Dave Dudley Vietnam Blues (1966) lyrics

Dave Dudley
Miscellaneous
Vietnam Blues (1966)
I was on leave at the time just ducking the fog
Nosing around like a hungry dog
In that crazy place called Washington DC
I saw a crowd of people on the White House lawn
All carrying signs about Vietnam
So I went over to see what was going on

It was a strange looking bunch but then I never could understand some people

Well a fella came to me with a list in his hand
He said we're gathering names to send a telegram
Of sympathy but he handed me a pen
I said I reckon this is going to the kids and the wives
Of my friends over there who have given their lives
And he said uh-uh buddy this is going to Ho-Chi-min

I said Ho-Chi-who? He said Ho-Chi-Min people's leader North Vietnam

Well I wasn't real sure I was hearing him right
But I thought I better move before I got in a fight
Cause my ears were hurting and my pulse started hitting a lick

Then I thought about another telegram that I just read
Telling my buddy's wife that her husband was dead
And it wasn't too long before I was feeling down right sick

Another held a sign that said we won't fight
And I said boy ain't that right
You'd rather let a soldier die instead
I said it's a shame that every man
Who ever died up there in that far off land?
Is dying so you won't have to wake up dead

Course he looked at me like I was crazy just another war monger

Well I left that place and I went downtown
Hit the first bar that I found
Cool myself off pacify my brain
You see I was on orders to Vietnam
Little old place just north of Saigon
Had about an hour to catch myself a plane
So all I mean to say is I don't like dying either
But man I ain't gonna crawl