone
To a war that's yours and mine let us join the battle line
With a weapon that will save our home

Chorus;

And when the planes and tanks and guns have done all that they can do
And the mighty bombs have rained and failed
Still the helful hand above, on the weapon made of love
And against him none on earth prevail

Chorus x 2

Composer: I. Louvin/ C.Louvin

rr

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 02:45 AM

Dammit, I still can't be coherent abut this. Will there come a time when I will be able to? And,I did not even serve, just protested and lost friends, family and lovers. Dammitall. But it is OK to those of you who have refreshed this topic..........we all HAVE to rememeber.

I recently lost a friend who was this couty's last surviving WWI veteran. He was 104. He still did this when he talked about/was asked about that Great War, and it was much more "Just" than VietNam, if any war can be considered "just".

Goodight now.

Subject: Lyr Add: LAMENT (John McCutcheon)^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 03:08 AM

I came across this song today on John McCutcheon's Signs of the Times and it really struck me.
-Joe Offer-

---

Lament
words and music by John McCutcheon

This song is based on all-too-many very true stories.

I'm so glad you came to see me and you brought the baby too
God, it gets so lonesome in this place, there's nothing here to do
Yes, I know I've caused you trouble and I know I've brought you pain
But if I could roll back time, you know, I'd do it all again

Tom and I we met in high school, yes it was love at first sight
He was, oh, so kind and gentle and our young love seemed so right
At 16 I was a mother, 17 became a wife
Tom found some work , we bought a trailer, settled to a happy life

In '69 there came a letter, such a shock brought by the mail
We both understood its meaning: go to war or go to jail
Tom he said, "I ain't no killer, but I love my country, Nan,
"I've got to prove it to myself and to my family I'm a man!"

Lord, we loved all night the day before he left for Vietnam
Everyday there was a letter from my brave, young soldier Tom
Filled with dreams about our future: a big yard, a house and such
Oh, I know the war would change him, but I never guessed how much

Those two years seemed an eternity till Tom came home from war
There was something hard about him that I'd never seen before
And he never once spoke to me all about the things he'd seen
Through at night he'd wake up screaming from some ugly, constant dream

And he never seemed to notice the new things the baby did
And when he'd cry out, Tom would yell, "Come here and take care of this kid!"
Well, he took to drinking heavy and staying out for days
And when I'd ask he'd say "I just need time to settle into ways."

One year passed, we sold the trailer, 'cause no job my Tom could find
We just roamed from town to town in search of work of any kind
I took a part-time job at waitressing and found some homes to clean
Though I had no skills, I paid the bills, but Tom was getting mean

For the nightmares grew more frequent and the sober times were few
And it's when he took to hitting me, I didn't know what to do
I was living with some stranger, an angry broken man
It seemed the gentle boy I'd known and lover had died in Vietnam

And it's two more years he searched in vain for work at any pay
And I never will forget the look he gave me on that day
"This is all your fault!" he screamed and then he lashed out one more time
But it's when he struck the baby, that's when I drew the line

Oh, how he beat upon the bedroom door that I had locked so tight
Little Tommy in the corner was trembling in fright
For though he'd grown up with my beatings, a house in a state of war
Neither one of us had every seen our Tom this way before

The door it splintered open and he started in on me
First he struck me and the blood it filled my eyes, I could not see
He threw me back upon the pillows and my hand fell on his gun
I fired out into my darkness and the awful deed was done

Oh, they took my baby from me and they took me to the jail
There the word I heard was murder, and no one to go my bail
Till some women came to see me, they told me I was not alone
They warned me that the court's abuse would match what I had known back home

Sometimes at night I dream of loving with my young and gentle Tom
Long before he brought the war back home with him from Vietnam
And the hard luck and the liquor cut our young lives to the bone
And we knew that something bigger than ourselves brought down our home

I guess some things are best forgotten, but I never can forget
And some things best left unspoken, but I ain't done talking yet
For, unless you open up your eyes, your arms, your hearts, your ears
I guarantee that you'll be hearing more sad tales like mine for years

JRO

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 11:48 AM

Excellent Joe. A good thought to add it to this fine thread.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: bbelle
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 01:44 PM

I've never heard this one, but like most of the others, it brings the inability to breathe and a hard sigh. You'd think after three decades, it would get a little easier, but it doesn't.

