Featured Music Article
The Doors’ “Unknown Soldier”
October 20, 2009 · Leave a Comment
The Doors’ “Unknown Soldier” is an anti-war song from their July 11th 1968 LP “Waiting For The Sun”. The song was controversial enough for many radio stations to refuse to play it. It was also quite popular, with the single reaching #39 on the charts. The message of the song is delivered very dramatically with a firing squad sequence taking place in the middle of the song. In live performances the firing squad is performed by guitarist Robby Kreiger holding his guitar to mimic a rifle and “shooting” singer Jim Morrison, who would collapse on the stage... [Read the full story]
Featured Timeline Article
11/01/1968: Rolling Thunder Bombing Against North Vietnam Ceases
November 1, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Operation Rolling Thunder, the aerial bombardment campaign against North Vietnam, came to an end on November 1st 1968, after three years and eight months of bombing. The purpose of Rolling Thunder was to prevent the flow of personnel and supplies into South Vietnam, to destroy the transportation systems of North Vietnam, to intimidate North Vietnam into ceasing support for the Viet Cong, and to boost the morale of South Vietnam. North Vietnam, with the assistance of its allies, implemented an effective air defense, making Rolling Thunder a long and intense campaign that ultimately did not achieve... [Read the full story]
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Vietnam War Music – Understanding the War Through its Songs
October 10, 2009 · 1 Comment
The history of the Vietnam War is well documented. But how do we, in the early 21st century, gain a better emotional understanding of the war? The war ended three-and-a-half decades ago. The youngest of the veterans are now in their late fifties. Many of the political, military, and social figures of the time have passed on. How can younger generations who didn’t live through the era get a glimpse of was felt by the people at the time? The Vietnam War was one of the key World-shaping events of the 20th century. All of the peoples that fought in the war paid a high price in lives... [Read the full story]
Music Articles
The Rolling Stones – Paint it Black
The Rolling Stones‘ 1966 #1 hit “Paint It Black” was a popular track on Armed Forced Radio in South Vietnam during the war. While it wasn’t intended as Vietnam War music, it expressed a sentiment of depression and despair that must have resonated with some of the U.S. servicemen in Vietnam....
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Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower
In September 1968, Jimi Hendrix released his single “All Along The Watchtower“, from the Electric Ladyland album. It wasn’t intended to be about the Vietnam War, but it conveyed feelings and sentiments that the soldiers serving there related to, and is thus very much a piece of Vietnam War music....
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Bruce Springsteen – Lost in the Flood
In January 1973 Bruce Springsteen released his first album, “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.“, which contained “Lost in the Flood“, the first of many songs Springsteen would write about Vietnam Veterans. Born in 1949, Springsteen was the right age to serve in Vietnam, but managed to avoid that...
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Thom Parrott – Hole in The Ground
Many Vietnam War songs have fallen into obscurity because they were never commercially recorded, or if they were, failed to sell many copies and were quickly discontinued. Fortunately, some have been gathered and reprinted on CDs. One superb example is Thom Parrott‘s “Hole In The Ground“published...
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Black Sabbath – War Pigs
In 1970, while recording their second album, Paranoid, British rock band Black Sabbath were working on a song called “Walpurgis”, which was basically a musical horror story, much like the song “Black Sabbath” on their first album. However, the band was getting tired of being accused of witchcraft...
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The Animals – We Gotta Get Out Of This Place
By all accounts, The Animals‘ 1965 hit “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place” was one of the most popular Vietnam War songs among U.S. soldiers serving in Vietnam. Getting out was something most of them wanted dearly, and when they were on a one year tour of duty, they knew exactly when it would happen....
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John Prine – Sam Stone | Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore
John Prine‘s self-titled 1971 debut album was a masterpiece of song writing. His country sound was captivating and easy to listen to, and his dry lyrics grabbed the listener’s attention with wit, sarcasm and irony, and delivered some deep and often depressing messages without being smug or preachy. Amazon.com...
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Buffy Sainte-Marie, Donovan – Universal Soldier
Donovan‘s Amazon.com Widgets 1964 #1 U.K. hit “Universal Soldier” was brought to the U.S. in 1965, where it was a minor hit, reaching #53, and was included in the U.S. release of his “Fairytale” album. Donovan wasn’t the first to record the song, but it’s his recording that...
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The Guess Who – American Woman | No Time
Canadian band The Guess Who‘s 1970 song “American Woman” is often cited as an anti-American criticism of U.S. war policies, especially the draft. The American Woman being referred to could be a metaphor for the U.S. or the Statue of Liberty. The song can be seen as a rejection of the U.S., with...
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Steppenwolf – Monster | Draft Resister
Steppenwolf’s 1969 album “Monster” featured two Vietnam War songs: “Monster/Suicide/America” which sang about the injustice of America’s domestic and Vietnam War policies; and “Draft Resister” which portrayed the bravery and just cause of those who went to prison rather...
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Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A Changin’
Bob Dylan intentionally conceived and wrote “The Times They Are A Changin’” as an anthem for the era of change he saw occurring. The early 60s had already seen the Cuban missile crisis, and almost a decade of the civil rights movement. Indeed, the recording of the album was completed only days before...
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Edwin Starr – “War” and “Stop the War Now”
Edwin Starr‘s July 1970 single, “War“, Amazon.com Widgetsis a remarkably powerful performance of Vietnam War Music, expressing firm, impassioned and uncompromising opposition to the war. The well known chorus “War … What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!” repeats with gusto...
