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Floyd
Powerful stuff. I too lost friends in that war. This really captures the unresolved nature of the entire experience.
Perfectly produced to let the story be told. Excellent all the way.
Keep em coming,
Bob
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Floyd,
From someone that served in the military, during that era, a sincere thank you. You captured the emotion that swirls within some of us very well.
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To Buds comment
"It seemed then and now so unfair to the extent that I harbored guilt over my deferments."
Some of us stayed for several tours just so others did not have to go. We were happy to do that.
I am very glad you did not have to go there. We needed good people like you at home just as much as we needed people there.
Thanks,
Billy Thanks Billy. I honor your service. And, again, thanks to fj for posting this song. Bud
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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I was spat upon in the New York airport while in uniform circa 1969.
You've captured the moment, FJ. Kudos.
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Well, for me, I get it. Three years in Viet Nam back to back.
Thanks for posting this song. Even all these years later, a song like this brings back the reality of that time and place.
Songwriting and music is an effective time machine.
Some really unpleasant stuff happens in any war but the Viet Nam war still rages on in the minds of quite a few of us who are still alive to remember.
There are no winners in war, only survivors.
Thanks again,
Billy Billy - thanks for the listen... but, more importantly, thanks for your service. As I said to Wayne - I don't think we can even come close to imagining...
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I was 20 in 1966 - with a college deferment, and one for grad school later and then afterwards I drew a very "safe" number in the draft lottery. My best friend had already been killed in Cambodia. This song reminds me of my many conflicts of the time. Some wanted to go and went. Others didn't want to go but had no choice. Others had deferments. It seemed then and now so unfair to the extent that I harbored guilt over my deferments. Growing up with many family members who served from WWII to Vietnam I will always honor their's and all veterans' service. Pardon this...I know it's not about me but this song is so very powerful and it elicited those emotions. And isn't that the hallmark of a great song? And this is indeed such a song with all of the fj stamps of goodness. Tom so well stated the feelings of the time. I can't add to that. Thanks for sharing this. Bud (Janice was 9 in 1966  ) It has been good to hear everyone's story from that period of our history - from each perspective... thanks for giving me a first read on this, too... Well, if Floyd did it, it's worth a listen :-)
Sad episode ... you're probably right, though. Most people did not feel that way about our soldiers. Just a very, very vocal minority, stirred up by political agitators and re-enforced by news anchors misrepresenting what the majority of our soldiers were like. When the talking heads say things every night, people get the idea that's what everybody thinks, and there's a natural peer pressure to buy into it. Sucks. And pisses me off, too.
Good song.
Thanks for having a listen, Phil... To Buds comment
"It seemed then and now so unfair to the extent that I harbored guilt over my deferments."
Some of us stayed for several tours just so others did not have to go. We were happy to do that.
I am very glad you did not have to go there. We needed good people like you at home just as much as we needed people there.
Thanks,
Billy Again, we thank you, Billy... fj,
I hesitate to comment because it will require you to bump the thread to get your 15 minutes of fame, but here goes.
I like the song. A dark period in our history for sure. Well done.
Regards,
Lefty Bob - thanks for stopping by for a listen....
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Nice write, glad it found the light of day. As Noel said, the "parallel narrative" is really effective. I was wondering how long you'd hold off on the drums. Like some others, I'd have bet you added custom guitars to the track. I keep underestimating what this program (and users) is capable of. You can pat your 20 year old self on the back. Thanks, David. The collection of available guitar tracks - both acoustic and electric - has gotten better with each release. BIAB 2018 added a bunch of really nice ones. It makes "finding what you hear in your head" easier all the time. I hope it will continue into the future releases... I've found some nice ways to process the stereo acoustic RTs to get just what I've been looking for for a long time... The power of this great ballad still echo's through the generations. Great write Floyd.Rob Thanks, Rob - appreciate that... Floyd,
Inviting acoustic right off the bat—makes me want to hear more, and the great vocal also keeps me listening. Some awesome lines lyrically, but overall to me this is missing a hook or shift somewhere in the tune to keep it fresh on the ear—I wish I was wiser musically to better express what I mean. To me, this is so close to going from really good to something special. As it stands, a well done song.
Best regards,
Deej Thanks for the listen, Deej - and the thoughtful ideas... Since this was written 40 years ago, it reflects a particular period in time - and a style of writing/music that was prevalent at the time. I saw no reason to try to "modernize" this. In fact, I think that might reduce its impact (but I could be wrong)...
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Hello, floyd
It is the first time for me to listen to the song of this genre from you.
Your rock songs are wonderful, but also this song is nice.
I thought that it expressed a sad story probably shared by all Americans very well.
I was deeply impressed.
Best regards.
Shigeki Adachi Shigeki Adachi - If I can "deeply impress" you, that is a feather in my cap... thanks.. Hi floyd jane,
This song has good story. Got a nice feel and moves nicely along. Make's ya realize how good North America has it. Thanks for sharing. LPman - thanks for having a listen... Wayne - I really appreciate you giving me your reaction to this prior to posting. It was important that this be "okay" for those who were actually there. I know that we cannot possible know - or even come close to imagining - what that was like. Trying to do so, boggles the mind, breaks my heart and brings a lump in my throat and a tear to the eye...
