Dave Dudley is best-known for his trucker songs including "Six Days on the Road" and "Truck Drivin' Son-of-a-Gun". His duet with Tom T. Hall called "Day Drinking" demonstrated that he was not limited to trucking songs. He is one of the best-known singers of the truck-driving era in country music and was one of the icons in this category.
Dave was born in 1928 in Spencer, Wisconsin. He had a short career as a semi-professional baseball player. After he suffered an arm injury he was no longer able to play baseball. He then decided to pursue a career in country music. He was one of the earliest artists to record for National Recording Corporation on the NRC label.
He first appeared on the Country charts in 1961 with the song "Maybe I Do," released by Vee Records. He later moved to Golden Wing Records. Two years later, in 1963, the label released the single "Six Days on the Road". In 1963, Dudley moved on to Mercury records. Dave Dudley continued to have success into the 1970s. He continued to record for Mercury Records.
In the 1980s, Dave Dudley continued to record, but not as much as he once had. He remained popular in concert. In total, Dudley recorded more than 70 albums. However, he did not manage to reclaim his past success, and neither his single "Where's that Truck?", recorded with DJ Charlie Douglas, nor the track "Dave Dudley, American Trucker", recorded in 2002 in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, helped revive his career.
Dudley died on December 22, 2003 after suffering a heart attack at his home in Wisconsin.
Vietnam Blues
Dave Dudley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In that crazy place called Washington DC
I saw a crowd of people on the White House lawn all carrying signes about VietNam
So I went over to see what was goin' on
It was a strange looking bunch but then I never could understand some people
Oh a fellow came to me with a list in his hand he said we're gatherin' names to send
The telegram of sympathy then he handed me a pen
I said I reckon this is goin' to kids and wives
He said ah ah buddy this is goin' to Ho-Chi-Min
I said Ho-Chi who he said Ho-Chi-Min people's leader North VietNam
Oh I wasn't really sure I was hearin' him right
I though I'd better move before I got in a fight
Cause my ears were hurtin' and my ball started hit my lick
Then I thought of another telegram that I've just read
Tellin' my buddy's wife that her husband was dead
It wasn't too long till I was feelin' downright sick
Another held the sign that said we won't fight
I thought to myself boy ain't that right
To leave a lot of our soldiers die instead
I said it's a shame that every man who ever died up there that far off land
Was dyin' for that you wouldn't have to wake up dead
Course he looked at me like I was kinda crazy just another warmonger
Oh I left that place and I went downtown and hit first bar that I'd found
To cool myself off and pacify my brain
You see I was on orders to VietNam little old place just north to Saigon
Had about an hour to catch myself a plane
So all I mean to say is I don't like dyin' either but man I ain't gonna crawl
Dave Dudley’s song “Vietnam Blues” tells the story of a soldier who is out on leave, wandering around Washington DC and stumbles upon a crowd of people on the White House lawn carrying signs about Vietnam. He is approached by a man who claims to be gathering names to send a telegram of sympathy, but when the soldier asks who the telegram will be sent to, he is told it will be sent to Ho-Chi-Min, the People's leader of North Vietnam. The soldier is initially confused and taken aback, but he soon realizes the gravity of the situation and becomes sickened by the thought of the telegram being sent to the enemy. He then heads to a bar to cool off before catching a plane back to Vietnam.
The song is a commentary on the confusion and disillusionment that many soldiers felt during the Vietnam War. The soldier is caught between two worlds – the world of the anti-war protesters back home and the world of the war-zone he is about to return to. He sees the protesters’ signs and slogans and is briefly tempted to join them, but ultimately realizes that he has a job to do and that his duty is to fight for his country, even if it means dying on a far-off battlefield.
Overall, “Vietnam Blues” is a poignant and thought-provoking song that captures the confusion and sorrow of an entire generation of soldiers who were forced to fight and die in a controversial and misunderstood war.
Line by Line Meaning
I was out on the leave at the time just duckin' the fog nosin' around like a hungry dog
While I was on leave in Washington DC, I was exploring and looking around curiously.
