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Booneytunes Revue

By Jim Wachtendonk

One evening, while sleeping, I dreamed I was writing a column for THE VETERAN about music and musicians. I started with the words "Boonie Toons" and just wrote until I woke up. The next day I tried to list all the musical events I'd been at. Benefits, concerts, national actions and demonstrations, Veterans' Day ceremonies—all brought on recollections other might like to get in on. All or most included a musician with a song. It's the song makers we'll learn about in "Boonie Toons." I guess dreams do come true.

(In prose we've had Hearts and Minds, First Casualty Press, and the New Soldier. Alongside, veterans were writing songs: the world has heard John Prine's "Sam Sone," Bill Holmes "Quantricity," Jimmy Hendrix's legendary "Star Spangled Banner," and Joe McDonald's "Fixin' to Die Rag"—and these are just a few. In "Boonie Toons" we'll look at music, musicians and gigs, past and upcoming. Reviews of bet performers as well as their roots will be included in each column. If you've got someone in mind who belongs in the "Boonie Toons" review, write me c/o "Boonie Toons," P.O. Box 3472, Madison, WI 53704. I'll write it up. Great: now for the first installment of "Boonie Toons.")

Country Joe McDonald is famous for his antiwar stance in the '60's. He is also a Vietnam era Navy veteran. Joe, a self-espoused lifer in the peace movement has continued to write and perform thought-provoking music for the past 15 years.

It was in San Francisco at the Jabberwock Music Club where it all started for Joe. While Steve Miller, the Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead were being called the "San Francisco Sound," Country Joe and the Fish were being compared with the Fugs as political bands. Joe recalls, "I always thought it was the fault of the underground that they never really defined to us what we were to them. They seemed to do that pretty well with other bands—you know, they pretty well let them know where they're at. But they never did that to us."

In the '80's Joe believes some things are much closer than before. A good example would be his "Fixin' to Die Rag." He sang that song at Woodstock and it has followed him around the world, sometimes to his dismay. Some of the press implied that the lyrics leaned against Vietnam veterans. For instance,

"Well, its one, two, three
what are we fightin' for,
Don't ask me I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven
Open up you pearly gate,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whopee, we're all gonna die.

Joe wrote that song before Tet of 1968. The song was misunderstood just like Vietnam veterans were misunderstood in 1968. Joe says, "I feel much of my music identifies with Vietnam vets. As they become more digestible, so does my music. So few people did political music that dealt with the military. I got labeled as a vet with a bad attitude. Well, Joe, there's quite a few of us with that "attitude" and that's what makes your music so tasty.

Time has mellowed Joe but his sights are still on the military. He came to grips with his military service in 1981. Now when he performs he lets people know he is a vet and that he helps other veterans come to grips with their past.

There are three generations of Joe McDonald fans out there. This time around his message is clear. He reminds the peace movement not to push vets out. They should reach out to them. He successfully mixes entertainment with guidance. Joe's stand against militarism and the need for a planet in balance with nature are subjects of many of his tunes. His blend of lyrics warms the soul as it helps heal old wounds. His lyrics are some of the best. He weaves the song with a story-teller's ease. He likes science fiction themes as well. "Picks and Lazers," "Darin Dan, the Rocket Man," and "You Could Be a Clone of Yourself" are fun to listen to.

Joe as a Tape Talk cassette magazine format you might like. Issue #4 deals with Vietnam vet music. On it you'll find a great selection of tunes: Side A—"Quang Tri City," Sergeant Willy," "Agent Orange Song," "Hurting More," "The Girl Next Door," and "Luang Probang." Side B is women's music introduced by Holly Near. Singers are Sweet Honey on the Rock, Cris Williamson, Meg Christian, Linda Tillary Ferron, and Holly Near.

If you are interest in any of Joe's albums, you can order through Boonie Toons, Box 3472, Madison, WI 53704.

Check out Joe McDonald at your local music estabulary and plug into the sound that gets the highest praise from this struggling musician. You'll enjoy—I promise you.

ENTERTAINMENT WITH GUIDANCE

In the lecture hall, there were over 150 students taking in a lecture on Vietnam history. Danny, Ron and I were covering the discussion this night. Last year was VVAW's first year participating. When the call came in from the teacher no one was available in the chapter, except me, and I was stressing out. I didn't think I could do it alone. But I packed up my guitar and armed myself with music and copies of THE VETERAN, and set out expecting a class of about 30 or so.

The lecture pit was packed with over 200 students. In the front two rows were ROTC Marine Corp troops just back from basic. Great!! But to my surprise the class was wide-eyed and eager to learn more about 'Nam through my recollections and music. It wasn't long before I sensed the interest in the room. It went well, all my copies of THE VETERAN vanished and I left with a spring in my step.

Now, one year later, three discussion groups had already been covered, and tonight all the groups are meeting in a larger lecture hall for the music presentation. Following the break I went up on the podium and began by telling the students a little about myself and my tour in 'Nam. I was pleased to find out many of the students had been at VVAW's Veteran's Day Concert in 1985. So I opened with Country Joe's "Vietnam Veteran Still Alive." I could tell by the interest on their faces that the music had an effect on them. Before I knew it 45 minutes had gone by. We had mixed the music with recollections and questions from the student and it had been fun, informative and an important void had been filled. The more schools VVAW visits the more I'm convinced that's where we belong. Tonight "Boonie Toons" went over really big.

PS: This letter came for me today and I'd like to share it with you.

"Dear Mr. Wachtendonk, I have very little idea of what I want to say but for some reason I feel a tremendous desire to thank you. I was in the history class you visited Wed. evening, and I was very pleased that I didn't blow off your performance; to be honest, I could have listened to you talk and sing for hours.

I want you to know that I left class that evening with a much changed outlook on life. It is extremely difficult to explain the way I felt after your performance—perhaps it was a mixture of friendship, anger and a real shame for all you've gone through. I realize you aren't out for sympathy, but you must understand it's difficult not to feel that way. It was so much different hearing your feelings and stories directly rather than reading about them or hearing them second hand. I feel as though I could go on forever but your time is precious. I pray you are able to make many other people feel as I do.

Before I close I want you to know that because of you I have decided that I truly could never morally work for any company involved with any chemicals or any other product to be used exclusively for war purposes. I am a chemistry major and I graduate in December. Whether there's money in it or not, I want to put my knowledge to work in an organization which helps to solve some of today's environmental problems (acid rain, toxic waste).

Thanks again for your time on Wed. evening and for your time now.

God Bless you and your family
Sincerely,
Paul Schmeck

PPS: Joe was right. Entertainment with guidance. A sense of truth with personal history does sink in sometimes.

That's all for now—

Jim Wachtendonk