Former members of The Hague beat band The Hurricanes, Rink Groenveld and Peter Kok formed their duo in 1967, initially under the moniker Popshop. In 1969 they renamed themselves Greenfield & Cook: half-serious, literal translations of their Dutch family names into English.
Greenfield & Cook had a string of six Top 20 hits in The Netherlands, including 'Only Lies' (#4 in 1971), 'Don't Turn Me Loose' (#6 in 1972) and 'Easy Boy' (#8 in 1973). They released two full-length LPs: Greenfield & Cook (1972) and Second Album (1973).
They enjoyed some minor success abroad, in Germany and Spain primarily (they recorded Spanish-language versions of some of their singles), and wrote film scores for two Italian movies, 'La Signora è Stata Violentata' and 'Quattro dell'Apocalisse'.
Both Groenveld and Kok embarked on solo careers in 1974, holding on to their 'English' second names: Rink Greenfield and Peter Cook. Their solo activities marked the end of Greenfield & Cook as a duo.
We Want You
Greenfield & Cook Lyrics
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Join the army this very day
Big posters are roaring
This slogan from the walls
Of the city amusement halls
For once and for all
Now you're starting your career
Miles and miles away from here
In a country you've never been before
You are lost in an endless war
But Uncle Sam wants more
We want you
And then you're down and out my friend
All your dreams have come to an end
And in silence you will rest my son
Your illusions are dead
Who was it that once said
We want you
Greenfield & Cook's song "We Want You" is a satire of the US Draft during the Vietnam War. The opening lines of "Spread your wings and fly away, Join the army this very day" are juxtaposed with the later lines "And then you're down and out my friend, All your dreams have come to an end" to demonstrate how the promise of adventure and glory can lead to tragedy and disappointment. The repeated refrain "We want you" further emphasizes the government's predatory recruitment of young, innocent men.
The song also pokes fun at the propaganda used to recruit soldiers. The "big posters" and "slogan from the walls" and "city amusement halls" are all references to the recruitment campaigns of the time. The line "in a country you've never been before, you are lost in an endless war" highlights the confusion and fear experienced by soldiers who were often sent to fight in unfamiliar territories.
Line by Line Meaning
Spread your wings and fly away
Take a chance and join the army, leave behind the life you know
Join the army this very day
Enlist in the military immediately, serve your country
Big posters are roaring
Large advertisements are shouting this recruitment message
This slogan from the walls
The phrase is plastered all around
Of the city amusement halls
On the walls of buildings like movie theaters and bowling alleys
For once and for all
This is a final decision, a life-changing commitment
We want you
The military desires your service and participation
Now you're starting your career
You are embarking on a new path, a military career
Miles and miles away from here
Far from home, in a foreign land
In a country you've never been before
You find yourself in an unfamiliar nation
You are lost in an endless war
Fighting in a prolonged conflict feels like an insurmountable struggle
But Uncle Sam wants more
However, the military asks for continued dedication and effort
And then you're down and out my friend
At some point, you may experience defeat or devastation
All your dreams have come to an end
Your aspirations and hopes may feel shattered
And in silence you will rest my son
Sadly, you may be laid to rest without fanfare or glory
Your illusions are dead
Any idealistic notions have been lost in the realities of war
Who was it that once said
A rhetorical question, pondering the architect of the recruitment campaign
We want you
Despite the challenges and sacrifices, the military continues to seek new enlistees
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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