RIP - Terry Kirkman...a fellow mental health counselor and musician. RIP also to Larry Ramos and Brian Cole. They were a supergroup...an underrated supergroup.
This extremely cultural musical group was vastly underrated at that time and when you listen to this haunting, mesmerizing ode, so to speak, you really are transported to another astral plane. The Smothers Brothers are to be commended for presenting the Association and this, their revolutionary song, to the public, as well as other musicians with lesser known but equally powerful music.
Thanks not just to The Association, but to The Smothers Brothers, who took a stand long before it was popular to do so. I think they were one of the first shows to feature Pete Seeger after his blacklist.
Thank you for this comment. Even as a child, and an army brat, I loved this song and knew, oh, I knew, what it was all about. The lyrics still stand today
This was the Association's only tv appearance performing this song. Nixon got wind of it and it was banned from radio and tv play. Sadly, this song will always be timeless.
I've been a fan of the Association for over 50 years, loved all their song. They were all beautiful, but I've always really liked this. Love their harmony.
"And all fell before the Bull"...... in this case the R&R Hall of Fame. Brian, Jim, Jules, Larry, Russ, Ted & Terry you guys did it in a way that should put you at the top. The fact that you're not in the the Rock HOF just shows their hypocrisy. The Associations music will be relevant for another 50+ years. Well done gentlemen!
The Association wasn't just a rock group. They were the messengers of their time, the voice of those who had none. I was born three years before the Vietnam war ended and I knew nothing about it until I was in my early teens. My health prevented me from serving, but I salute and respect all those who have, all those who do, and all those who will. This song sounded like the masses asking the then American government: why? Why send our sons to war for a cause not our own? Was it for pride or patriotism? I have an uncle who served in Vietnam in the Army and he cries bitterly everytime he hears this song because he is the only surviving member of his unit. He says he is and always will be a patriot and will always love the land that gave birth to him, but after all these year he still asks himself why. I just played this not knowing he was standing behind me and he stood there listening with tears in his eyes, staring into space. To all those who served and lost brothers in arms, my heart goes out to you all. Thank you so much for your service.
Locktwiste 72, thank you for your comments. Thank your uncle for his service. My brother and I were in during Vietnam, I was not over there. My brother went twice at his request! He believed in the help we were trying to give to the people of South Vietnam. He made it back, sadly however, we lost him to cancer due to Agent Orange. So many sacrifices that we must NEVER FORGET, no matter how we feel about war. GOD BLESS ALL. RIP David Hood
@@Locktwiste72 If you were born three years before it ended, it wasn't your health that kept you out of it. It was the fact that they don't take three year olds ----yet!
It is March 2023. I had forgotten some of The Association songs, and a curiosity search brought up a list, including this one. I hadn't though about this song for decades. It is a powerful piece, not only in the lyrics, but also in the harmonies. And as others said, kudos to "The Brothers" for having the courage to promote not only this offering live, but others, including Buffalo Springfield's For What It's Worth. That took courage of conviction back during that period.
I heard this song in 67 when I was in grad school. I was drafted in 68. In 70 I was in an Air Cav Troop flying an OH-6 over the line in Cambodia. I did not listen to this song again until this year. War is a terrible thing and it stays with everyone it touches. We lost our way in Nam, and the politicians knew it and still we fought. People forget and when we fight a pointless war and in the Middle East and win, everyone cheers, then we fight again and again in places where they hate us as they hated those who came before us. We fight for nothing and people die for nothing. Then the next one we elect does it again. All of those powerful people in Washington should be required to spend a day every year with wounded and with the families. They should listen to this song, and think about brave and honorable men and women sent to die for nothing.
