Music Monday oriented Memorial Day: Vietnam vets likely remember singing “We’ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place”
Posted By RichC on May 30, 2022
This Memorial Day reflection is a bit different than previous posts. Instead of an overall encompassing remembrance on all those who died in armed service to our country, it is a combined Music Monday twist that is a little more narrowly focused on those who fought and died in the Vietnam War (1955-1975).
At the peak of US involvement and fighting, those serving (most conscripted) thought of one thing: “We’ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place” … a sentiment … but also a song recorded by The Animals in 1965. No doubt those who made it home and lost friends will remember them and hopefully at the time remember down time singing along when this song was played.
No one saw this coming. Not the writers of the song — the dynamic Brill Building duo of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil; not the group who recorded it — The Animals and their iconic lead singer, Eric Burdon; not the 3 million soldiers who fought in Vietnam who placed extra importance on the lyrics. But the fact is that We Gotta Get Out of This Place is regarded by most Vietnam vets as our We Shall Overcome, says Bobbie Keith, an Armed Forces Radio DJ in Vietnam from 1967-69. Or as Leroy Tecube, an Apache infantryman stationed south of Chu Lai in 1968, recalls: “When the chorus began, singing ability didn’t matter; drunk or sober, everyone joined in as loud as he could.” – LINK
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