Vietnam

Album: Jimmy Cliff (1969)
Charted: 46
Play Video
  • Hey, Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam
    Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam

    Yesterday I got a letter from my friend
    Fighting in Vietnam
    And this is what he had to say
    'Tell all my friends that I'll be coming home soon
    My time it'll be up some time in June
    Don't forget, he said to tell my sweet Mary
    Her golden lips as sweet as cherries

    And it came from
    Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam
    Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam

    It was just the next day his mother got a telegram
    It was addressed from Vietnam
    Now mistress Brown, she lives in the USA
    And this is what she wrote and said
    Don't be alarmed, she told me the telegram said
    But mistress Brown your son is dead

    And it came from
    Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam
    Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam
    Somebody please stop that war now

    It was just the next day his mother got a telegram
    It was addressed from Vietnam
    Now mistress Brown, she lives in the USA
    And this is what she wrote and said
    Don't be alarmed, she told me the telegram said
    Oh, but mistress Brown your son is dead

    And it came from
    Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam
    Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam
    Somebody please stop it

    Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam
    Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam
    What I'm saying now somebody stop that war Writer/s: Jimmy Cliff
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Paul Vermehren from OkinawaSteve in UK.
    You have failed to understand the sentiment of the song.
    It's not about geopolitical history. It's about conscripts being sent to fight a war they may or may not believe in, and return home I'm a body bag. Or did up with PTSD.
  • Steve from Uk Like jimmy Cliff but these lyrics are reductive nonsense, North Vietnams war of aggression against South Vietnam was unjust not the war to defend it. The US was part of SEATO the Asia Pacific defense pact that included Australia, and south Korea amongst others, Hanoi's government was an evil communist regime that attacked neighbouring countries and tried to present it as a revolution which it was not, 85%of communist soldiers were North Vietnam National army add to that 300,000 Chinese soldiers hardly an internal conflict in south Vietnam, what were Chinese and NVA soldiers doing in the republic of South Vietnam? Most US soldiers were not conscripted but were regular army and the battles were convincingly won Hanoi was militarily defeated and forced to terms in 1973 by the Paris accords like North Korea had been 20 years earlier. That treaty was then undermined and south Vietnam defunded and the south fell to a new invasion years after the US and its allies had ceased armed Involvement, communists in asia have murdered tens of millions of people in Cambodia Laos Vietnam and China and were and are fascists. So why oh why time and again do some artists and musicians take the wrong side where is the morality and justice they pontificate about in there opposition to the correct side or support for the wrong side this has taken the form of agit propaganda since 1917 and actually cheapens art by not being honest and reducing complex issues to cheap propaganda I thought artists had a duty to tell the whole truth.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.