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In reply to the discussion: post your favorite protest song [View all]TexasProgresive
(12,752 posts)47. Some protest with humor. Talkin' Vietnam Potluck Blues by Tom Paxton
Can't find a video of Tom so this will have to do
Talking Vietnam Potluck Blues
Words and Music by Tom Paxton
When I landed in Vietnam,
I hardly got to see Saigon.
They shaped us up and called the roll,
And off we went on a long patrol.
Swattin' flies, swappin' lies,
Firing the odd shot here and there.
The captain called a halt that night
And we had chow by the pale moonlight.
A lovely dinner they planned for us
With a taste like a seat on a crosstown bus.
Some of the veterans left theirs in the cans
For the Viet Cong to find. . .
Deadlier than a land mine.
Well naturally somebody told a joke
And a couple of fellas began to smoke.
I took a whiff as a cloud rolled by
And my nose went up like an infield fly.
The captain, this blonde fella from Yale, said
"What's the matter with you, baby?"
Well, I may be crazy, but I think not.
I'd swear to God that I smell pot.
But who'd have pot in Vietnam?
He said, "What do you think you're sittin' on?"
These funny little plants, thousands of them.
Good God Almighty... Pastures of Plenty!
We all lit up and by and by
The whole platoon was flying high.
With a beautiful smile on the captain's face
He smelled like midnight on St. Mark's Place.
Cleaning his weapon, chanting the Hare Krishna.
The moment came as it comes to all,
When I had to answer nature's call.
I was stumbling around in a beautiful haze
When I met a little cat in black P.J.'s,
Rifle, ammo-belt, B.F. Goodrich sandals.
He looked up at me and said,
"Whatsa' matta wit-choo, baby?"
He said, "We're campin' down the pass
And smelled you people blowin' grass,
And since by the smell you're smokin' trash
I brought you a taste of a special stash
Straight from Uncle Ho's victory garden.
We call it Hanoi gold."
So his squad and my squad settled down
And passed some lovely stuff around.
All too soon it was time to go.
The captain got on the radio. . .
"Hello, headquarters. We have met the enemy
And they have been smashed!"
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The Who song is a different song from TS. The Who song is from "Tommy"
Manifestor_of_Light
Oct 2014
#230
I am not saying that they would be The Who without any one of them.
Manifestor_of_Light
Oct 2014
#249
to keep the variety going - The Who Won't Get Fooled Again. Neil Young - Rockin in the Free World
NRaleighLiberal
Oct 2014
#3
Well you can tell how old I am- This is the last one, I promise War by Edwin Starr
TexasProgresive
Oct 2014
#49
love this song - too bad Americans aren't familiar with this - the original version
rurallib
Oct 2014
#77
That entire Amused to Death cd is really good. That is a song too many people never
brewens
Oct 2014
#59
Yeah. That might be the best on it. "Bravery" is the most Floyd like I'd say. n/t
brewens
Oct 2014
#352
Aaah too bad - Here's a live version on YouTube- the lyrics are a bit more clear on the
NBachers
Oct 2014
#202
A powerful, powerful song I love from Elvis- "If I Can Dream." Listen over and over . . .
NBachers
Oct 2014
#246
I was planning not to go. But the Wednesday before, I was with friends and we just impetuously...
immoderate
Oct 2014
#265
Woah! No. That's Tim Robbins on a clip from "Bob Roberts". As a matter of fact,
Guy Whitey Corngood
Oct 2014
#124
Ah, that makes sense. I mean he looked younger but you'd be able to tell it's him.
Guy Whitey Corngood
Oct 2014
#138
No please. It's perfectly understandable. I checked. Netflix doesn't stream it and apparently aren't
Guy Whitey Corngood
Oct 2014
#162
The '80s was the second wave of great "cause" songs. Here's a smattering.
Ampersand Unicode
Oct 2014
#109
incredible song - it is on the soundtrack to Babel - an equally incredible movie.
NRaleighLiberal
Oct 2014
#268
Bobbie Darin -Simple Song of Freedom and Hot Tuna -Uncle Sam Blues. nt
Old and In the Way
Oct 2014
#122
I haven't figured how to copy paste from my new Kindle, lol, but will tomorrow
catbyte
Oct 2014
#163
Here's one I didn't see in reading the thread--Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
pinboy3niner
Oct 2014
#367