@@sueme1954 That's a fine distinction. I had to think about it. The war grew out of the French attempt to regain control of Indo-China. Add in our somewhat exaggerated fear of communist expansion it is us and not the French who are bearing the battle. A number of people, Johnson among them questioned the wisdom of any intervention. Add the concern about the press and electability and off we went. We now know that Robert Strange McNamara and others came to believe it was either a no win fight or that the RVN's leaders would fail due to corruption and incompetence, in spite of many good men in ARVN and VNAF and the support of many ordinary people who had a fear, reasonable or not. about what would happen after we left. Many of the things we did there, limited bombing, predictable bomber courses, no effective security against espionage and a major enemy sponsored use of heroine to reduce combat effectiveness. We employed allied and RVN civilians who had a strong interest in prolonging the war. Nixon knew the war should end but he delayed it for his political advantage. We those who were there during that time paid the bill. The families at home paid the bill. So pardon me if you can but we could have just left in 69 or early 70, saved a lot of pain and death. The man who took my place flying an OH-6 was shot down and killed. By that time all we were doing was marking time while the political elite waffled in hope of looking like leaders. Those who died in training for deployment to the RVN, those who died while in the RVN and those who carried back pain or disability or mental and moral conflicts did in fact die for nothing. The better ways were not to go at all, doing it better with greater force we can bet still wouldn't have changed anything central. Some lessons were learned. Colin Powel learned that you do not go with half measures, he knew what we all knew, The 11th ACR put it this way, "Find the bastards and pile on." But we did not learn to stay out of fights with people who are dedicated and against our ways and ideals. So we got Bosnia, Gulf 1 and 2, Afghanistan. We are tied up with the Saudis and they dispose us and our ideals. We support Israel so fare only with vast amounts of money and equipment, and we forget that Israel is an ally only to the extent that we can support it, It does great wrong to the Palestinians but really we should just stay out of all those fights. Americans who die in religious and cultural wars far from here have died for nothing. We change nothing. Save the troops for an enemy that means to do us harm, and then crush them. Otherwise stay home. No more Americans dead or mutilated in foolish cause. They will kill one another anyway. How do justify killing some son or father who will never threaten us unless we are in his neighborhood. How do we justify dying for one of them? In this country most of the people with an opinion about this or that intervention have not served and will never serve. Most of those who may serve will not ever fire at the enemy or be fired upon. Some wise old Roman said, “War is sweet to those who have no experience of it. But the experienced man trembles exceedingly in his heart at its approach. "
I listened to this song over and over 'till I wore the grooves out in the '60s. As a matter of fact, I wore the entire album out, so I had to buy it again. As a musician since the mid-60s, the Association flipped switches that nobody else could. I still get chills when I listen to their early stuff.
Wow, it's like I typed this comment myself. I had this record when I was 13ish. I played it over and over and over, and Requiem for the Masses was my favorite song on the album. I've played guitar since I was 12, as did my dad.
They knew, we knew, the lyrics, the drums . Black and white newspapers and tv, they were courageous and good guys. Knee deep in the big muddy, and the big fool wants to go on
Listen to this song and pay attention to the lyrics keeping in mind that the war in "Nam was raging. Also for Korea. What a great, great, great, song for those who died in the service of our country and were forgotten.
I am tired of hearing this military worship. The US military is the most dangerous terrorist organization in the world. I used to say I supported the troops, but not the command. But I realized all these needless, senseless wars couldn't happen without those troops blindly following orders. If you are stupid enough to go across the ocean to mess with some country that isn't bothering the US, then I have no sympathy if the locals tag you. This is what a mercenary military gets you. And the US military is a mercenary institution. Another news flash, the military doesn't work for you, just the wealthy.
I recorded this song on an open-reel tape recorder the night that they performed this song. I have listened to it many times--it's such a beautiful and moving song. This is the first time that I saw the video of it, though, since 1967! Thanks.
The association were far more than a ''sunshine pop'' group. They were a deep an introspective band even their light hearted tracks had soulful & timely lyrics. They were absolutely brilliant.
I heard this for the first time going to a band gig at a local high school! My buddie had just bought "The Association's Greatest Hits". This song blew me away! What a a great song! I still listen to it frequently! They are a great group! Also, what a beautiful message! Peace! Steve
This a haunting tribute that spans across the decades as poignant in 2017 as it was in 1966. The blending of the voices and melody is incredible, not many groups could pull off something like that but this one did. The Vietnam war was ramping up around this time and even though I was only 12 in 1966 I still knew what it was about. This is part of the reason the Smothers Brothers show was canceled. Their views on the war were being played out on the show as it went on. it was actually a pretty good show. Another 6 years would pass before the draft was abolished and our "police" action would end. I knew a lot of guys that would end up going over there, some of them didn't come back. 51 years have passed and yet we're still involved in a war! Sadly no one's singing about it today.
Many forget or dont know Jesus words when he scolded Peter for protecting him.Peter drew his sword and cut the ear off of a Roman soldier.Jesus said to return your sword to its sheathe.Those that draw it will perish by it.
