☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Vietnam' by Jimmy Cliff is an anti-war message and a call for peace.
- The song tells the story of a soldier who optimistically plans to come home soon.
- Despite the optimism, the soldier's tragic fate is revealed when his mother receives the news of his death.
- This shows the brutal and unpredictable realities of war and the deep impact on the families of soldiers.
- Although the song specifically focuses on the Vietnam War, its message is universal and addresses the suffering and tragedy caused by wars in general.
Interpretation
The lyrics to 'Vietnam' by
Jimmy Cliff document the war experiences of soldiers and their families during the Vietnam War. The main message of the song is an anti-war message and a call for peace, as can be seen in the line 'Somebody please stop that war now!'
The song begins with the mention of a letter that the singer receives from a friend who is fighting in Vietnam. The friend is optimistic and plans to come home soon, as shown in the lines 'Tell all my friends that I'll be coming home soon / My time'll be up some time in June'. He also requests that his beloved Mary be informed of his imminent return.
But the optimism is short-lived, as in the next verse, the friend's mother receives a telegram stating that her son has died, as can be read in the lines 'But mistress Brown your son is dead'. This shows the brutal and unpredictable realities of war and the deep impact on the families of soldiers.
The song ends with a repeated call for peace and an end to the war, underscoring the anti-war message of the song. Despite the specific reference to the Vietnam War, the song is universal and addresses the tragedy and suffering that wars cause in general.