Artist: Dave Dudley | Song: Viet Nam Blues

Artist/Band: Dudley Dave Tabs
Song: Viet Nam Blues Tab

Viet Nam Blues
written by Kris Kristofferson
10/13/05


There's a little riff played occasionally during the C areas.   It goes like this:

e----------0
B----------1
G----------0
D----------2
A-----2p0--3
E--3-------x

For reference, it's done 3 times during the INTRO, and then just as he begins the verse.


CAPO II


INTRO: C

C
I was on leave at the time just duckin' the fog

Nosin' around like a hungry dog
                           G            C
In that crazy place called Washington D.C.
C
I saw a crowd of people on the White House lawn
           
All carrying signs about Viet Nam
               G                     C        
So I went over to see what was goin' on
F
There's a strange lookin' bunch
    G                                        C
But then I never could understand some people

C
Well a fellow came to me with a list in his hand

He said we're gatherin' names to send a telegram of sympathy
        G              C
Then he handed me a pen

I said I reckon this is goin' to the kids and wives

Of my friends over there who'd given their lives
                          G                       C
And he said Uh-huh buddy, this is goin' to Ho Chi Mihn
       F
I said Ho Chi who?
               G                     C
He said Ho Chi Mihn--peopole's leader North Vietnam

C
Well I wasn't real sure I was hearin' him right

But I thought I better move before I got in a fight
                                   G                         C
'Cause my ears were hurtin' and my pulse started hittin' the lick
C
Then I thought about another telegram I had just read

Tellin' my buddy's wife that her husband was dead
                                  G                 C
And it wasn't too long 'til I was feelin' downright sick

C
Another held a sign that said "we won't fight"

I thought to myself "boy ain't that right
                   G                   C
You'd rather let a soldier die instead"
C
I said "it's a shame that every man

Who ever died there in that far-off land
                   G                           C
Was dyin' so that you wouldn't have to wake up dead"
F
'Course he looked at me like I was kinda crazy
G                      C
Just another war monger
C
Well I left that place and I went downtown

And hit the first bar that I found
                    G         C
Coolin' myself off, pacify my brain
C
You see I was on orders to Vietnam

Little old place just north of Saigon
                    G                 C
I had about an hour to catch myself a plane
F                                    G
So all I mean to say is I don't like dyin' either
N/C                         C
But man I ain't gonna crawl