Questions

What is the feeling of the song?

Do you think the song would have changed people’s opinions in the 60’s? Would it change people’s opinions now?

Why do you think he made the song sound so bouncy, maybe even a little upbeat when he was talking about something so sad?

What instruments stand out to you in the song?

Why do you think he was so focused on Vietnam and not the other wars that have happened in the past?

Do you think this song can still be applied to what is going on today?

The song-Vietnam

One very key phrase that I found is Vietnam. He repeats it often especially in the chorus. I think that the point of him repeating it is for us to really understand where this song is about, I don’t think he wants people to interpret that part he wants people to get exactly what he is talking about.

Another thing that is really prevalent in the song is that fact that he gets two letters, one from his friend telling him that he is coming home and one telling him that his best friend is dead.

Another thing that I think is really important he only says once. Right in the middle of the song he says “somebody please stop that war now!” I think that that is exactly what the entire song is about, look at what the war has done to my friend and his family, why wont you just stop that war? I think that that is the essence of the song.
Watch Vietnam on Youtube

Lyrics

Hey

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam.

Yesterday I got a letter

from my friend

fighting in Vietnam

and this is what he had to say:

'tell all my friends

that I'll be coming home soon

my time 'll be up some time in june.

Don't forget' he said

'to tell

my sweet Mary

her golden lips as sweet as cherries'.

And it came from:

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam!

It was just the next day

his mother got a Telegram

it was addressed from Vietnam.

Now mistress Brown she lives in the U.S.A

and this is

what she wrote and said:

'Don't be alarmed'

she told me the telegram said

'but mistress Brown

your son is dead!'

and it came from:

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam!

Somebody please stop that war now!

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam! 

Assignment

About this site

Your assignment is to create a webpage or blog for your artist and interpret the lyrics of your assigned song. Build a webpage with the following:

Page 1: The Artist:

WHO is your artist?

WHEN did your artist live?

WHERE did your artist live?

WHAT is/was his/her instrument? 

WHAT was special about his/her music?

HOW did your artist influence the music of his/her time?

WHO influenced your artist?

OTHER fun or interesting facts? 

ADD an image or two.

Page 2: The Song:

•              When was it written?

•              What specific issues does it address, if any?

•              What part does the music itself (apart from the lyrics) play?

•              What instruments are used?

•              Was this an American artist or foreign?

•              How does this affect the meaning of the song?

•              What impact do you think this song has on Americans?

•              Questions for each individual song have been included to help you begin to interpret your song.

¨              ADD ONE LISTENING Example or a YouTube link of your assigned song

¨              ADD the lyrics on your webpage

Page 3:

ADD SIX questions for your classmates to answer.

Be creative and have fun!!

The Artist

Jimmy Cliff, born James Chambers in 1948, is a reggae singer and musician. He showed his love for music at an early age when he would perform in local fairs and festivals. He moved to Kingston in 1962 to continue his education and entered lots of contests and caught the eye of Leslie Kong.

He was 14 when his first big hit Hurricane Hattie came out. After producing a string of other hit songs he moved to England and signed with Island Records. He released Wonderful World, Beautiful People, in 1970. It contained the song Vietnam, which received praise from Bob Dylan.

He also had a brief stint with acting in a movie called The Harder They Come. His album, which was titled the same as his movie, was one if the best selling reggae albums of all times and really rocketed him into the world of bestsellers. He is considered to be one of the main artists who influenced Bob Marley and was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 2010.