After time in the Army Reserves, Paxton moved to New York City where he frequented the city's Greenwich Village coffeehouse circuit. His early success in Greenwich Village coffeehouses led to an ever-increasing circle of work. He made his professional debut at the Gaslight, the renowned folk haunt that also issued the singer's first album. In 1962 Gaslight Records would press 2,000 copies of his debut album, I'm The Man Who Built The Bridges.
Paxton also auditioned to join the Chad Mitchell Trio, but although he failed, the group enjoyed a 1963 hit with "The Marvelous Toy," one of Paxton's early songs. Paxton performed at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival, a performance that would be recorded-and released-by Vanguard Records. Paxton would go on to record a second album with Vanguard-at the Newport Folk Festival the following year - but his association with that record company lapsed, and it would not be until the year 2000 that Vanguard once again released a Tom Paxton album, Tom Paxton: Best of the Vanguard Years. In 1964 Paxton was signed to Elektra Records for whom he recorded his best-known work. Then in 1965 he made his first tour of the United Kingdom - the beginning of a still-thriving professional relationship that has included at least one tour in each of the succeeding years.
He and his wife Midge have been married since 1963 and have two daughters, Jennifer and Kate. All three women have served as inspiration for many of Paxton's songs. He now has three grandsons, Christopher, Sean, and Peter.
In addition to songwriting, Tom Paxton has written many critically acclaimed children's books, some of which were inspired by his songs for children.
He has performed thousands of concerts around the world in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada. Paxton enjoys a strong relationship with fans throughout the world. His songs have experienced enduring appeal, including modern standards such as "The Last Thing on My Mind" (perhaps Paxton's best-known song, it has been recorded by dozens of artists, including Judy Collins, Sandy Denny, Dolly Parton, and Porter Wagoner), "Ramblin' Boy", "Bottle of Wine", "Whose Garden Was This", "The Marvelous Toy", and "The Hostage" (which recounts the 1971 uprising at Attica State Prison).
In February 2002, Tom Paxton was honored with the ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award in Folk Music. A few days later, he received three Wammies (Washington, DC, Area Music Awards); as Best Male Vocalist in the "traditional folk" and "children's music" categories, and for Best Traditional Folk Recording of the Year for Under American Skies (the duo album he made with Anne Hills in 2001). This was the first Paxton album to receive an award of any kind.
Paxton has been nominated four times for Grammy Awards in his career, all since 2002.
In 2004, the Martin Guitar Company introduced the HD-40LSH Tom Paxton Signature Edition acoustic guitar in his honor.
In 2005, Paxton received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting at BBC Radio 2's Folk Awards at London's Brewery Arts Centre.
In 2006, Paxton received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance.
On January 22, 2007, Paxton was honored with an official UK Parliamentary tribute at the British House of Commons at the start of his 2007 United Kingdom tour.
On May 3, 2008, Paxton was honored with a special lifetime tribute from the World Folk Music Association, and a concert was held at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus, in Alexandria, Virginia.
Talking Vietnam Potluck Blues
Tom Paxton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Ahhh...
Let's do that again
Do you believe that?"
Well, when I landed in Vietnam
I hardly got to see Saigon
They shaped us up and called the roll
Swappin' lies, swattin' flies,
Firin' the odd shot here and there
The Captain called a halt that night
And we had chow by the pale moon light
A lovely dinner they'd planned for us
With a taste like a seat on a crosstown bus
Some of the veterans just left theirs layin' in the can
For the Viet Cong to find
Deadlier than a land mine
Hmmmm...
Naturally somebody told a joke
And a couple of the fellows began to smoke
I took a whiff as the a cloud rolled by
And my nose went up like an infield fly
The Captain, this blonde fellow from Yale looked at
me and said "What's a matter wit chu, baby?" (ghetto dialect)
Well I may be crazy, but I think not;
I swear to God that I smell pot!
But who'd have pot in Vietnam?
He said, "Whaddaya think you been sittin' on?"
These funny little plants...
Thousands of 'em.
Good God Almighty!
Pastures of plenty!
So we all lit up and by and by
The whole platoon was flyin' high
With a beautiful smile on the Captain's face
He smelled like midnight on St. Mark's Place
Cleanin' his weapon,
Chantin' sumpin' about Hari Krishna, Hari Krishna
The moment came,
As it comes to all
When I had to answer nature's call
I was stumbing around in a beautiful haze
When I met a little cat in black pj's
Rifle; ammo belt; BF Goodrich sandals
He looked up at me and said "What's a matter wit chu, baby?"
