What song reminds you most of the Viet Nam War?

[Virginia Dare]

er, I mean "conflict"? On the way home this evening I heard "Turn Turn Turn" by the Byrds, and I just flashed back to that time. I was just a kid, of course ;-) Another song that makes me flash back to that time is "Gimme Shelter". "Blowin in the Wind". There's alot more.

Also, what song do you think 30 or 40 years from now will make the kids of today think about the Iraq war?

[XemaSab]

1. "It's a small world"

x(

[Virginia Dare]

31. That's precious...

I'm guessing you were in preschool. Seriously, do you remember Viet Nam through a toddler's eyes?

[smitty]

48. "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Rolling Stones.

[ceile]

2. Age of Auquarious

For today, hmmm......
Maybe Holiday by Green Day....:shrug:

[riona]

3. Something's Happening Here (Buffalo Springfield)

[ET Awful]

36. Actual title: "For What It's Worth"

The song was actually about the police reaction to a protest that Stephen Stills witnessed.

(yes, I'm a bit of a story hound when it comes to the background of songs)

[smirkymonkey]

51. That would be my choice, even though I was only a baby at the time

Everytime I hear it, the Vietnam era is the first thing that comes to mind.

[jonnyblitz]

77. my choice as well, to me it's the theme song of that era mainly

because almost every Vietnam related movie/documentary I have seen plays it.

[GalleryGod]

86. Sunset Strip Riots of '65

Pandora's Box nite spot

[NewJeffCT]

92. That is mine - I've even taught the song to my 3 year old

I'm "only" 39, so Vietnam ended when I was under 10 years old. But, I heard the song once when I was young & it has stuck with me through the years.

And, yes I'm serious about my 3 year old daughter knowing the song... of course, sometimes when she sings the chorus of "what's going down" she will sometimes launch into "the people on the bus go up & down"...

[NewJeffCT]

93. I had always thought it was Kent State

but, I will take your word for it.

[ET Awful]

97. It predated Kent State by a few years.

It was released in 1966 while Stephen Stills (who wrote the song) was still with Buffalo Springfield (Kent State was 1970).

[skygazer]

4. Ohio comes right to mind

I doubt if any song will make kids of today think about Iraq - nobody writes protest songs anymore and the majority of people are so apathetic about what's going on in the world that it will be a major feat if anyone remembers at all.

[Virginia Dare]

40. Gotta get down to it, soldiers are gunnin us down...

some of the most chilling lyrics ever written.

[merh]

5. Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die Rag

Country Joe & the Fish

Come on all of you big strong men
Uncle Sam needs your help again
he's got himself in a terrible jam
way down yonder in Viet Nam so
put down your books and pick up a gun we're
gonna have a whole lotta fun

(CHORUS)
And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for
don't ask me I don't give a damn, next stop is Viet Nam
And it's five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates
ain't no time to wonder why, whoopee we're all gonna die

Come on generals, let's move fast
your big chance has come at last
now you can go out and get those reds
cos the only good commie is the one that's dead and
you know that peace can only be won when we've
blown 'em all to kingdom come

Come on wall street don't be slow
why man this war is a go-go
there's plenty good money to be made by
supplying the army with the tools of its trade
let's hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
they drop it on the Viet Cong

Come on mothers throughout the land
pack your boys off to Viet Nam
come on fathers don't hesitate
send your sons off before it's too late
and you can be the first ones on your block
to have your boy come home in a box

[LiberalEsto]

15. Same for me

These days I feel like I'm living in a bad re-run.

[merh]

16. Exactly

I have a question for you.

Are the Mash reruns still shown in syndication in your area?

[LiberalEsto]

47. not sure

I'm not much of a tv watcher

[Oeditpus Rex]

6. 'Satisfaction'

I always identify it with the guy skiin' behind the patrol boat in "Apocalypse Now."

[evlbstrd]

7. ""The End."

The Doors.

[arwalden]

8. My Choice Also

[evlbstrd]

9. And an excellent choice it is.

[nj_democrat_rocks]

72. me too and unknown soldier.....the war IS over!!!!

I wish

[Taverner]

10. Anything by CCR

[jbane]

11. The Balled of the Green Beret...

Sgt. Barry Saddler. Didn't something wierd happen to him?

[Jade Fox]

17. He committed suicide....

I think.

Someone I know wrote a wonderful updated parody of that song, but it's on my old computer. :(

[Jade Fox]

19. delete

[Left Is Write]

22. According to my source, he died of "heart failure" in 1989 at 49.

However, it doesn't say what caused the heart failure.