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The Beatles – Revolution
It was very uncommon for The Beatles to make an overt political statement in their songs, and 1968′s “Revolution” was a rare exception. Written by John Lennon, it suggests that he wants to see changes, but is uncomfortable with the violent radicalism many advocates for change are espousing, with...
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SSgt. Barry Sadler – The Ballad of The Green Berets
Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler‘s “The Ballad of the Green Berets”, is a definitive piece of Vietnam War music. In contrast to the growing volume of popular protest songs, Ballad of the Green Berets instilled pride in the soldiers, commended their bravery, and commended the bravery of their families....
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Where Have All The Flowers Gone?
“Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” is an anti-war folk song about the pointlessness of war, and the need for more peace and goodwill. The lines “Where have all the flowers gone | Young girls have picked them, every one” are a metaphor, and mean the same thing as lines like “Where have...
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Joan Baez – Saigon Bride
Joan Baez sang “Saigon Bride” on her 1967 album “Joan”. Baez was politically active, and lent her voice to the social causes of the time, in particular the civil rights movement and anti-Vietnam War movement (and in the decades since, human rights, gay & lesbian rights, the environment,...
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Rolling Stones – Street Fighting Man
Street Fighting Man, released by the Rolling Stones in August 1968, is a commentary on the civil unrest that was happening around the world. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Mick Jagger referred to the May 1968 student riots in Paris, which resulted in the massive general strike of eleven million workers for two...
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The Fugs – “Kill For Peace”
The Fugs are generally described as the “first underground rock group”, with a music style that foreshadows the punk bands of the ’70s and ’80s. Their opposition to the Vietnam War was present in their music, and in actions such as their “exorcism” of the Pentagon at a rally in 1967....
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The Doors’ “Unknown Soldier”
The Doors’ “Unknown Soldier” is an anti-war song from their July 11th 1968 LP “Waiting For The Sun”. The song was controversial enough for many radio stations to refuse to play it. It was also quite popular, with the single reaching #39 on the charts. The message of the song is delivered...
[Continue reading: The Doors’ “Unknown Soldier”]
Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant Massacre”
Arlo Guthrie‘s anti-draft, anti-war song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacre“, was released in 1967. It was very popular, as evidenced by the album “Alice’s Restaurant” being certified “gold” (500,000 units sold) in June 1969. At over 18 minutes long, the bulk of the...
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Timeline Articles
11/21/1970: Operation Ivory Coast – Son Tay POW Prison Raid
By 1970, the U.S. knew there were at least 350 American prisoners of war in North...
11/15/1969: Second Vietnam Moratorium Protest
During the Fall of 1969 a coordinated campaign of anti Vietnam War protests was held...
11/14/1965: Battle of Ia Drang Valley
The Battle of Ia Drang Valley was the conclusion of a series of engagements that...
11/13/1969: March Against Death
The March Against Death was conducted over thirty-six hours in Washington D.C. on...
11/12/1969: Story Breaks of My Lai Massacre
The My Lai massacre took place on March 16th 1968, when a unit of U.S. infantry massacred...
11/11/1972: Direct U.S. Troop Engagement in Vietnam Ends
Direct U.S. troop engagement in the Vietnam War ended on Veterans’ Day 1972....
11/11/1967: Viet Cong Releases Prisoners For Racial Propaganda
On Veteran’s Day, 1967, the Viet Cong released three U.S. prisoners of war...
11/09/1967: Lance Sijan’s Heroic Ordeal
Lance Sijan’s story is one of immense bravery, perseverance, and tragedy. ...
11/07/1966: “Ugly Demonstration” at Harvard Targets McNamara
The Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was the major student protest organization...
11/07/1973: Congress Passes War Powers Resolution
Towards the end of 1973, the United States’ lengthy and harrowing involvement...
11/05/1968: Nixon Elected President
Richard Nixon won the November 5th 1968 Presidential election, and would succeed...
11/03/1969: Nixon’s “Silent Majority” Speech
President Richard Nixon had won the 1968 Presidential election on a campaign that...
On November 3rd 1967, a series of engagements collectively known as the Battle of...
11/02/1963: Oppressive South Vietnamese President Killed
Ngo Dinh DiemOn November 2nd 1963, South Vietnamese Army officers deposed and assassinated...
11/02/1965: Norman Morrison Sets Himself On Fire At Pentagon
On the afternoon of November 2nd 1965, 31-year-old Norman Morrison went to a garden...
11/01/1968: Rolling Thunder Bombing Against North Vietnam Ceases
Operation Rolling Thunder, the aerial bombardment campaign against North Vietnam,...
11/01/1964: Viet Cong Escalates with Mortar & Rocket Attack on Bien Hoa Air Base
In the early hours of November 1st 1964, the Bien Hoa Air Base, situated 12 miles...
11/01/1968: Accelerated Pacification Campaign and Phoenix Program Begin to Combat Viet Cong
The Accelerated Pacification Campaign was launched on November 1st 1968. In the...
10/30/1970: Monsoon Halts Fighting
Vietnam experiences a monsoon severe enough to practically halt fighting. This was...
10/28/1965: Viet Cong Commando Attacks on U.S. Air Bases
During the night between October 27th and 28th 1965, the Viet Cong launched simultaneous...
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Vietnam War Music – Understanding the War Through its Songs
The history of the Vietnam War is well documented. But how do we, in the early...
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