(sounding just like the Captain had)
He said we're campin' down the pass
And smelled you people blowin' grass
And since, by the smell, you're smoking trash
I brought you a taste of a special stash
Straight from Uncle Ho's victory garden
We call it Hanoi Gold.
So his squad and my squad settled down
Passin' lovely stuff around
All too soon it was time to go
The Captain got on the radio
Said "Hello headquarters?, Helloo, ahh, Headquarters??
We have met the enemy and he has been smashed!"
The opening lyrics of the song "Talking Vietnam Potluck Blues" by Tom Paxton take the listener on a journey of war and reveal a humorous side amidst the seriousness. In the first few lines of the song, Paxton describes his experience of being sent to Vietnam, highlighting that he hardly got to see Saigon before being taken to patrol. The song progresses to describe how the unit stopped for dinner by the pale moonlight, and the culinary experience was less than desirable. The description of the food makes it sound inedible, with a taste like a seat on a crosstown bus, leading some veterans to leave theirs in the can for the Viet Cong to find.
The humorous and light-hearted tone of the song continues as someone tells a joke, and a couple of fellows light up a joint. Paxton then describes how he comes to realize the source of the beautiful smell he had picked up earlier was marijuana, and he joins in. All in a haze, as he puts it. Paxton even encounters a Vietnamese person who offers him a taste of a special stash called "Hanoi Gold" in a moment of peace amidst war. Despite the humorous side to the lyrics, what is evident throughout is the reality of the situation, Paxton's observations of it in the moment and his commentary on the effect of war on those involved, whether they be Vietnamese or American.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, when I landed in Vietnam I hardly got to see Saigon
Upon arrival in Vietnam, the singer did not get a chance to see Saigon.
They shaped us up and called the roll and off we went on a long patrol
After assembly, the troop left on a long patrol.
Swappin' lies, swattin' flies, Firin' the odd shot here and there
During the patrol, they talked, battled with insects, and occasionally fired shots.
A lovely dinner they'd planned for us,With a taste like a seat on a crosstown bus
The dinner arranged for them was terrible, tasted like public transportation seats.
Some of the veterans just left theirs layin' in the can,For the Viet Cong to find,Deadlier than a land mine
Veterans left the can behind where the enemy would find it, which would be more dangerous than a mine.
Naturally somebody told a joke,And a couple of the fellows began to smoke,I took a whiff as the a cloud rolled by,And my nose went up like an infield fly
Someone told a joke and people started smoking. When the singer took a puff, the smell made him react sharply.
Well I may be crazy, but I think not;I swear to God that I smell pot!But who'd have pot in Vietnam?He said, 'Whaddaya think you been sittin' on?
The singer senses that there is marijuana in Vietnam, but wonders where it comes from. The blond Yale captain shows him the funny-looking plants that are all over the place.
So we all lit up and by and by,The whole platoon was flyin' high
Everyone smoked and became high.
Rifle; ammo belt; BF Goodrich sandals,He looked up at me and said 'What's a matter wit chu, baby?'
They met a Viet Cong soldier who dared to ask them about their condition.
He said we're campin' down the pass,And smelled you people blowin' grass
He tells them they're camping nearby and that he can smell the smoke from their stash.
And since, by the smell, you're smoking trash,I brought you a taste of a special stash,Straight from Uncle Ho's victory garden,We call it Hanoi Gold.
Since the Americans were smoking bad quality weed, the soldier kindly offered them a better strain from Uncle Ho's victory garden.
So his squad and my squad settled down,Passin' lovely stuff around
The two groups shared the superior weed and relaxed together.
The Captain got on the radio,Said 'Hello headquarters?, Helloo, ahh, Headquarters?? We have met the enemy and he has been smashed!
Jokingly, the Captain informs headquarters that the enemy has been defeated (but it was merely the power of marijuana).
Contributed by Logan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@british.scorpion
I haven't heard this for over 50 years, thanks for the reminder👍
@LJthaguy
My teacher showed me this and it took so long to find I'm glad to see it
@wmnoe
my father had the album the original is on, and I grew up loving this song. I miss my dad....
@ChrisJKing-se4dp
saw him live in 1970 in england he did this and all his best songs one the best live acts i'v ever seen Tom was a big influence on me as a teenager and inspired me to write songs so thanks for that Tom
@niddufaisan
I saw him performing many times in the UK - always a joy!
@drumscholar42
A favorite. Also love Forest Lawn.
@johnevans388
Saw him do this live in Southampton back around 1969.
@BluntforceJ
This man is a fucking legend and it took me 37 years to find him?!?!?
@tuckergary1516
me too still laughing
@tuckergary1516
potluck blues 20 years still funny.