Wish You Were Here, Buddy-Pat Boone

Not everyone in '66 was against the Vietnam War. Good ol' Pat Boone, who homogenized rock 'n' roll so that white folks in America would accept it, was as gung ho as John Wayne when he put out this album dedicated to American servicemen in Vietnam and their families. Unfortunately, he chose to not just support the troops but also to attack the ant-war activists and protesters (even Muhammad Ali) in the US. It was a more conservative time. But over the next few years, more and more people from all walks of life would turn against the undeclared war--including a fast-growing number of Vietnam vets themselves--and Boone's vicious attacks here would leave him out of touch and out of favor with any groups other than hardcore Christians.

Lyrics:

Well, hi there, buddy
Thought I'd drop you a line
I haven't seen you
For a hundred years

When you get time
Will you let me know
If it's true what a fella hears

Heard you been leading
Those campus demonstrations
You're as busy as you can be
If the sit downs, walk outs
And others aggravate you
Bet you hardly ever think of me

Well, I'm on a little
Vacation in South Vietnam
An expense paid trip for one
I got my own little rifle
And a great uniform
And a job that must be done

Well, we're sleeping in the jungle
And ducking real bullets
And man, it's a lot of fun
Wish you were here
(Wish you were here)
Wish you were here
(Wish you were here)

I heard you let your hair grow
Til it's hanging on your shoulders
And you hardly have time to shave
Bet the girls all flip
Cause you look so fine like
Something crawled out of a cave

Heard Uncle Sam
Nearly scared you to death
But you fooled him just in time
Just struck a little match
To your old draft card
And you burned up
A future like mine

Well, I'm on a little
Vacation in South Vietnam
An expense paid trip for one
I got my own little rifle
And a great uniform
And a job that must be done

Well, we're sleeping in the jungle
And ducking real bullets
And man, it's a lot of fun
Wish you were here
(Wish you were here)
Wish you were here
(Wish you were here)

Oh, I know you're not scared
You're a real brave guy
You're a regular Cassius Clay
And I know you'da fought
When the country was young
But the world's just different today

Well, you just stay home
And leave the fighting to us
And when the whole
Durn mess is through
I'll put away my rifle
And the old uniform
And I'll come looking for you

Well, we're sleeping in the jungle
And ducking real bullets
And man, it's a lot of fun
Wish you were here
(Wish you were here)
Wish you were here
(Wish you were here)

Wish you were here, old pal
(Wish you were here)
Wish you were here
(Wish you were here)
Wish you were here, little buddy
(Wish you were here)

I wanna introduce
You to them Comms
(Wish you were here)
Come on over and we'll just
Hold em til you get here, okay
Wish you were here