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: GUEST,jaze
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 01:12 AM

John Prine wrote a couple of 'em. One being "Sam Stone"

Subject: Link: Songs About Vietnam War
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 09:21 PM

I just came across a fascinating site:

Songs of Americans in War

It sounds like it should cover all wars, but the only songs I see covered are songs of the Vietnam War. Nonetheless, it's a fascinating piece of work.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 09:54 PM

I've an album of songs written by an old Air Force pilot who flew in Viet Nam. He wrote a version of "House of the Rising Sun" on his knee board coming back from a mission in which his wingman had been blown to bits by a SAM missle.

And if you haven't heard the duo "Holiday and Martin" you've not heard anything about Viet Nam Folk Music. I've one of their albums that I absolutely cannot listen to - 37 years and it never goes away.

For the Veterans in this post I Love You my Brothers and Sisters. For those who fought against the war - Thanks for trying to save some of us.

CarolC said Thanks to me the other day for my service to country in Viet Nam - You are Welcome Carol - and all the others who appreciate the sacrifice made by those who have served and who presently serve.

Jesus Joe - I could have gone a while without seeing one of these. But Thanks for the link - weird assed vets anyway

Steve

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 10:08 PM

There are at least three basic classes of songs dealing with Vietnam: most widely known are composed songs by anti-war protesters and pro-war commercial songwriters. The ones that tell the story, IMO, are the ones sung by the troops that were there.

Check out Digitrad for @Vietnam and/or @Korea

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: twister
Date: 03 Oct 01 - 01:17 AM

I don't know much about the songs but I saw this one painting in a local gallery and I couldn't get it out of my mind. It's this picture of an older man standing by the Wall and his reflection in the Wall is of a young soldier with other soldiers to either side of him reflected in the wall. It's really well done. I think the artist is somebody Teter?? I tried to find it on the internet but no luck. -Twist

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Oct 01 - 03:08 AM

Twister, I think this (click) is the painting you're talking about. You'll find a small copy of the image on this page (click) - and, of course, they'll let you buy a print. this (click) is much better.
-Joe Offer, Searchmeister [grin]

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Dec 06 - 10:37 PM

refresh - parts 1 & 2

thread that led me into this one


thanks to Big Mick

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 04 Dec 06 - 10:57 PM

Anyone mention "Glory, glory, what a helluva way to die?" There's a famous documentary with a clip of a group of soldiers singing it in a kind of manic fashion; it sends chills down your spine, curls your hair, and puts a lump in your throat, all at the same time ...

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 04 Dec 06 - 11:07 PM

There's a CD of songs entitled " A Soldier's Sad Story: Vietnam Through the Eyes of Black America, 1966-1973." I heard it in my car being played by a university radio station, and called up the announcer as soon as I got home to get the title.

Elmer

A Soldier's Sad Story

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: oldhippie
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 07:29 AM

In addition to the Kate Wolf song "Agent Orange", there is another on the subject, "Agent Orange (My Country Tis of Thee)", recorded by Larry Long on his CD "Living In A Rich Man's World" - and was featured in the documentary film "Agent Orange - A Story of Dignity and Doubt".

There is also the Flying Fish CD "In Country", folk songs of Americans in the Vietnam War. And recently, there is what I call "retro" CDs, vets recording CDs about Nam. Two of the best are "Voice of America" by Lt Bobby Ross and "Vietnam Blues" by Sarge Lintecum

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 07:54 AM

Getting a lot of current promotion because of the Long Tan memorial, is "I was only 19"

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Scoville
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 10:56 AM

OCMS "Eutaw"

And I'm sure somebody mentioned this already but Kenny Rogers' "Twenty Years Ago". Well, forty years ago now. Used to make my mother cry.

