Red Foley - Won't Be Home for Xmas ???

Subject: Red Foley - Won't Be Home for Xmas ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Feb 19 - 12:35 PM

I listened to a lot of Red Foley on Amazon Prime yesterday...

The far from cheerful "I Won't Be Home for Christmas" is bugging me.. Who exactly is "Joe"...???

Can't find any lyrics, or info online regarding historical context...

Please help...

Subject: RE: Red Foley - Won't Be Home for Xmas ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Feb 19 - 12:42 PM

Stalin comes to mind.. but I can't understand how he fits in context with the lyrics,
unless the song dates from some point during WW11...???

Subject: RE: Red Foley - Won't Be Home for Xmas ???
From: Anne Neilson
Date: 28 Feb 19 - 03:07 PM

Can't find a link to the song mentioned, but just wondered if the reference was to (generic) GI Joe....

Subject: RE: Red Foley - Won't Be Home for Xmas ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Feb 19 - 03:21 PM

hmmmmm... that makes sense...

Subject: RE: Red Foley - Won't Be Home for Xmas ???
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 21 - 08:30 PM

Just listened to this song on an NPR. They suggest Joe is Stalin. This makes sense since the lyrics say 'This Joe doesn't believe in Yuletide." They relate it to Stalin's support of North Korea during the Korean Conflict.