Top 100 Songs About The Viet Nam War

sub john lee hooker's "I don't wanna go to vietnam" in for 99

(obliquely)

77. The Animals - "Sky Pilot"

damn straight

my other favorite about the "nightmare of readjustment"

50. John Prine, "Take the Star Out of the Window"

how is #47 about vietnam??

"father, we pray that we might understand what has happened to his mind. and help us understand his reaction to the changes that have taken place here at home. and father, smile upon us with your grace, for we will need you more than ever. help him understand that when his loved ones remarried, they were truly under the impression that he was dead, and would never return."

West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band -
"A Child of a few Hours is Burning to Death"

West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band -
"Suppose They Give a War and Nobody Comes"

West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band -
The one that goes "Evil doesn't exist anymore except for the war"

Captain Beefheart - "Veteran's Day Poppy"

-- ffirehorse (sf_firehors...), March 8th, 2005 8:23 PM. (firehorse)

I believe this is about the mid-60s L.A. riots, not the Vietnam War.

This is definitely the best Viet Nam related album title.

24. The Door - 5 to 1

February 12th, 1973
The prayers of thousands were answered
The war was over, and the first of the prisoners returned
Needless to say, it was the happiest day in up to thirteen years for most
For others, the real nightmare had just begun
The nightmare of readjustment
And for those, we will pray

Whooa-ohh-ohhh
Whooa-ohh-ohhh
Whoa-oh oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh-oh whooaaa
(x 5)

Father, bless the soldier who has returned home from the war
He has fought with all his might
Yet he knew not for what or who he was fighting for
Death waited in the shadows as he crawled by night for his country
His enemies was many, including the habit he still cannot break
Father, we pray that we might understand what has happened to his mind
And help us understand his reaction
To the changes that has taken place here at home
And father, smile upon us, with your grace, for we will need you more than ever
Help him understand, that when his loved one remarried
They were truly under the impression that he was dead
And never would return
Oh lord, we pray

And father, why must wars be fought?
Someone said this war ended with "Peace with honor"
But can there truly be?
Is there such a thing?
Thousands of boys gave their life, and for what?
Do anybody know?

Oh lord, give us the strength to understand ourselves
For we are mysterious animals, man
And as the boys march home to the witch's castle
They will all need your help
I can hear them calling, calling out for you, father
For there is no one else that can help
Smile upon us, oh lord
For we are very weak
Very weak
Very weak
Very weak
Very weak

Yes, I think it was written in response to the "Riot on Sunset Strip" at Pandora's Box. Still, it was pretty much adopted as an anti-war anthem so I think in this case the audience's reading supersedes the artist's intention.

It's true that the song was not written about the war per se, but I think it was connected if nothing else to the climate surrounding the war. But maybe it's an after-the-fact association on my part. I don't know. I was an infant when it came out, so I can't say "I was there."

this was already listed and quoted!

isn't this about WWII?

13. Pearls Before Swine - Translucent Carriages

Welcome to the protest song.

????????????????????????????

always thought it was fairly straight forward...

"Years ago, my heart was set to live, oh
And I've been trying hard against unbelievable odds
It gets so hard in times like now to hold on
But guns they wait to be stuck by, and at my side is God
And there ain't no one goin' to turn me 'round
Ain't no one goin' to turn me 'round
There's people around who tell you that they know
And places where to send you, and it's easy to go
They'll zip you up and dress you down and stand you in a row
But you know you don't have to, you can just say "no"
I've been built up and trusted, broke down and busted
But they'll get theirs and we'll get ours if we can
Just-a hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Years ago my heart was set to live, oh
And I've been trying hard against strong odds
It gets so hard in times like now to hold on
Well, I'll fall if I don't fight, and at my side is God"

9. "your flag decal won't get you into heaven any more"

(song continues: "it's already overcrowded from your dirty little war")

The runway rushed up at him, as he felt the wheels touch down
He stood out on the blacktop, and took a taxi into town.
He got off down on Main Street, and went into a local bar
Bought a drink and found a seat in the corner in the dark
She called up her mama to make sure the kids were outa' the house
She checked herself out in the dining room mirror,
and undid an extra button on her blouse
He felt her lyin' next to him and the clock said 4 am
He was starin' at the ceilin' he couldn't move his hands
{Chorus}: Oh mama, mama, mama come quick, I've got the shakes and
I'm gonna be sick, throw your arms around me in the cold dark night,
hey now mama don't shut out the light, don't you shut out the light,....
Well on his porch they stretched a banner, that said Johnny Welcome Home
Bobby pulled his Ford outa' the garage and they polished up the chrome
His mama said Johnny oh Johnny, I'm so glad to have you back with me
His pa said he was sure they'd give him his job back at the renderin' factory
{Repeat Chorus}
Well deep in a dark forest, a forest filled with rain
Beyond a stretch of Maryland pines there's a river without a name
In the cold black water, Johnson Linnier stands
He stares across the lights of the city and dreams of where he's been.
{Repeat Chorus}

Don, I coudn't agree more. I was saying they hadn't already been mentioned, when in fact they were, which was the gaff.