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 07:08 PM

Doesn't *anybody* here know any songs from the Vietnamese side?

The only one I've ever heard was the one quoted in Douglas Lilburn's electronic piece "Poem in Time of War".

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 07:51 PM

"The Vietnam Song Book" compiled by Barbara Dane and Irwin Silber contains songs written by North Vietnamese. It's out of print but both eBay and Amazon.com have copies listed right now (the one on eBay is cheaper).

Elmer

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 09:00 PM

RE:me myslofe

It is not GLORY it is "GORY"

It is in the DT.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: rich-joy
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 05:18 AM

link to thread with lyrics and data on Muriel Hogan's song "Agent Orange" and discussion of on-going A/O effects ...


thread.cfm?threadid=47941#717145


Cheers!   R-J

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 08:44 AM

This is really an amazing thread, and I've only sifted through half of it.

The songs I composed and sang were more to do with protesting the war, after returning from my Peace Corps service in 1968. It took some kind of courage to sing those songs at demonstrations, but the threat of personal injury cannot be compared with those who were drafted or had volunteered for this ill-advised War.

However, one of my young friends was permanently crippled by the police as she was dragged down the steps of the administration building we were occupying at Michigan State University. Another protester was run down by a drunk motorist as she was marching on the state capitol.

Some of our most effective protestors were recently returned Vietnam veterans. I can still see the image of five of them, known as the Street Corner Society (guerilla theatre group), white skull face make-up with black crosses and wearing black cloaks, standing silently in front of the Washington Monument that November day in 1969. I only wish we could have done more to have ended that War sooner.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: oldhippie
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 03:54 PM

Charley, what were the songs you composed? Did you record them? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: oldhippie
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 03:52 PM

There's also a great song that ties Vietnam and Iraq wars - "Ask My Son" by Lawrence Greene; lyrics and free download at askmyson.com

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 04:41 PM

Oldhippie-

They were your basic protest song, inspired by Country Joe & the Fish, Pete seeger, Malvina Reynolds, and folks like that. I never recorded them but I could dig them up from my archives.

I believe one was called "The Draft Dodger's Rag."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 06:00 PM

That one at least, from the title, sounds like it's worth a look, mate.

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: oldhippie
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 06:17 PM

I'd like to get the lyrics, Charley.

Subject: Lyr Add: VIETNAM (J.B. Lenoir)
From: number 6
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 07:01 PM

"Vietnam" ... by the late J.B. Lenoir

Lord, I got my questionnaire
Uncle Sam gonna send me away from here
Lord, I got my questionnaire
Uncle Sam gonna send me away from here
He says JB you can hide but you cannot run
Now lately you have to be in Vietnam

Sweetheart, please don't you worry
I'm just beginnin' to fly in the air
Sweetheart, please don't you worry
I'm just beginnin' to fly in the air
Now they in Vietnam shootin' 'em down over there
Lord you'll find my body there somewhere

Oh Lord, I wonder
I wonder when will all wars come to an end
Oh Lord, I wonder
I wonder when will all wars come to an end
Now in Vietnam, shootin' 'em down and sayin'
My son Jebra(?) will rise up and fight again

biLL

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 07:06 PM

no Audie Murphy or Alvin York or Nathan Hale

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 07:22 PM

No...but there was a Tom Caldwell and a Mark Matter and a Louis Albanoese (?) and a Nurse Lt. Duffey who just died and many many more. mg

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: DRAFT DODGER'S FAREWELL (C Ipcar)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Dec 06 - 08:55 AM

Old hippie-

Well, I dug it up, dusted it off, and here it is in all its innocence (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up chords):

Words by Charlie Ipcar, © 1972
Tune: inspired by Bob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm"

Draft Dodger's Farewell


Dm-------C-------Dm-------------C-----Dm
I'm leaving Monday morning, headed for the North,
-----------------C----Dm-------------------C-------Dm
'Long a road I've often traveled, while tripping back and forth;
------------C------Dm----------------C-------Dm
I'll cross the old St. Lawrence, roll on to Mon-tre-al
F------Dm-F------Dm-------------C---Dm
There I plan to settle down, give 'em all a call.