I was born in 1950. The United States of America has been involved in war, or in a military conflict, call it what you will, every year since. Always to enrich the ultra wealthy who profit from war. It’s an ongoing criminal action.
One of the greatest obscure and under-rated tunes of that time This song haunted me ever since I was an 11 year old tween Not what I expected from the same guys that made me feel so happy and care free who sang "Windy" This song ended my days of innocence But i love it tY
I looked this song up because it was a song we sung in high school choir in the 70s. Another song we sung was Gordon Lightfoot's Sundown. An anti-war protest song, and a song about infidelity. We had an interesting teacher running the choir. Great songs, but not the kind you'd think of a bunch of high school kids singing.
Terry used to teach a portion of the Combat Readiness course in the National Guard that showed very graphic film of GI's who had been wounded and some KIA. Although he never was in combat himself, his experience teaching left an indelible mark on him. He had many friends who were severely wounded and killed in Viet Nam. The War was very close to his heart.
Doubt it. Was so much against what main stream America was about. Wasn't until a couple more yrs that a large %of normal ppl started getting sick of it. I remember my dad was a love it or leave it but he eventually turned around.
@@MichaelHartman-qt4mp He was talking about the USA, and conflating the Johnson Admin with America. If you didn't agree with the war the president was prosecuting as a patriotic, existential necessity, then you were not a real American, so go live somewhere else. A big, big, big mistake to ever think that way. Something that Donald John Trump wants us to do with him, and I suppose every leader tries to do to some extent. (It is the reason a non-political head of state, like a constitutional monarch with no power, makes some sense. If allegiance to country is to be funneled through a person, then it will be the symbol of the non-political head of state rather than the prime minister or elected president, both politicians, who are just doing government jobs, like any other government worker. The big question becomes whether or not equating a leader with a nation becomes an obsession of the leader and his (how many female leaders take this attitude) followers to the point where any criticism of the leader is considered treasonous. That's what you have in North Korea. Getting closer that in China, Russia and Belarus. On the way in Turkey, Hungary, and possibly Poland. Dozens of examples around the world in from the last century and today.
If you have the chance to hear the fullness of Terry's voice, call up on YT "Bring Yourself Home", "Silver Morning" and "Come the Fall" from their last two albums. Silver Morning & Come the Fall also written by Terry Kirkman.
The Smother's brothers were shunned from the TV scheduling because they were "politically damn correct" about the current state of affairs in the Vietnam war. Shame. They had great content.
Thank you for posting this. Wow!!! This is so powerful and moving for me. This song always hit me straight in the heart. I saw The Association perform this LIVE and in concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1968 as the Draft Board was breathing down my neck with a 1-A Draft Classification. For you you're guys, 1-A means you are mandatorily going into the military (unless you were somehow one of the fortunate ones who were "politically connected"). I just turned 19, and watching the news of the dead bodies of young Americans in my age group being off loaded at Andrews AFB was a nightly news occurrence. I seriously thought I was next to be shipped home in a box. It was an awful time. THANK YOU VETS. Thank you Association for honoring the young American's who served at the pleasure of the assholes running the war over in Washington, who did it without question. Because we really had no choice.
As the song says, we were taught not to ask why. We get our orders and we carry them out. I remember when they sent me to the Middle East. I felt like screaming, "I don't want to go there!" but instead I went silently. I came back but for the grace of god, as they say, I could very well not have. There was one night when this song could have been about me. Instead it was about someone else. I could only imagine what it did to their families. I know what it would have done to mine.
I passed my army physical in 1970 with flying colors.It was my birthday lottery that kept me out.I was 160 and they only took up to 125 that year.If i knew in 1970/71 what Jesus words were to the Apostle Peter when Peter drew his sword cutting off the ear of a soldier getting to arrest Jesus,I would have gone to jail.Jesus scolded Peter and said those that draw the sword will die by it.Put it back in your sheathe.
Saw them twice live-the harmonies are as good live as they are on the recordings. The most moving group to me during the Nam era and a failing marriage.
Well said. Back in the day us boomer kids accused the Generation B4 ours of deliberately getting involved in that senseless war, and dragging it out as long as they could, because they wanted to kill all of us boomer kids, because we looked at things differently than they did, we thought and believed differently than they did, therefore, WE MUST BE DESTROYED!!!; And this was after they fought a was to defeat an enemy who did exactly the same thing?? No wonder the country just exploded back then.
