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What The... (Is a Going on in Washington)

Bob Withers
Language: English


Bob Withers

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1966

Bob Withers "What The..." (Is A Going On In Washington) (1966, Vinyl)

The country song "What the..." (Is a Going on in Washington)" (Nugget Records # NR 247), by Bob Withers, is narrated from the position of a soldier in the war zone, who feared for his life: "here I sit in Vietnam...sent half around this world to die". Is this song criticising US politicians over the Vietnam War, or is it an attack on the protest movement? It included the line: "All these people were our friends not long ago, they fought Hitler, Mussolini, and Tōjō" - this could be a reference to the Vietnamese - a former World War Two ally, who had helped the US against Adolf Hitler (Germany), Benito Mussolini (Italy), and Tōjō (Japan)? Or perhaps it is an attack on the draft card burners and protester in Washington (as it included the line: "some guys have burnt their draft cards up at home, don't send them here") - who may have backed or agreed with the cause of the Second World War, but now protested against the actions of US soldiers in Vietnam. Overall, this seems to be an anti-war song, and strongly critical of the US government. Is so, this would be one of the earliest anti-Vietnam War songs in the country music genre.

Vietnam War Song Project
What the....Is a going on in Washington...

Well here I sit in Vietnam and I'm wondering why
I was sent half around this world to die
There is just one question that I ask from everyone
What the....Is a going on in Washington...

They won't call this things a war you know these days
But over here they are shooting at us every way
they think we're cracking up if we should help someone (?)
What the....Is a going on in Washington...

Well pull the trigger, kill some more and hear them cry
Leave your buddy back, move up, and let him die
How can I ever tell these things to my son
What the....Is a going on in Washington

What the....Is a going on in Washington

I heard some guys have burnt their draft cards up at home
Don't send them here, 'cause we've got troubles of our own
they probably send them straight to the ...
... whatever is left in Washington

All these people were our friends not long ago
They fought Hitler, Mussolini, and Tōjō
Now our friends are thinning out, what have we done
What the....Is a going on in Washington

What the....Is a going on in Washington

2021/11/12 - 22:38




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