[Jade Fox]

24. Something else I just read said he was shot in Guatemala...

Wow. A divergent bunch of theories! :shrug:

[terrya]

12. "War" by Edwin Starr

[Nicole]

13. "Eve of Destruction"

The eastern world, it is explodin’.
Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’
You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’
You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun you’re totin’
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin’

But you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.

Don’t you understand what I’m tryin’ to say
Can’t you feel the fears I’m feelin’ today?
If the button is pushed, there’s no runnin’ away
There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave


And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.

Yeah, my blood’s so mad feels like coagulatin’
I’m sitting here just contemplatin’
I can’t twist the truth, it knows no regulation.
Handful of senators don’t pass legislation
And marches alone can’t bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin’
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin’

And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.

Think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama
You may leave here for 4 days in space
But when you return, it’s the same old place
The poundin’ of the drums, the pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead, but don’t leave a trace
Hate your next-door neighbor, but don’t forget to say grace
And… tell me over and over and over and over again, my friend
You don’t believe
We’re on the eve
Of destruction
Mm, no no, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.

[Left Is Write]

21. That's my choice too - first thing I thought of.

[Virginia Dare]

35. Powerful lyrics...

prescient even today. I'm proud of my generation!

:headbang: :hippie:

[StaggerLee]

41. This came to mind for me as well

:thumbsup:

[livetohike]

14. Curiously, anything that came out of Motown in that era

I was in seventh grade in 1964. It is the AM music everyone heard before the dawn of 'underground' radio - FM. That music stirs up good and sad memories for me.

[maveric]

18. "Whats Goin On", Marvin Gaye. "Bringin Them back Alive", Freda Payne.

"Fortunate Son", CCR. "The End", Doors.

[Jade Fox]

20. Galveston....

When I hear that song now I realize how much the War permeated our lives. At the time I didn't think of "Galveston" as being overtly related to Viet Nam, but I sure do now.

[Virginia Dare]

37. So true...

Even though I was just a kid, I remember sitting down with my parents to watch Chet Huntley or Walter Cronkite at night to watch the news. They gave us body counts every night, they showed us what was going on there. My parents didn't try to shield me from it the way I try to shield my daughter from the things that are happening today. I just find that I'm asking myself over and over how did we let this happen?

:cry:

[YankeyMCC]

23. I wonder what songs

will be associated with Iraq and Afganistan?

For me "Eve of Destruction" is the song that I most associate with VN...kinda obvious but for good reason.

[Virginia Dare]

25. That's what I was wondering too...

I'm not getting much response on that. It seems that the youth of the Viet Nam era produced a plethora of war-themed music, both black and white.

I'm not getting that sense with this generation, but I could be wrong.

No draft could be a big reason.

:hippie:

[YankeyMCC]

26. Yeah

With the "keep on shopping" message we've been hearing since about 10AM Sept 11, 2001 there isn't the sense of teamwork of the entire nation like in earlier wars or the widespread effect on the nation like the draft during VN.

[TheBaldyMan]

27. anything by Jimmy Hendrix n/t

[Ramsey]

28. Fortunate Son

[Virginia Dare]

34. That one still resonates...n/t

[Kat45]

29. The "Feel Like I'm FIxing to Die Rag," complete with the Fish Cheer

[NMDemDist2]

80. agreed! n/t

[Roon]

30. Surfer Bird

For some reason, whenever i hear that song, I think about the helicopters in 'nam.

[Virginia Dare]

33. That one doesn't ring a bell...

I'll run it through google though

edit: oh, got it now, but sorry, I don't hear the sound of helicopters to it.



B-)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

39. Umm because of the film 'Full Metal Jacket' perhaps?

[no name no slogan]

49. "Surfin' Bird" was the fade-out song in "Full Metal Jacket"

...Kubrick's classic Vietnam War-era film. They were playing it as the helicopters were evacuating the Marine unit out of Hue, after most of them got wiped out trying to stop the sniper.

IIRC it was also Lee Ermey's first role as a drill sergeant

[SmileyBoy]

32. "All Along The Watchtower"

The Hendrix version.

[ET Awful]

38. Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag - Country Joe and the Fish

What else?

[Gormy Cuss]

64. I recently had the chance to do a fish cheer led by Country Joe

at a SF Bay area rally against the war. It felt oddly like deja vu and that saddened me.

