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This is a cross-university blog project between the University of South Carolina - Upstate and Clemson University for the Fall 2007 semester.
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22 comments:
Tom Paxton – “My Son John” (1966)
My son, John, was a good boy, and good to me.
When we had hard times, well, he stood by me.
We were in work and out of work and on the go.
If he had complaints, I never heard of one.
He would pitch in and help me like a full grown man.
My son, John. John, my son.
My son, John, went to college and he made his way.
Had to earn every penny, but he paid his way.
He worked summers and holidays and through the year,
And it was no easy struggle that he won.
But he laughed at the ones who thought he had it hard.
My son, John. John, my son.
My son, John, got his uniform and went away.
With a band playing marches, he was sent away.
And he wrote me a letter, when he had the time.
He was loosing his buddies one by one.
And I prayed, and tried not to read between the lines.
My son, John. John, my son.
My son, John, came home yesterday; he's here to stay.
Not a word, to his father, have I heard him say.
He seems glad to be home, but I can't be sure.
When I ask him what he'd seen and done.
He went up to his bedroom, and he closed the door.
My son, John, John my son.
He went up to his bedroom, and he closed the door.
My son, John, John my son.
Throughout the reading of this song, I established a variety of feelings, thoughts, and ideas. This song to me I believe was constructed during the Vietnam War. I believe within this statement, based upon the language used during the time this essential event took place. I also strongly believe within the time period in which this music piece was constructed, because it caused reality to hit the homelands within our hearts. This time period within history formed a feeling of cherishment toward different types of relationships. Through the reading and singing of this song, it clearly shows the type of relationship the mother acquires with her son, John. Their relationship primarily remained strong, due to their efforts put forth in preserving it. The mother and John’s relationship contained the characteristics of loyalty. This particular story does a great job describing the change of events as they occur. John’s departure to the army formed a feeling of lament to me, due to his absences from his mother and their great relationship. Overall this song is great, because it tells a great informative story.
Michael Johnson. Section 033
Throughout the reading of this song, I established a variety of feelings, thoughts, and ideas. This song to me I believe was constructed during the Vietnam War. I believe within this statement, based upon the language used during the time this essential event took place. I also strongly believe within the time period in which this music piece was constructed, because it caused reality to hit the homelands within our hearts. This time period within history formed a feeling of cherishment toward different types of relationships. Through the reading and singing of this song, it clearly shows the type of relationship the mother acquires with her son, John. Their relationship primarily remained strong, due to their efforts put forth in preserving it. The mother and John’s relationship contained the characteristics of loyalty. This particular story does a great job describing the change of events as they occur. John’s departure to the army formed a feeling of lament to me, due to his absences from his mother and their great relationship. Overall this song is great, because it tells a great informative story.
Michael Johnson. Section 033
Ok so I guess first off I should introduce myself...I am Clint Walker, a freshman at USC Upstate, a Pre-Pharmacy major planning to transfer within the next few years to USC(Columbia) for pharmacy school...now for my reaction on the song
I really liked this song, there was such a strong bond between the mother and her son. He was a very loving and kind man before the war but yet when he came back he was not the same. I think this is pretty much the same thing that happened to many of the soliders who went to Vietnam. So many of them were young and impressionable that when they came back they had no idea what to think. Also the fact that many Americans hated the Vietnam vets didn't help either.
Also there are many vivid images
-images of loyalty: he stood
by,would help like a full
grown man
-images war: loosing his
buddies one by on
-images of the reaction to war:
When I'd ask him what he'd see
and done. He went up to his
bedroom, and he closed the door
To me this just shows the progression on how war changed John. Also the fact that the son's name was John was interesting simply becuase John is such a common name that it make the song even more relateable, which is kinda the point.
I really think that this song hit home and pulled at the heartstring of Americans during the 60's.