Thanks for your opinion.
Thanks for your service. Your quite welcome Floyd.... You didn't have to inquire with me so I thank you for your courtesy (even though it was not necessary) and your kind words. Ha...oh...it's "mind boggling"...that's for damn sure. Truthfully, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't have images of that part of my life and reminded of how profound the experience was at 18 years old and how it formed who I am today. (After 13 months in country I rotated back to CONUS and was still 19 years old.) I have (3) songs I wrote about that experience but have been done for many years and are not BIAB creations. ( Just Do It on my s/c page and Toy Guns not uploaded yet and the third one is not uploaded yet) Ok....back to topic....thanks again. (That last chord wouldn't be a Badd9...would it?) Wayne - thanks for stopping by again - that last chord is Fm(maj7)...
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Floyd,
Hands down, this is my favorite vocal performance of yours! There is a sincerity in the vocal that is undeniable! This is pretty good writing from such a young lad in my opinion! Glad you brought it back to life here! Thanks, Torrey
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A very moving and beautifully written song Floyd. It has a superb keening melody that fits the subject matter spot on. It gripped me to the end. That closing unresolved chord was so right - a question left hanging.
I was 18 in 1966 and remember here in the UK there was footage every night on the TV news, often more graphic than is allowed these days. For some strange reason it's common for brave people in the forces to be neglected on their return, as if forgetting them will somehow make forgetting the whole thing easier. We have a shameful record here of not doing more for the maimed who returned from Afghanistan, another unpopular campaign.
John Thanks for your thoughts, John. Those were defining times in our history - often the emotions involved are aimed at the wrong people... those guys coming home were 18, too - and had been through a hell not of their own choosing. And as you say, it continues today... let's hope we are not headed towards worse.... Well Floyd, I made it back alive in one piece. Well almost.. I think this song is very powerful as all your songs are, and it was a great experience to take a peek inside the head of the young songwriter, and imagining you with your trusty old Yamaha when she was young, howling at the moon. Great stuff man. Thanks, David. Thanks to you and Cliff for breaking the ice that allowed this to resurface...
Great sad song, Floyd
the song is excellent as usual. I like the rock guitar in background.
The subject of the song is a very important subject.
Every war has many impopular heroes.
But they will be heroes FOREVER, and they are the heroes not the others.
I would to extend the lyrics of your song, to the young American soldiers
that hardly fought in Italy during II WWar.
Thanks from an Italian man to you (now after about 60 years) for all these young soldiers surely forever heroes.
Sergio
Sergio - good of you to bring up how your country sees these things, too...
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WOW!! One thing is clear from this....some people are just born writers! A lot of great stuff here for a 20-year-old mind, but then we're not talking about just any 20-year-old. FJ has obviously had the knack for a long, long time. I remember this era, and am just a few years behind Floyd. It was turbulent, intense, and fascinating. I feel very lucky to have grown up when I did. A lot of great music came out of it, but there was a lot of conflict, and a lot of misery, particularly for Viet Nam vets. Thanks for bringing this one back for us Floyd! Take care. Greg
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Floyd
Powerful stuff. I too lost friends in that war. This really captures the unresolved nature of the entire experience.
Perfectly produced to let the story be told. Excellent all the way.
Keep em coming,
Bob Thanks, Bob. Glad you stopped in for a listen. Sorry to hear of your friends... Floyd,
From someone that served in the military, during that era, a sincere thank you. You captured the emotion that swirls within some of us very well. Jim - thanks for having a listen and affirming the message. And Thanks for your service... I was spat upon in the New York airport while in uniform circa 1969.
You've captured the moment, FJ. Kudos. Don - It is good for us to continue to hear these stories - we should never stop remembering and learning from the past... Thank you for your service, too...
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Floyd,
Hands down, this is my favorite vocal performance of yours! There is a sincerity in the vocal that is undeniable! This is pretty good writing from such a young lad in my opinion! Glad you brought it back to life here! Thanks, Torrey Thanks, Torrey. I did have over 40 years to practice that vocal... WOW!! One thing is clear from this....some people are just born writers! A lot of great stuff here for a 20-year-old mind, but then we're not talking about just any 20-year-old. FJ has obviously had the knack for a long, long time. I remember this era, and am just a few years behind Floyd. It was turbulent, intense, and fascinating. I feel very lucky to have grown up when I did. A lot of great music came out of it, but there was a lot of conflict, and a lot of misery, particularly for Viet Nam vets. Thanks for bringing this one back for us Floyd! Take care. Greg Thanks for that, Greg... We did grow up in interesting times... Thanks to everyone for the reception that this song has gotten. It has been a rewarding experience. Thanks to all who have shared their story - especially those who served... Thank you.
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Hi Floyd,
This song demonstrates your songwriter's integrity and involvement.
Although I was too young at the time to remember, I've seen lots of documentaries and movies about Vietnam.
I can only imagine the impact this must have had on the soldiers returning home, being judged by others (who stayed at home).
Another Pro song in a long list of cool songs.
Rob
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