[benny05]

74. Absolutely! n/t

[mzteris]

42. War!

War! huh-yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh

War! huh-yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all

War! huh good God
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me?

Ohhh? War! I despise
Because it means destruction?
Of innocent lives

War means tears
to thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
and lose their lives

I said - War! Huh Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War! Whoa, Lord ...
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me?

War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! Friend only to the undertaker
War! It's an enemy to all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind

War has caused unrest in the younger generation
Induction then destruction-
Who wants to die?

Ohhh? War Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it, Say it, Say it

War! Uh-huh Yeah - Huh!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me?

War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! It's got one friend, that's the undertaker
War has shattered many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled bitter and mean
Life is much to precious to spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life, it can only take it away

War! Huh Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War! Whoa, Lord ...
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me?

War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! Friend only to the undertaker
Peace Love and Understanding;
tell me, is there no place for them today?
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way

War! Huh Good God y'all
What is it good for?
You tell me
Say it, Say it, Say it

War! Huh Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Stand up and shout it.
Nothing!

[Pharlo]

43. I know it's not a direct response to your post, but on a related point,

I have noticed radio stations playing a LOT of Vietnam era protest songs recently.

I have heard Coven's "One Tin Soldier" more in the past month than in the past five years combined.....

As well as many of the other 'anti war' songs listed in these posts - particularly Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth".....

Nor, do I believe it is a 'Vietnam era retro' listener appreciation ploy.

I wonder if anyone is doing some kind of study to listener requests for anti war music....

[Virginia Dare]

44. Interesting observation...

maybe like me, people are feeling a sense of deja vu?

[Zorro]

45. Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)

Melanie.

It warp propels me back to that era when I hear it.

[AngryAmish]

46. Walk This Way by Run-DMC

[no name no slogan]

50. "Handsome Johnny" by Richie Havens

which was co-wrote by Richie and actor Lou Gossett, Jr.:

Hey, look yonder, tell me what's that you see
Marching to the fields of Concord?
It looks like Handsome Johnny with a musket in his hand,
Marching to the Concord war, hey marching to the Concord war.


Hey, look yonder, tell me what you see
Marching to the fields of Gettysburg?
It looks like Handsome Johnny with a flintlock in his hand,
Marching to the Gettysburg war, hey marching to the Gettysburg war.


Hey, look yonder, tell me what's that you see
Marching to the fields of Dunkirk?
It looks like Handsome Johnny with a carbine in his hand,
Marching to the Dunkirk war, hey marching to the Dunkirk war.


Hey, look yonder, tell me what you see
Marching to the fields of Korea?
It looks like Handsome Johnny with an M1 in his hand,
Marching to the Korean war, hey marching to the Korean war.


Hey, look yonder, tell me what you see
Marching to the fields of Vietnam?
It looks like Handsome Johnny with an M15,
Marching to the Vietnam war, hey marching to the Vietnam war.


Hey, look yonder, tell me what you see
Marching to the fields of Birmingham?
It looks like Handsome Johnny with his hand rolled in a fist,
Marching to the Birmingham war, hey marching to the Birmingham war.


Hey, it's a long hard road, it's a long hard road,
It's a long hard road, before we'll be free.


Hey, what's the use of singing this song, some of you are not even listening.
Tell me what it is we've got to do: wait for our fields to start glistening,
Wait for the bullets to start whistling.
Here comes a hydrogen bomb, here comes a guided missile,
Here comes a hydrogen bomb: I can almost hear its whistle.

[Redstone]

52. Any that do, I don't want to hear.

Redstone

[greatauntoftriplets]

53. "There's a Wall in Washington"

Iris Dement. I know it is fairly recent, but one hell of a reminder.

There's a wall in Washington
and it's made of cold black granite
They say 60,000 names are etched there in it
in that wall in Washington

A father, he traveled from far away
to walk the path 'til he finds that name
He reaches his hand up and traces each letter
The tears they fall as his memories gather
for the boy who filled his heart with pride
is now but a name that's been etched
in the side of this wall in Washington

A mother she traveled from far away
to walk the path 'til she finds that name
She reaches her hand up and traces each letter
The tears they fall as her memories gather
She feels the baby at her breast
but her heart it breaks because all that is left
is this wall in Washington

A boy, he traveled from far away
to walk the path 'til he finds that name
He reaches his hand up and traces each letter
He stares at the name of his unknown father
His heart is young and it's filled with pain
in anger he cries out

"Who is to blame for this wall in Washington
that's made of cold black granite?
Why is my father's name etched here in it
in this wall in Washington?"