SO many amazing songs, and I think they've all been mentioned above. (Seger, Hendrix, Funkadelic being my faves.) Oh, I know:

6. [or thereabouts]: David Bowie, "Running Gun Blues"

As for the Dead, howbout "Cosmic Charlie"? (Sorry)

4. The Turtles, "We Ain't Gonna Party No More"

well, people take us for nothin' but fools -
we either fight or go to school -
i go to school and i still can't learn
and i get a little card that says 'don't burn',
go to the draft board one fine day
the sergeant says: 'boy, you're 1-A'

so here i stand with mud in my eyes,
bullets flyin' around like flies,
why i'm here i can't realise!
then i get another suprise -
my folks wouldn't even let me smoke, yeah-heh -
now they send me cigarettes!

Wagggghhhhhhhhh

(instrumental break)

so you sit there a-contemplating
worry about my generation.
tell your boy to go to school
so he won't wind up in being a fool,
study hard and really learn,
so he won't get a card that says 'don't burn'

The Barons - 'Don't Burn It' (1966)

rare example of protest song not sucking

paul hardcastle - 19

-- gygax! (gygax0...), March 8th, 2005. (later)

um ...

80. paul hardcastle - 19

-- shine headlights on me (electricsoun...), March 8th, 2005. (later)

Sorry ...

Replace with Cher, "Classified 1-A" or Edwin Starr, "Stop the War Now" (different song from "War").

??????????

The windows of the world are covered with rain,
When will those black skies turn to blue?
Ev'rybody knows when boys grow into men
They start to wonder when their country will call.
Let the sun shine through.

The windows of the world are covered with rain,
What is the whole world coming to?
Ev'rybody knows when men can not be friends
Their quarrel often ends where some have to die.
Let the sun shine through.

The windows of the world are covered with rain,
There must be something we can do.
Ev'rybody knows whenever rain appears
It's really angel tears.
How long must they cry?
Let the sun shine through.

You're right, "Jet Plane" wasn't about the war, directly. But a number of the other songs on this thread aren't about the war either.

"Dear Son,

You ask my reaction to long hair and beards on young people. Some great men have worn long hair and beards, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. If long hair or a beard is a symbol of independence, if you believe in your heart that the principles of this country, our heritage is worthy of this display of pride, that all men should remain free. That free men at all times will not inflict their personal limitations of achievements on others. To demand your own rights as well as the rights of others, and be willing to fight for this right, then you have my blessing.

You ask that I not judge you merely as a teenager, to judge you on your own personal habits, abilities and goals.
This is a fair request, and I promise I will not judge any person only as a teenager, if you will remind yourself that some of my generation judges people by their race and their beliefs, color of their skin, and that this is no more right then saying all teenagers are drunken dope addicts or glue snifters. If you will judge every human being on his own individual potential I will do the same.

You ask me if God is dead, this is a question each person must answer within himself.
With the warm summer day, with all it's brightness, it's sound all it's escalating breathiness just happen? God is love, remember God is a guide and not a storm trooper. Realize that many of the past and present generation because of well intention, but unjustifiable misconceptions, have attempted to legislate morality. This created part of the basis for your generations need to rebel against our society. With this knowledge perhaps your children will never ask the question, Is God Dead?? I sometimes think most of mankind is attempting to work him to death.

You ask my opinion of draft card burners, I would answer this way.
All past wars have been dirty, unfair, and immoral, bloody and second guessed. However history has shown most of them necessary. If you doubt that our free enterprise system in the United States is worth protecting. If you doubt the principles on which this country was founded, that we remain free to choose our religion, our individual endeavors, our method of government. If you doubt that each free individual in this great country should reap awards communicable with only his own efforts. Then it is doubtful that you belong here.

If you doubt that people to govern us should be selected by they're own desire to allow us to strive for any goal we feel capable of attaining, then it's doubtful you should participate in they're selection. If you are not grateful to a country that gave your father the opportunity to work for his family and to give you the things that you have. And you do not feel pride enough to fight for your rights to continue in this manner then I assume the blame for your failure to recognize the true value of our birthright.

I will remind you that I will love you no matter what you do, because you are my son, but I also love our country and the principles for which it stands, principles I fought for. If you decide to burn your draft card, then burn your birth certificate along with it."

not a protest song, but mentions Vietnam....and it's a good tune.

