Army Man in Vietnam

Big Joe Williams (1903-1982), delta blues guitar player, born Joseph Lee Williams, in Crawford Mississippi, used a nine-string acoustic guitar, giving his delta style an interesting, unique sound. In the track "Army Man in Vietnam" (Arhoolie Records # 1053) he expressed a desire to "stop the war in Vietnam" because he feared that the government might "drop that atom bomb", a reflection of Cold War tensions. The song also showed concern for young men, at the age of eighteen, drafted into the army and given a gun. Note the minor reference to Christmas: "some will be home for Christmas, some will hurt real bad". Chris Strachwitz (founder of Arhoolie) recorded the song on 14 December 1969 at Arhoolie House in Berkeley, California. It featured Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica.
Vietnam War Songs Project