[minkyboodle]

54. I wasn't born yet but this one is what my dad thinks of

But my dad was in Vietnam (Air Cav) and he said
the song everyone played all the time when he was
there was "We Gotta Get Out of this Place" by the
Animals. Whenever I hear it I think of the Vietnam
War and according to him a lot of vets of that time
do as well.

[nguoihue]

75. I agree with your dad

Had an opportunity to go to an EM club in the rear (Chu Lai) in November of '67. It was a crude place, a plywood "hooch" and "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" was playing and everyone joined in. It gave me goose bumps at the time and still does whenever I hear it. A couple of others from that era bring back strong memories ... odd as it may seem "Happy Together" by the Turtles which I recall hearing on the radio from about April '68 around the time MLK was assassinated and a country song by Tammy Wynette, "Stand by Your Man".

[Duncan Grant]

55. "Run Through the Jungle" or "Who'll Stop the Rain" - CCR

I had an uncle in Vietnam when CCR was a cultural touchstone so it's always CCR for me; especially "Run Through the Jungle".

[graywarrior]

56. Anything by Creedance

[blue neen]

57. "Who'll Stop the Rain"

by Creedance Clearwater Revival.

The "rain" is referring to bombs.

Chilling and haunting song.

[LostinVA]

58. "Reflections" (because of "China Beach") & We Gotta Get out of this Place"

[HERVEPA]

59. Macarthur park (sp?)

[salin]

60. a number:

"WAR! whats it good for (absolutely nothing!)

or

"Stop people whats that sound, everybody watch what's going down" (buffalo springsteen)

or Marvin Gayes song: "What's going on..."


or

"I ain't no favorite son" (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
But I also was just a small kid - so my referents really come from a 'retro' trend in the early eighties per sixties songs and their politcal contexts.

I don't listent/follow enough contemporary pop culture to be able to predict what current songs will become associated with this era of Bushco elective wars.

[eauclaireliberal]

61. Paint It Black, Rolling Stones

nt

[NoPasaran]

62. "Sky Pilot" by the Animals n/t

[amerikat]

69. agree, also "the end"

[Gormy Cuss]

63. Fortunate Son

Probably because my brother was no fortunate one.

[wildhorses]

65. all those are from the era however, the dixie chicks do one...

from a couple of years ago, and every time I hear it....I break down:cry:


Two days past eighteen
He was waiting for the bus in his army green
Sat down in a booth in a cafe there
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair
He’s a little shy so she gives him a smile
And he said would you mind sittin’ down for a while
And talking to me,
I’m feeling a little low
She said I’m off in an hour and I know where we can go

So they went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don’t care
I got no one to send a letter to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you

I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier
Over love will never end
Waitin’ for the soldier to come back again
Never more to be alone when the letter said
A soldier’s coming home

So the letters came from an army camp
In california then vietnam
And he told her of his heart
It might be love and all of the things he was so scared of
He said when it’s getting kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin’ down at the pier
And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile
Don’t worry but I won’t be able to write for awhile

One friday night at a football game
The lord’s prayer said and the anthem sang
A man said folks would you bow your heads
For a list of local vietnam dead
Crying all alone under the stands
Was a piccolo player in the marching band
And one name read and nobody really cared
But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair

[ribrepin]

66. Eve Of Destruction by Barry McGuire

The eastern world it tis explodin',
violence flarin', bullets loadin',
you're old enough to kill but not for votin',
you don't believe in war, what's that gun you're totin',
and even the Jordan river has bodies floatin',
but you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Don't you understand, what I'm trying to say?
Can't you see the fear that I'm feeling today?
If the button is pushed, there's no running away,
There'll be noone to save with the world in a grave,
take a look around you, boy, it's bound to scare you, boy,
but you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Actually, this song reminds me of this war too.

[Kire]

67. "For What It's Worth" - Buffalo Springfield

Something happenin' here
What it is ain't exactly clear

[Kire]

68. Iraq War Song? "American Idiot" - Green Day

I can't think of many but that one for sure.

