What's Going On?

An Incomplete List of Songs About Vietnam

Compiled by Phil Nel

       Though not all of these songs mention Vietnam by name, most of them do. Those which do not specifically say "Vietnam," do address war either directly ("Give Peace a Chance," "War") or indirectly ("The Story of Isaac"). Despite the attempt at inclusiveness, I know that some songs have been left out -- please accept my apologies if I have omitted a favorite of yours. If the song title is hyperlinked, clicking on it will send you to that song's lyrics.


"Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" PETER, PAUL & MARY (1962)

"Masters of War" BOB DYLAN (1963)

"Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues" BOB DYLAN (1963; commercial release, 1991)

"Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" PETE SEEGER (1963)

"The Times They Are A-Changin'" BOB DYLAN (1964)

"MLF Lullaby" and "Send the Marines" from TOM LEHRER's That Was The Year That Was (1965)

"Eve of Destruction" BARRY McGUIRE (1965)

"I-Feel-Like-I'm-a-Fixin'-to-Die Rag" COUNTRY JOE & THE FISH (1965)

"Draft Dodger Rag" PHIL OCHS (1965)

"I Ain't Marching Anymore" PHIL OCHS (1965)

"Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation" TOM PAXTON (1965)

"Viet Nam Blues" DAVE DUDLEY (1965)

"I Told Them What You're Fighting For" MAYBELLE CARTER (1966)

"Ballad of the Green Berets" STAFF SERGEANT BARRY SADLER (1966)

"Ballad of the Fort Hood Three" PETE SEEGER (1966)

"Bring 'Em Home" PETE SEEGER (1966)

"7 O'Clock News/Silent Night" SIMON & GARFUNKEL (1966)

"Alice's Restaurant" ARLO GUTHRIE (1967)

"The Story of Isaac" LEONARD COHEN (1967)

"For What It's Worth" THE BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD (1967)

"Sky Pilot" ERIC BURDON & THE ANIMALS (1968)

"The Unknown Soldier" THE DOORS (1968)

"War Is Over" PHIL OCHS (1968)

"Talking Vietnam Pot Luck Blues" TOM PAXTON (1968)

"Fortunate Son" CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL (1969)

"Okie from Muskogee" MERLE HAGGARD (1969)

"Give Peace a Chance" JOHN LENNON (1969)

"The Fiddle and the Drum" JONI MITCHELL (1969)

"Run Through the Jungle" CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL (1970)

"Ohio" CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (1970)

"War" EDWIN STARR (1970)

"Stop the War Now" EDWIN STARR (1970)

"Ball of Confusion" THE TEMPTATIONS (1970)

"What's Going On?" MARVIN GAYE (1971)

"Bring the Boys Home" FREDA PAYNE (1971)

"Sam Stone" JOHN PRINE (1971)

"Still in Saigon" THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND (1981)

"Goodnight Saigon" BILLY JOEL (1981)

"Born in the USA" BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (1984)

"19" PAUL HARDCASTLE (1985)

"The Big Parade" 10,000 MANIACS (1989)

"There's a Wall in Washington" IRIS DeMENT (1996)

Recommended Reading: "Songs" in The Vietnam War in American Stories, Songs, and Poems, edited by H. Bruce Franklin (Bedford-St. Martin's, 1996): 201-218.


Last updated on 20 April 2000 by Phil Nel

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