Introduction

Table of Contents:

• God Bless Our Boys in Korea
• Goodbye Maria, I'm Off to Korea
• Say a Prayer for the Boys in Korea
• J.B. Lenoir Tunes (African-American perspective)

J.B. Lenoir Tunes

Blues guitarist and singer-songwriter J.B. Lenoir was born on March 5, 1929.  His song "Korea Blues" was licensed to and released by Chess Record label in the 1950s.  It was performed by "J.B. and his Bayou Boys", a band consisting of J.B. Lenoir; pianist Sunnyland Slim; guitarist Leroy Foster; and drummer Alfred Wallace.  The song "Eisenhower Blues" was recorded by the Parrot Recording Company, but Parrot made Lenoir re-record the controversial song under the title, "Tax-Paying Blues."  Lenoir died on april 29, 1967 in Urbana, Illinois, from injuries received in an automobile accident a few weeks earlier.  Thanks to KWE viewer Adam Assad for pointing out these two songs.

Korea Blues

Lord I got my questionnaire, Uncle Sam's gonna send me away from here.
Lord I got my questionnaire, Uncle Sam's gonna send me away from here.
He said J. B. you know that I need you, Lord I need you in South Korea.

Sweetheart please don't you worry, I just begin to fly in the air.
Sweetheart please don't you worry, I just begin to fly in the air.
Now the Chinese shoot me mdown, Lord I'll be in Korea somewhere.

I just sittin' here wonderin', who you gonna let lay down in my bed.
I just sittin' here wonderin', who you gonna let lay down in my bed.
What hurt me so bad, think about some man has gone in your bed.

Eisenhower Blues
 

Hey everybody, I was talkin' to you.
I ain't tellin' you jivin', this is the natural truth.
Mm mm mm, I got them Eisenhower blues.
Thinkin' about me and you, what on earth are we gonna do?

My money's gone, my fun is gone.
The way things look, how can I be here long?
Mm mm mm, I got them Eisenhower blues.
Thinkin' about me and you, what on earth are we gonna do?

Taken all my money, to pay the tax.
I'm only givin' you people, the natural facts.
I only tellin' you people, my belief.
Because I am headed straight, on relief.
Mm mm mm, I got them Eisenhower blues
Thinkin' about me and you, what on earth are we gonna do?

Ain't go a dime, ain't even got a cent.
I don't even have no money, to pay my rent.
My baby needs some clothes, she needs some shoes.
Peoples I don't know what, I'm gonna do.
Mm mm mm, I got them Eisenhower blues.
Thinkin' about me and you, what on earth are we gonna do?