Clint Walker 30
I believe this song to have been written during the Vietnam War. To me, it is a very sad and depressing song because it is about a man who had a son who in his father’s eyes was nearly perfect. He was a great son who was always there for his father and he never complained about anything which is an amazing quality for a boy to have. It is a very noble and mature quality. This boy went to college and successfully got through all of his schooling. He seemed to have everything going for him. After returning from the war, he was a new person. He did not speak a word to his father, and this was very unlike him. This song explains the tragedy of war and the enormous impact it has on soldiers. Even if a soldier lives through the war, he will never have his true life back.
Megan Mileti 60
Hello there group,
I am BJ Wilson in Erin’s English 101 class at USC Upstate and I am in the world of undeclared.
I really liked the repetition of “My son, John. John, my son. My son, John…” It speaks volumes on how this person feels about their child, and you can see the pride in the words they use to describe him. You also see the pain this person is feeling due to the separation from their child, and the lack of a better understanding. Their son, who went away to war, is not the same person who stands before them now. The one who helped no matter what, the strong son, the one who didn’t care what others thought and laughed at others opinions on a “tough time” was dead. That person died when he was sent to war, now they have a son who is lost, confused and distant from what he used to be. The difference in their relationship as a family parallels with the difference of his fathers title for him. He called him “My son, John. John, my son. My son, John…” throughout the song till the very end, then he addresses him only as “My son, John, John my son.” I feel the father leaves out the last My son John, because he is uncertain as to who his son is anymore; the confident John, no one can bring me down John is gone and stands before him is this crippled child, who has been weakened by an unfortunate experience.
BJ Wilson 030
Hello group, my name is Jake and I’m a freshman at Clemson, originally from Oregon. My major is Chemical Engineering.
My first impression of this song, based on the fact that it is written by a man, is that this is a father talking about his son; although, it could just as easily be his mother. In either case, the message is the same; war leaves irreversible memories. It said that war changes boys into men; in this case it appears that, although war has changed this son, he is still the same basic person. Initially, the author never indicates that the son a talkative person. Everything in the poem leads the reader to believe that he bears his burdens without complaint, even to the point of laughing off what others consider difficult. The son in this song is also different than the typical draftee that most people think of when they think of Vietnam. This song was written in 1966, and the draft was not instated until 1970. Therefore, the son talked about in this song is a volunteer, one whose life bears a likeness to the author, Tom Paxton. Paxton also joined the army after he graduated college; he was, however, honorably discharged a year later. Nevertheless, it appears that this son faces his hardships the way he always has, with stoic silence.
Hey my name is Ashley and im a freshman at USC-Upstate. I feel that this song tells a true story of a mother and her child during the sixties. I agree with Michael in that this song had to be written in the time period of the Vietnam War because it does give the feeling of how it must have been for a mother to see her son leave to go fight in the war and come back. I feel the song also can be related to In Country, in that John is like Emmit who, really doesn't want to talk about the war when he came back. Over all i feel that this song represents a mother who is so proud of her son and who would support him no matter what.
Hey my name is Ashley and im a freshman at USC-Upstate. I feel that this song tells a true story of a mother and her child during the sixties. I agree with Michael in that this song had to be written in the time period of the Vietnam War because it does give the feeling of how it must have been for a mother to see her son leave to go fight in the war and come back. I feel the song also can be related to In Country, in that John is like Emmit who, really doesn't want to talk about the war when he came back. Over all i feel that this song represents a mother who is so proud of her son and who would support him no matter what.
I thought it was interesting how some people thought of it as being the mother who told the story, and others thought it was the father. As Jake says, either way it truly does not matter, I just found it interesting. I agree with nearly everyone in the group. We all seem to have the same basic thoughts about the song. However, I slightly disagree with Ashley’s comment of, “this song represents a mother who is so proud of her son and who would support him no matter what.” I do believe that the parent is proud of their son no matter what, but that is not what I see the song to mainly represent. I think the song is sending a message about how awful the war is and how much it changes innocent, loved people. The main message I see from this song is, war is bad and ruins lives of America’s children. The song may be stating that war is bad and ruins lives, but in reality there is no way to completely get rid of war. There are always going to have to be citizens to fight in the war. American’s should be willing to fight for their country and everyone is well aware of the consequences of it, thanks to history. Even though this song is part of our history and helps explain an important story, it seems like the parent is complaining that her son had to go to war and is no longer himself. But as Jake stated, it was this boys own choice to go to war and the family knew of the consequences.