[rocktivity]

70. I realize that the logical Crosby Stills Nash and Young song is Ohio

But for me, it's

Almost cut my hair
Happened just the other day
It's gettin' kind of long
I could've said it was in my way
But I didn't and I wonder why
I feel like letting my freak flag fly
And I feel like I owe it, yeah ... to someone, yeah

Well, must be because I had the flu this Christmas
Oh, yeah and I'm not feeling up to par
Oh, I tell you baby this increases my paranoia
Yeah, like looking in my mirror and seeing a police car
Well, well, I'm not, I'm not giving in an inch to fear
Well, you know I've promised myself this year
Well, I feel oh, like I owe it, I owe, I owe it to someone

Oh, yes when I get myself together
Yeah, you can find me in that sunny southern weather, yeah
I'm goin' to find a space inside a laugh, yes
Separate the wheat from some chaff
Oh, and I feel ...
Like I owe it, yeah ... to someone

:headbang:
rocknation

[ET Awful]

78. Well, if you're talking CSN, the choice is "Long time Gone"

It's been a long time comin'
It's goin' to be a Long Time Gone.
And it appears to be a long,
appears to be a long,
appears to be a long
time, yes, a long, long, long ,long time before the dawn.

Turn, turn any corner.
Hear, you must hear what the people say.
You know there's something that's goin' on around here,
the surely, surely, surely won't stand the light of day.
And it appears to be a long,
appears to be a long,
appears to be a long
time, yes, a long, long, long ,long time before the dawn.

Speak out, you got to speak out against the madness,
you got to speak your mind,
if you dare.
But don't no don't now try to get yourself elected
If you do you had better cut your hair.
`Cause it appears to be a long,
appears to be a long,
appears to be a long,
Time, such a long long long long time before the dawn.

It's been a long time comin'
It's goin' to be a long time gone.
But you know,
The darkest hour is always
Always just before the dawn.
And it appears to be a long, appears to be a long,
appears to be a long
Time before the dawn.

[ribrepin]

91. Yeah "Long time Gone" too

I had forgot that one until I saw the your words. Thanks for posting them.

[nj_democrat_rocks]

71. Apocalypse Now......this is the end,...my only friend, the end

of our elaborate plans the end.....

[Hissyspit]

73. Iraq War? "Bleed American" by Jimmy Eat World n/t

[hholli11]

76. "Whiter Shade of Pale"

I wasn't even alive then, but this song reminds me of the Viet Nam era more than any other.

[genie_weenie]

79. "Hello, Vietnam"

by Johnny Wright. But, I think Fortunate Son by CCR or For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield are the conscenus top picks.

Your second question deals with what band do you think is going to have staying power.

Wake me up when September Comes, by Green Day
Mosh, Emniem
No Bravery, James Blunt

Are some obvious choices, right now.

I like Bushwhacked at http://www.tomsongs.com/pages/6/index.htm

Most of the small underground songs I don't think will hit enough ears (even with the internets) to be remembered.

[AussieDave]

81. "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother" - The Hollies

[Midlodemocrat]

82. Where have all the flowers gone?

[Brigid]

90. Oh, Yes!

How could I have forgotten that one? :applause:

[SoulGlo]

83. The song that goes

1,2,3,4 what are we fighten' for?
Well I don't give a damn, next stop is vietnam(something like that)
I think it's by country joe and the fish(?)

[Burma Jones]

84. Nowadays - "Oops, I Did It Again".......

or maybe Green Beret..

[Brigid]

85. Eve of Destruction

by Barry McGuire. Can't believe nobody remembers that one.

[SoulGlo]

87. How does it go?

[GalleryGod]

88. 1965-66 was a "tad early" for a Vietnam anthem,but, here you go

The eastern world, it is explodin’.
Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’
You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’
You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun you’re totin’
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin’

[GalleryGod]

89. Most Vietnam Marines would choose-The Animals

We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
'cause girl, there's a better life for me and you

[nguoihue]

94. We Gotta Get Out of This Place

There it is. That's the one GalleryGod.

[jukes]

95. SO much bunker music

"white room"
anything by janis or grace


i try not to listen, really








do you think they're will be survivors 40 years from now? we'll prbly be in at least 2 other wars by then: y the "dictator for life" will have def pushed the big red button by then.

[bridgit]

96. paint it black - stones

[carlydenise]

98. Nam songs

All Along the Watchtower-Hendrix
War-Edwin Starr
Fortunate Son-CCR
Give Peace A Chance-John and Yoko

I was a kid during the "conflict", but I do remember seeing images every night on the news; Dan Rather in his soldier helmet from the front, soldiers walking with guns, they sure walked alot it seemed. Napalm flames, soldiers holding a gun to the head of a vietnamese man, wow, and they talk about violence on TV today.
Carly