Chorus:

F-------------------------Dm---------------C--Dm
Don't want my draft board to worry 'bout me any more, more, more,
-----------------------------------------C-------Dm
Don't want my draft board to worry 'bout me any more;
Dm---------F---------------------Dm----------------C----Dm
Don't want my draft board to worry 'bout me any more, more, more,
------------F-----------------------C-----------Dm
Don't want my draft board to worry 'bout me any more!

Now my draft board's very busy, they work both day and night,
They need warm bodies for our mighty nation's fight,
Well, my body's cold and shivering when I think of all they do,
So I'm leaving Monday morning, gonna leave this song with you. (CHO)

I saw the recruiting sergeant, I asked him for advice,
He said, "The Peace Corps full of Commies, son, I'll find you something nice;
Right here on this dotted line your name you must sign,
Don't ask me where you're going, I just know your luck is fine!" (CHO)

"Sit right down," the doctor said, "Tell me all the news;
Do you love your mammie? Did you ever have the blues?
Tell me all about yourself, how you live your life,
Did you ever wet the bed, and why don't you have a wife." (CHO)

"Now listen, Doc, I had a dream just the other day,
I dreamed that I was a spy for the CIA;
Our President, he says to me, 'You's gonna need both fists,
For I'm sending you down to Lansing Town to look for Communists!'" (CHO)

"I walked into a tavern there, stepped up to the bar,
My steel-trap mind could tell that there was trouble not too far,
Then the whole place exploded, there was Commies everywhere,
I said, 'I'm from the CIA!' They didn't seem to care." (CHO)

"Get your pad," nurse, the doctor said, "I think this boy's insane;
Evil spirits have infused the soft spots in his brain;
He's obviously insecure, I bet he sucks his thumb;
He's an unpatriotic, no-good, bearded, rotten bum.

So I'm leaving Monday morning, heading for the North,
'Long a road I've often traveled, while tripping back and forth;
I'll cross the old St. Lawrence, roll on to Montreal
There I plan to settle down, give 'em all a call.

Chorus:

        Don't want my draft board to worry 'bout me any more, more, more,
        Don't want my draft board to worry 'bout me any more;
        Don't want my draft board to worry 'bout me any more, more, more,
        Don't want my draft board to worry 'bout me any more!

Peace!
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: oldhippie
Date: 08 Dec 06 - 03:49 PM

Thanks, Charlie, cool song!

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: GUEST,huw
Date: 08 Dec 06 - 04:21 PM

Try the Ballad of Penny Evans by Steve Goodman ...a simple and very moving song about the damage and the loss caused by the Vietnam War.It has a great last verse which escapes me now.
Huw

Subject: Lyr Add: DRAFT DODGER RAG (Phil Ochs)
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Dec 06 - 04:22 PM

I think Tom Paxton wrote the "Draft Dodger Rag" --

I'm just a typical American boy
From a typical American town
I believe in God and Senator Dodd
And keepin' ol' Castro down.
And when it came my time to serve
I knew better dead than Red,
But when I got to my old draft board
Buddy this is what I said,

"Sarge I'm only eighteen
I got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse.
I got eyes like a bat
And my feet are flat
And my asthma's gettin' worse.
Consider my career
My sweetheart dear
And my poor old invalid aunt,
Besides I ain't no fool
I'm a-goin' to school
And I'm workin' in a defense plant."

Subject: RE: Songs About Vietnam Part II
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Dec 06 - 04:24 PM

Mighta been Phil Ochs.

Try Paxton's "Lydon Johnson Told The Nation" or "What Did You Learn In School Today" or "I've Never Killed Before." Or Och's "Talking Vietnam Blues."