Hello group! I'm Randy at USC Upstate, and I'm a freshman like the rest of you. Not much else to tell besides that. Oh, I'm doin the pharmacy major if that helps any.
This song is very reflective of the changes soliders went through while in Vietnam. I really like the way the song starts out saying that he was a good "boy". That was how it was for many of the soldiers, they left their families as boys that had no idea what they were getting themselves into with no way to get out of serving. Then when they came back they didn't want to talk about what had gone on while in the service. They came back as completely different people. They were no longer the young boys that were all smiles getting on the bus; now they were men who had suffered in way unimaginable. Even though their families wanted back their children and siblings; the pain they went through had changed them.
Hey group
So it is pretty clear we all agree that the song is reflecting on war and how it affects those involved. I loved Clints explanation of how those who went to Vietnam were said to be “ young and impressionable that when they came back they had no idea what to think.” I also found it funny that some ofus were thinking it was a mothers song for her son and others thought it was father. As I read the poem over the only part of the song itself that made me consider the narrator to be a mother was where whomever states “Not a word, to his father, have I heard him say.” That could swing either way, because the father could be speaking in third person, or it really could be a mothers song for her son. I also agree with Jakes opinion how maybe the son deals with life through silence. Almost mysterious in away, which fits because soldiers are mysterious, they hide their fear and true feelings and move on because that’s how they deal with life.
BJ Wilson 030
This song was very moving. When I first started to read it I was expecting at the end of the song that John would have been killed. When I realized that he had survived the war and came home, I had a sense of hope. The song was very moving and I thought, like many other people here, that the bond between the mother and son was very special. The mother seemed to be showing how her son had been this great man and how he always helped out and made an effort to put as little strain, financially and mentally, on his family. I pictured him as the son who would come home and tell his mother about his day and spend time with his family. I couldn't picture him as the kind of kid who would come home and just go to his room. It surprised me that he would do this after war but when I read that he had been losing his friends, I thought of how I would react. I would probably have been the same way and I would not want to talk about how my friends were killed. It's a very sad song however I liked knowing that he had survived although I suspect that a part of him wish he hadn't.
Throughout the reading of my fellow team member’s postes, I become very interest in the one posted by Client Walker. Client enabled me to interpret the poem from a different perspective. His post made me think more deeply upon the main character’s name, John. His reasoning made sense to me, enabling me to relate to him. Client did an excellence job comparing the events within this story to modern society. I liked how client walker related this song’s event to the Vietnam war. It produced a feeling within me of sorrow for the soldiers fighting for our country. This feeling was established within me, because I was given the impression we as American citizens don’t appreciate the service done by our American troops. Within post number 1, client and I agreed primarily upon everything. We both recognized the value of John and his mother’s relationship. We both also formed personal opinions upon the actions taken during this time of disagreement. During this time a majority of American citizens felt as if the war was purposeless and the government felt otherwise. Overall client’s post did broaden my perspective, giving me another tool to use to grasp the concept behind this great song produced in the 1970’s.
Michael Johnson Section 033
So I guess that it's my turn again. After reading what the other people in my group posted, I disagree with what BJ Wilson had to say about the song. I didn't consider the phrases "My son, John. John, my son." When you look back on the song though, you see that they are consistent until the end. This really shows how the love of the father, or mother, was unconditional. Even though the son had changed from that innocent boy to the displaced man, the love the parent had was unwavering. This song isn't about the change in the relationship between the parent and son. It is about the change the son underwent while he was separated from his family.
