Vietnam protest song

One Response to Vietnam protest song

1. Linda Kristine Neiberg says:

   April 12, 2016 at 11:06 am

   Thank you, Thomas, for posting this song. “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag” is one of the most popular, and, arguably, one of the most emblematic anti-Vietnam War protest songs. By the time Country Joe and the Fish performed their song at Woodstock in August 1969, it had become one of the most recognizable songs of the Vietnam War era. As one might imagine, this song was popular amongst the counterculture and controversial within mainstream America. The live version of the song at Woodstock, which Thomas posted, includes lyrics in the link above. I also am posting the lyrics below. Why do you think this song would become an especially potent protest song against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War? How does the “I” of “I feel like I’m fixin’ to die” feel about this war? How do Country Joe McDonald and the Woodstock audience interact with one another while he performs his band’s song? How does singing in unison shape a song’s message? What is the tone of the song? Does the song’s tone help convey its message? Also, why would many people ~ especially folks who support U.S. involvement in Vietnam ~ find this song offensive? Do the very lyrics, which boost the song as an anti-war anthem, also operate as a tinderbox for sparking strong feelings against it? And what might a similar song say about *today’s* society?

   Yeah, come on all of you, big strong men,
   Uncle Sam needs your help again.
   He’s got himself in a terrible jam
   Way down yonder in Vietnam
   So put down your books and pick up a gun,
   We’re gonna have a whole lotta fun.

   And it’s one, two, three,
   What are we fighting for ?
   Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn,
   Next stop is Vietnam;
   And it’s five, six, seven,
   Open up the pearly gates,
   Well there ain’t no time to wonder why,
   Whoopee! We’re all gonna die.

   Well, come on generals, let’s move fast;
   Your big chance has come at last.
   Gotta go out and get those reds —
   The only good commie is the one who’s dead
   And you know that peace can only be won
   When we’ve blown ’em all to kingdom come.
   And it’s one, two, three,
   What are we fighting for ?
   Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn,
   Next stop is Vietnam;

   And it’s five, six, seven,
   Open up the pearly gates,
   Well there ain’t no time to wonder why
   Whoopee! We’re all gonna die.
   Huh!

   Well, come on Wall Street, don’t move slow,
   Why man, this is war a-go-go.
   There’s plenty good money to be made
   By supplying the Army with the tools of the trade,
   Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
   They drop it on the Vietcong.

   And it’s one, two, three,
   What are we fighting for ?
   Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn,
   Next stop is Vietnam.
   And it’s five, six, seven,
   Open up the pearly gates,
   Well there ain’t no time to wonder why
   Whoopee! We’re all gonna die.

   Well, come on mothers throughout the land,
   Pack your boys off to Vietnam.
   Come on fathers, don’t hesitate,
   Send ’em off before it’s too late.
   Be the first one on your block
   To have your boy come home in a box.

   And it’s one, two, three
   What are we fighting for ?
   Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn,
   Next stop is Vietnam.
   And it’s five, six, seven,
   Open up the pearly gates,
   Well there ain’t no time to wonder why,
   Whoopee! We’re all gonna die.