Talk:List of songs about the Vietnam War

Note (previously) posted near top of list

I see where someone posted the following "note" near the top of the article:

"Please note: This is not a general list of anti-war or protest songs from the Vietnam War era. Thus, for example, Pete Seeger's "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" and Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" should not be listed on this page."

I agree with the previous stance in regards to the Buffalo Springfield song in question, because that song is supposedly about the Sunset Strip curfew riots that occurred in the summer of 1966. I suppose one could perhaps argue that the song is about "those times" in general, and what was going on then, but the song was mainly influenced by those specific "Sunset Strip Riots" in the summer of 1966 more than anything else.

The Pete Seeger song "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" is supposedly partially based on a Ukrainian folk song referenced in a novel by Mikhail Sholokhov, And Quiet Flows the Don. Seeger adapted it to a folk tune, a lumberjack version of "Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill." The song, as it is now famously known, supposedly took shape in Seeger's mind over the span of a couple of years though; from 1956 to 1960 according to this link. The Vietnam War occurred from 1959 to April 30, 1975, according to the Wiki article. That means, although the song is based in part on an older Ukrainian folk song, and that Seeger wrote his own newer version of it over the span of about four years (most notably while he was being indicted by the House Un-American Activities Committee), the song supposedly wasn't completed with Seeger's full lyrics until around 1960. Again: According to the Wiki article on the Vietnam War, that conflict started in 1959. The United States was fighting the "Reds" in the Cold War and in Vietnam, and being a "Red" is basically what the House Un-American Activities Committee was trying to indict Seeger for in the 1950s. The Vietnam War started around 1959, and The Kingston Trio recorded this song in 1961 and claimed authorship, but they took their name off when Seeger asked them to do so. Their single reached #21 on the charts. Peter, Paul and Mary and Joan Baez also recorded it not too long after that. The song became associated with the Cold War and the Vietnam War because of the time it was released and gained popularity. The song has an anti-war stance. Although perhaps not directly inspired by the Vietnam War (although perhaps influenced by the growing escalations towards war in the world at that time), I think one could argue that this song came of age because of the Vietnam War. Thus, perhaps one could argue for this song's inclusion on this list.

The reason I say this is because Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Universal Soldier" is included on the list (as I think it should be). This song was written and inspired by the Vietnam War and released on her 1964 album. However, the war in Vietnam is never specifically mentioned at all in this particular song. Nevertheless, one can tell that the Vietnam War definitely inspired this song (when one takes into account when it was released and what was going on in the world at the time). Perhaps similarly, who is to say that Pete Seeger wasn't thinking of Vietnam - and the larger Cold War issue that it was a part of - when he was coming up with his later versions of "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" around 1960? He, and others, certainly seemed to perform and reference the song in relation to the Vietnam War as time went along too. I don't know, it could go either way, but I just thought I'd discuss this here.

Geneisner 09:12, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

Narrow point of View

Virtually all the songs in this list are written by Americans. Countless songs written by Vietnamese get scant mention. Some songwriters, such as Trinh Cong Son and Pham Duy, wrote hundreds of song on the subject. DHN (talk) 00:22, 13 July 2008 (UTC)

You said, "Countless songs written by Vietnamese get scant mention", well then add them to the list, buddy! That's what this darn list is for. So, feel free to add songs by the Vietnamese, the Viet Cong, the Cheech and Chong or whatever it is as long as it applies to the Vietnam War. Geneisner (talk) 19:47, 14 July 2008 (UTC)

Thousands of Vietnamese songs written between 1954 and 1975 are directly about the war - effect on civilians, soldiers, destruction of landmarks, hopes and dreams, love interrupted, etc. In fact, there are two distinct genres of Vietnamese music written during this time - Yellow Music representing music from the South and Red Music representing music from the North. I could attempt to list some of them, but they would appear quite incongruous with the songs already listed here - some making only vague allusions to the war. I propose that any song whose main subject matter is not the war itself be pruned, else it'd be just a useless list. DHN (talk) 23:51, 14 July 2008 (UTC)

I certainly do not find this to be a "useless list". This is a list of songs about the Vietnam War. I think that means, all songs that are about (or have anything to say about) this war, no matter what country they are from, are acceptable for inclusion on this list. Also, in many ways I think this list represents the general attitudes of people, mainly as expressed in popular culture at the time and after, regarding the Vietnam War. Yes, this list, as it currently stands, is mainly geared toward Westerners, English speaking peoples and their popular culture, but I don't think for one second that this list is "useless" for anyone trying to understand those times, society's reactions to the war, or the war's after-effects. You said, "Thousands of Vietnamese songs written between 1954 and 1975 are directly about the war - effect on civilians, soldiers, destruction of landmarks, hopes and dreams, love interrupted, etc." Well, then I say, add as many of those songs to this list as you would like to add. Also, if you would like to make a category within this list which lists Vietnamese songs about the Vietnam War, then I'm all for that too. We could have different sections, like "Western world songs about the Vietnam War", and "Eastern world songs about the Vietnam War". Or, maybe you would rather have two different lists, like "List of Western world songs about the Vietnam War", and "List of Eastern world songs about the Vietnam War". However, I think it might be better to include different sections to this list and/or just include them all to the list. Geneisner (talk) 06:30, 15 July 2008 (UTC)