I saw a crowd of people on the White House lawn all carrying signes about VietNam
I noticed a group of protestors, carrying signs about the Vietnam War, gathered on the lawn of the White House.
So I went over to see what was goin' on
I approached the group to find out what they were protesting about.
It was a strange looking bunch but then I never could understand some people
Although some of the protestors looked peculiar, I couldn't judge them as everyone has their own opinion.
Oh a fellow came to me with a list in his hand he said we're gatherin' names to send
The telegram of sympathy then he handed me a pen
A man handed me a list to sign, which was addressed to Ho Chi Minh, the leader of North Vietnam, to express sympathy.
I said I reckon this is goin' to kids and wives
My friends over there who're givin' their lives
He said ah ah buddy this is goin' to Ho-Chi-Min
I assumed the telegram was intended for the families of American soldiers, but the man corrected me, saying it was for Ho Chi Minh instead.
I said Ho-Chi who he said Ho-Chi-Min people's leader North VietNam
I asked the man who Ho Chi Minh was, and he explained that he was the leader of North Vietnam.
Oh I wasn't really sure I was hearin' him right
I though I'd better move before I got in a fight
Cause my ears were hurtin' and my ball started hit my lick
I wasn't sure if I heard him correctly, and I didn't want any conflict, so I decided to leave as my head was aching.
Then I thought of another telegram that I've just read
Tellin' my buddy's wife that her husband was dead
It wasn't too long till I was feelin' downright sick
The thought of the telegram I had received about my friend's death made me feel very sick and depressed.
Another held the sign that said we won't fight
I thought to myself boy ain't that right
To leave a lot of our soldiers die instead
I saw another protestor holding a sign that read 'We Won't Fight', and I thought to myself that it was a shame to see so many American soldiers die instead of fighting for their country.
I said it's a shame that every man who ever died up there that far off land
Was dyin' for that you wouldn't have to wake up dead
Course he looked at me like I was kinda crazy just another warmonger
I expressed my opinion that the soldiers died overseas for the sake of people who would not have to face death themselves. However, the protestor looked at me as if I was crazy and labeled me as a warmonger.
Oh I left that place and I went downtown and hit first bar that I'd found
To cool myself off and pacify my brain
I left the protest and went to a bar to relax and calm my mind.
You see I was on orders to VietNam little old place just north to Saigon
Had about an hour to catch myself a plane
I was in Washington DC awaiting my flight to Vietnam, specifically a small place just north of Saigon, as per my orders.
So all I mean to say is I don't like dyin' either but man I ain't gonna crawl
In conclusion, I don't want to die either, but I won't give up easily.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KRISTOFFER KRISTOFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lonmcq7317
My Dad is a Vietnam Vet...Very proud of him, and all of you other Vets as well...Thank You!!!
@lewiemcneely9143
Thanks yourself.
@LuckyShitZu
Thanks! My dad was as well-James Connor, 329th TC Heavy Boats
@davidmccright3828
He was my uncle. An interesting thing about him is that after his career slowed down in the U.S. he was discovered in Germany when a German country band named a song after him. Ich moechte so gern Dave Dudley zu hern, more or less. Translated, "I really want to hear Dave Dudley." So there at the end, he got to enjoy a little more success, and he made some trips to Germany, performing and doing talk shows. He once said that he really enjoyed easy listening music.
@DanaPatriot
How are you related to him, David? He was my uncle for a time - married my Aunt Karen. They recorded a couple songs together. She recorded as Karen O'Donnal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCK-L-djkzI
@jasonlangpaap9607
I love your uncle's music and style God bless him
@wwilcox2726
👍👍
@hajosapper2640
He was a fantastic singer with a unique voice and a real gentle man. I saw him some times on Stage in Berlin and was a fan long years before the song of the German band named Truckstop. We met after the shows and had the opportunity to talk some moments. I love to remember this and there is still no day without his music!😊
@auto_5
My dad says he got steel guitar lessons from him in MN In the late 50’s…
@getbent88
Great sentiment, Dave. I'm tired of apologizing for what I believe in. It's time for real change!