And which, bizarrely, there seems to be almost nothing about on the web. I was just looking for a tracklisting, to remember the name of the heartbreaking soul track where the guy sings about how it's his country too and he's ready to fight for it.

I think it might be called 'Go Now' ("That's why I've gotta go now")

FEEL LIKE I'M FIXIN' TO DIE
A compilation concieved and compiled by Roy Carr and Bob Fisher. Copyright 1988 NME.

LP NAM 1

Side One
1. I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die, performed by Country Joe and The Fish
2 Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town, performed by Kenny Rogers & The
First Edition
3 Talking Vietnam Pot Luck Blues, performed by Tom Paxton
4 I'm Gonna Help Hurry My Brothers Home, performed by Jimmy Holiday
5 The Ballad of the Green Baret, performed by Staff Sgt Barry Sadler
6 The Universal Coward, performed by Jan Berry
7 Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone, performed by Johnny Taylor
8 Sky Pilot, performed by Eric Burdon & The Animals

Side Two
1 Marching Off To War, performed by William Bell
2 I Ain't Marchin' Anymore, performed by Phil Ochs
3 Vietnam Blues Pts 1 & 2, performed by Lightnin' Hopkins
4 V C Blues, performed by Allen Orange
5 An Open Letter To My Teenage Son, performed by Victor Lundberg
6 Battle Hymn Of Lt Calley, performed by Terry Nelson & 'C' Company
7 Letter From Vietnam (Dear Donna), performed by The Eligants with Vito
Picone
8 Okie From Muskogee, performed by Merle Haggard
9 I Believe I'm Gonna Make It, Joe Tex

It was 'I'm Gonna Help Hurry My Brothers Home' by Jimmy Holiday. Sad song.

1. Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam) [Mono Version] - The Monitors
 
 

2. He'll Be Back [Stereo]
 
 

3. Marching Off to War [Mono Version]
 
 

4. While I'm Away (Baby Keep the Faith) [Mono Version]
 
 

5. Going to Vietnam [Mono Version]
 
 

6. Lonely Soldier [Mono Version] - Mike Williams
 
 

7. I Believe I'm Gonna Make It [Mono Version] - Joe Tex
 
 

8. Christmas in Vietnam [Mono Version] - Johnny & Jon
 
 

9. I'm Gonna Help Hurry My Brothers Home [Mono Version] - Jimmy Holiday
 
 

10. Let's Face Facts [Mono Version] - James Carr
 
 

11. Lights Out [Mono Version] - Zerben R. Hicks
 
 

12. When Johnny Comes Marching Home [Mono Version] - Richard Barbary
 
 

13. Soldier's Sad Story [Mono Version] - Tiny Watkins
 
 

14. Letter from Vietnam [Mono Version]
 
 

15. Something You Couldn't Write About [Stereo] - Gloria Edwards
 
 

16. Mail Call Time [Stereo] - Mel & Tim
 
 

17. There's Someone (Waiting Back Home) [Stereo] - The O'Jays
 
 

18. Bring the Boys Home [Stereo] - Freda Payne
 
 

19. Stop the War Now [Stereo] - Edwin Starr
 
 

20. P.O.W. - M.I.A. [Stereo] - The Whispers
 
 

21. War [Stereo] - Carla Whitney
 
 

22. I Can't Write Left-Handed [Stereo] - Bill Withers
 
 

23. Back to the World [Stereo] - Curtis Mayfield
 
 

24. Sam Stone [Stereo] - Swamp Dogg

"On a sailing ship to nowhere, leaving any place,
If the summer changed to winter, yours is no disgrace..."

"Lost in losing circumstances, that's just where you are."

"Death defying, mutilated armies scatter the earth,
Crawling out of dirty holes, their morals, their morals disappear."

Dion - 'Abraham, Martin and John'

Had no idea what this song was about when I used to hear it on oldies stations as a kid, particularly without any context about when it was released. I'm plowing through the mid-to-late-'60s Billboard hits and this is one of the more affecting songs about the war among the many that I've heard.

Oh, y'know, never mind because apparently that song isn't about the war at all. Thanks, Wikipedia, for confirming that I'm an idiot who doesn't understand anything.

I'm wondering what on earth could have led you to think that. Still, great song.

Half listening to it while at work and the time period when it was released, mostly. I clearly didn't consider the precise year and time when it was released. In my defense, there are a lot of Vietnam-centric pop songs from around that time. And I took him at his word when he called them 'old friends' and assumed they were people he knew who'd died in the war.

Ah, I had never noticed "Windows of the world" was about war and I've listened to it one hundred times !
I guess I never really notice bacharach/David 's songs' lyrics... The music is so fantastic !