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You are right, it's too narrow. Way to narrow. Songs not about the war, but from that era that have become associated with should also be included. I mean Paint it Black has nothing to do with Vietnam, but it's on the list and rightfully so. You mention Vietnamese music. Did they have rock 'n roll in those days? I like quite a few Asian rock bands (Guitar Wolf is the first that comes to mind) but sixties Vietnamese rock 'n roll. Hook me up with some cool names. PS I noticed you said Americans, but a lot of sixties songs are British :)

2A02:1812:40A:C200:E5BD:75F0:366B:5D78 (talk) 16:52, 29 May 2015 (UTC)

Notability for inclusion of songs to the list

In order to keep this list to a reasonable level of quality, I think it's important to establish at least some minimal requirement as far as notability is concerned for a song's inclusion on the list. For example, I think that either the song or the author(s) or musician(s) of the song should be notable enough to at least have a legitimate Wikipedia page to be included on this list. As long as an entry meets this simple requirement, and the song is about (or has anything to say about) the Vietnam War, then I think the song can (and should) be included on the list. Geneisner (talk) 21:05, 21 July 2008 (UTC)

Agreed -- Willie Nelson's song, "Jimmy's Road" was about the Korean War, not the Vietnam War, as noted in the PBS special, "Korean War Stories." Sabrenaut (talk) 13:09, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Concerned About Number of Ambiguously Relevant Songs

A lot of these songs are of questionable relevance. Just because a song is political and written in the 60s does not necessarily mean it is "about" Vietnam (although the war was most certainly an inspiration for music of the counter-culture during that era). I'm speaking of songs like "The Times They Are a-Changing" (a really general song that makes no reference to any specific politics) or "Revolution" (which is more about the leftist culture than with the actual war). I'm just thinking that if most of the songs I know that are on this list are of questionable relevance, the whole list starts looking like bogus in my mind. The Dominator^Talk_Edits 00:28, 9 May 2009 (UTC)

I would think it's inappropriate for a song to be here if the song page itself doesn't actually mention Viet Nam. All Along the Watchtower, for instance. 82.36.76.47 (talk) 17:21, 2 March 2011 (UTC)

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If the reason for not including a song because it's too "left" I'm offended. Remember the first? Besides it was a fight between right and left. Imperialists vs Communists. 2A02:1812:40A:C200:E5BD:75F0:366B:5D78 (talk) 17:10, 29 May 2015 (UTC)

suspected vandalization

Listed is a "My son is gay because of vietnam" by The Rolling Stones This appears to be vandalism --96.241.202.243 (talk) 11:56, 25 October 2009 (UTC)

Rolling Stones have no such song. Good call

2A02:1812:40A:C200:E5BD:75F0:366B:5D78 (talk) 17:10, 29 May 2015 (UTC)

So Long Song by Bill Nolte

I think this song should be included.

Sam Hartley — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.112.114.73 (talk) 04:06, 13 March 2013 (UTC)

Dropbox link

The link to a private Dropbox account seems quite unprofessional. Would it be more prudent to move those images to a better source? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.9.93.179 (talk) 00:27, 13 April 2014 (UTC)

Very vague description

When I hear Paint it Black I think Tour of Duty (the amazing Vietnam series and equally great series of "Vietnam music" albums. Love those)

But the song is only a Vietnam song because of association with TV and whatnot about Vietnam?

The lyrics aren't about Vietnam. My interpretation it's about a your girlfriend/wife dying.

"I see a line of cars and they're all painted black With flowers and my love, both never to come back"

Line of black cars = funeral procession Flowers are put on the grave of his loved one's coffin. Obviously they're not coming back.

"I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes I have to turn my head until my darkness goes"

Other girls don't do anything to him because he still loves his dead girlfriend/wife

"Like a newborn baby it just happens ev'ryday"

Yeah, people literally die every day

So, no this song is not about Vietnam. It could be. About losing someone you love in Vietnam. But not per sé.

So why isn't Sympathy for the Devil included? It's as much about Vietnam as Paint it Black? (Plz I don't like COD, but so what) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:1812:40A:C200:E5BD:75F0:366B:5D78 (talk) 16:49, 29 May 2015 (UTC)

Modern music about Vietnam?

An album like 'Operation Phoenix' from 1998 has plenty Vietnam songs

Lyrics deal directly with Vietnam War. But it's from years later?

Does it belong? One example is "Letters Home". About a soldier missing his girlfriend, 7 weeks in Vietnam. Realizing this might be the end and feeling depressed because he left with a lot of things unsaid.

"Article IV" mentions the Viet Cong.

"Crawling through the mud all night long Hunted like rats by the Viet Cong Fields of death bodies piled up higher Through the silence of the Tet cease-fire The will to fight seems so long gone While back at home they sing a protest song They burned them once then they shot them twice Shot three times for the blood of Christ"

any many others

2A02:1812:40A:C200:E5BD:75F0:366B:5D78 (talk) 17:08, 29 May 2015 (UTC)

"Rooster" by Alice in Chains is on the list, so I would think that any song that is about the Vietnam War (regardless of when it was written) could be included, which means, after examining the lyrics of the song "Article IV" from the album Operation Phoenix (1999) by the band Good Riddance, well, I think that song does belong on this list, though I'm not sure about their other songs. Leepaxton (talk) 21:25, 15 March 2022 (UTC)

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