Hi again
First of all, I would like to say that I disagreed when BJ Wilson said that “John is gone and stands before him is this crippled child, who has been weakened by an unfortunate experience.” I believe this is an unfair explanation that makes it appear as though John is incapable of dealing with his own problems. On the other hand, I agree with the emphasis most people have placed on John’s relationship with his parent(s). Through the song you see John grow from a child into an adult who no longer needs to look to his parent(s) for guidance, yet still has respect. I am of the opinion that when the song states “When I ask him what he'd seen and done,” it is more an offer of council than a request for information. It becomes apparent when you read the lines, “He was losing his buddies one by one. And I prayed, and tried not to read between the lines,” that his parent(s) had a good idea what he was going through, possibly because of friends, families, or his/her personal involvement in a previous war.
Once again I think I strongly agree with what Jake had to say. Bottom line is this was a song about a boy who grew to be a fine young man and went off to war where he was devastated. However, as Grant said, he probably did wish he were dead. After going though something like that I would imagine it would be very difficult to ever live a normal life. He probably wished he had stayed home and never gone to war. But all in all, everyone agrees on the same thing and have the same basic concept of the song.
Throughout this experience I have learned essential information about my teammates within my group and their perspectives toward this time period. Personally, I have enjoyed the involvement of this activity. I have learned that during this time period music composers and producers made music for the people and their personal moods. Within my song, it was exemplified to me the importance of relationship and loyalty. Throughout this experience I gained the perspective upon the simplification of these main characters names such as John and his mom. Overall after the interpretation of this song, I felt lament for John's mother, due to the simple fact her son and her lost the foundation of their relationship upon his arrival back from the Vietnam war. Overall I enjoyed this experience and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Michael Johnson Section 033
Hey group
I liked Randy’s view on how the song was an explanation of how this soldier changed from who he was before and who he was after war. I believe it parallels with what Grant had to say on how even though he was shocked that John came home and locked himself in his room, he had to step back and picture him self in John’s shoes and realize all the trauma he had been through and think on how he would have reacted. I was looking through google image and I stumbled across this photo of a soldier reading a letter. This photo made me think of the soldiers who had not made it home yet, and what would happen when they finally did, how would they deal? The website where you could find this picture is www.postalmuseum.si.edu
BJ Wilson 030
Hello all it is Clint again...its seems we all agreed on the basic premise of the song and what the lyrics meant. I love how we all can still see such differences in this one song. BJ's poin is a strong one and I can defintly see their point, agree with it is a different story. To me this is really a matter of interprutation.
Clint Walker 30
Hello all it is Clint again...its seems we all agreed on the basic premise of the song and what the lyrics meant. I love how we all can still see such differences in this one song. BJ's poin is a strong one and I can defintly see their point, agree with it is a different story. To me this is really a matter of interprutation.
Clint Walker 30
Its Clint again
We met as soul mates
On Parris Island
We left as inmates
From an asylum
And we were sharp
As sharp as knives
And we were so gung ho
To lay down our lives
We came in spastic
Like tameless horses
We left in plastic
As numbered corpses
And we learned fast
To travel light
Our arms were heavy
But our bellies were tight
We had no home front
We had no soft soap
They sent us Playboy
They gave us Bob Hope
We dug in deep
And shot on sight
And prayed to Jesus Christ
With all of our might
We had no cameras
To shoot the landscape
We passed the hash pipe
And played our Doors tapes
And it was dark
So dark at night
And we held on to each other
Like brother to brother
We promised our mothers we'd write
And we would all go down together
We said we'd all go down together
Yes we would all go down together
Remember Charlie
Remember Baker
They left their childhood
On every acre
And who was wrong?
And who was right?
It didn't matter in the thick of the fight
We held the day
In the palm
Of our hand
They ruled the night
And the night
Seemed to last as long as six weeks
On Parris Island
We held the coastline
They held the highlands
And they were sharp
As sharp as knives
They heard the hum of our motors
They counted the rotors
And waited for us to arrive
And we would all go down together
We said we'd all go down together
Yes we would all go down together
These are the lyrics to Billy Joel's Goodnight Saigon. I thing this song is all too fitting just because it was written in reaction to the Vietnam war. The entire song is trying to show the horrors of war and how the soliders managed to try and cope. This song relates just b/c you get a viewpoint from the soliders and not their parents.
Clint Walker 30
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