I recently dug out some CD's of some REALLY old records...to listen to while I was furiously cleaning house in preparation for my out-of-town guests. I came across the album "Clouds" by Joni Mitchell. Recorded in 1969. By a Canadian singer/songwriter. The following is the text of a song called "The Fiddle and the Drum." Remeber, this was written and recorded in 1969. Viet Nam War era. Thirty-five years ago. How true is it to how our "allies" in the world feel about us now, in 2004, in the middle of this Iraq Debacle?
"And so once again
My dear Johnny, my dear friend
And so once again your are fightin' us all
And when I ask you why
You raise your sticks and cry, and I fall
Oh, my friend
How did you come
To trade the fiddle for the drum?
You say I have turned
Like the enemies you've earned
But I can remember
All the good things you are
And so I ask you please
Can I help you find the peace and the star
Oh, my friend
What time is this
To trade the handshake for the fist?
And so once again
Oh, America my friend
And so once again
you are fighting us all
And when we ask you why
You raise your sticks and cry and we fall
Oh, my friend
How did you come
To trade the fiddle for the drum?
You say we have turned
Like the enemeies you've earned
But we can remember
All the good things you are
And so we ask you please
Can we help you find the peace and the star
Oh, my friend
We have all come
To fear the beating of your drum.
Sooooo appropriate right now, considering the current sentiment. I never heard that song, at least not that I can remember. I graduated HS in 1971 at 17, so I remember a lot about the era...unfortunately, mostly the body counts on the evening news. Horrifying! Now I am a soldier's mom, and I cringe at the thought of him going over there. Thank goodness, he hasn't gone yet. Probably soon, unfortunately. Oh, and we lost a hometown soldier the other day and this is really a small town. So sad. Lisa
ReplyDeleteJust found your wonderful journal and I have been poking around and thoroughly enjoying your writing. Wow, I have not heard that song since Vietnam. I would not have remembered it, or Joni Mitchell's clear voice singing it -- thank you.
ReplyDeleteAlso class of '71 here.
" Clouds " is a wonder ful CD...Isn`t both sides now on it?
ReplyDeleteV
a beautiful song--I've heard it sung acapella by a young Irish girl...it made the hair on my arms stand up.
ReplyDeleteThe only Vietnam Era song I remember, that was related to the war anyhow, is "Billy Don't Be a Hero." I think my babysitter had a friend over in Vietnam and she would play that song over and over. :-) ---Robbie
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