I know many at the time thought this song was written to protest the Vietnam War, but looking back now it was really written to all societies who follow emotionally hyped narratives by people, and especially those pushed, promoted and defended by the sold-out 4th estate. Liberty requires eternal vigilance of the people.
Fifteen or more years before I ever had children, I put this record on, and it hit me hard, especially on Veteran's Day, because I understood what it meant. I was scared to think I would have male children to have to go to a war. I did grow up and have two sons, and they served in the Army overseas. They both came home. I know I'm blessed. I have grandsons now. How will we ever stop this crazy world from having wars, tell me!
Glad your sons came home. And, as long as America fights wars of economic colonization, in the name of freedom, but geared to make CORPORATIONS RICH, we will have war after war....
Marc,go back to the beginning of how Dickie Smothers intros the song and what he says at the end.He asks the question why.The bible answers that at Jer 10:23.Mans way does not belong.He is walking to direct his step.Correct me God.I suggest you listen to Denise advice.
Many to whom we are grateful for the freedoms that we enjoy today are now silent and invisible, however, so is peace, freedom, love, compassion and faith: And so are memories and dreams.
Yes some of the Older Generation before had a rude awakening when they realized they were going to have any grandchildren. Difficult choice they had to make. Which did they want more, serial wars, or grandchildren ????
Another band member, Larry Ramos, was from Hawaii, and had done time as a monk in Catholic seminary school. This the Latin influence. By the way, Kyrie Eleison is Greek. Means Lord have mercy.
THE LATIN LYRICS ARE VERY INIQUE: "REQUIEM ATERINAM" MANING "ETERNAL REST". "KYRIE ELOSION" MEANING "LORD HAVE MERCY UPON US", AND "REX TREMENDEIMAJESTIS", MEANING "LORD , KING , LORD OF GREAT MAJESTY". GREAT HARMONIES>
Vietnam war was a genocide which destroyed, the white working/middle class & the Black working/middle class, & hank "Heinz" kissinger is still stealing oxygen him & the rest of the deep,dark state !!!!
Thanks for saying what had to be said - why are we still reliving this every time we turn around? War doesn’t solve problems - how many times do we have to repeat history?
As pointed out, this was the B-side to Never My Love. As was the case back in the first 2-3 generations of the pop/R&R era, deejays flipped the 7" over and the song received quite a bit of airplay back in 1967, thereby earning its slot on the group's Greatest Hits! album as a "turntable hit". According to its writer, then band member Terry Kirkman, Warner Bros. (The Association's label at that time) was prepared to promote it as a "bust-bound double sided hit"...and then Warners got a call from, believe it or not, the office of POTUS asking them NOT to do so [apparently someone in the Executive Branch almost immediately figured out the "double meaning" behind the line about "the matadors who turned their backs to please the crowd..."] and since Never My Love was already a million-seller at that point anyway, Warner Bros. dropped the promotion for Requiem. A shame, really...it is probably my favorite Association record from my favorite album of theirs, Insight Out. (My aunt Marcie bought it originally and then my parents had it -- and I eventually "inherited" it -- for many, many years.)
I awoke this morning with the memory of this song vaguely arising in my memory. Found it here. Strange How We Never Changed The World. The Song repeated Endlessly. Are We hardwired for Deception?
I must have missed this episode. Never saw them perform this song, one of my very favorites of theirs. Considering all of their hits, I am surprised that they would choose this song, which I don't consider a hit, but just one of my personal favorites.
Not too hard to figure out this song was a Nam protest statement and the finest and most poignant ever recorded. Red was the color of his blood, White was the color of his skin, Blue was the color of the sky - same colors on U.S. Flag. Epic is an understatement for this masterpiece of songcrafting.
A great and gutsy song to record and release as a single during the Vietnam era. I know Nixon's Administration pulled strings and got it killed on the charts. Many questioned why we there in the first place. I wonder if we had the same questions surrounding our involvement with Afghanistan?
My father was drafted, but he had a bunch of kids, so he was exempted. I wanted to hear this song again. I remember watching footage of soldiers, and being afraid for him. Funny thing, my parents named me Mary.
