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The Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley

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"The Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley"
Song

The Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley is a 1971 spoken word recording with vocals by Terry Nelson and music by pick-up group C-Company.

Inspiration and meaning

The song is set to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". It offers a heroic description of Lieutenant William Calley, who in March 1971 was convicted of murdering Vietnamese civilians in the My Lai Massacre of March 16, 1968.

Lyrical account

The song is very dishonest. It lies about Calley's early war experiences and the fatalities of young men in his company. It then goes on to relate the events at My Lai from a fictional point of view.

Background and success

Chart (1971) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 37
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 49

The song was written in April 1970 by Julian Wilson and James M. Smith of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. In November 1970 a few copies of it were issued by Quickit Publishing. In March 1971 Shelby Singleton, publisher of "Harper Valley PTA," obtained the rights to the song and issued a new recording under his Plantation Records label.[1] The single sold over one million copies in just four days, and was certified gold by the RIAA on 15 April 1971.[2] It went on to sell nearly two million copies,[2] and got "a lot of C&W airplay".[1]

References in Pop Culture

The song is mentioned in Hunter S. Thompson's novel, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"

References

  1. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (April 22, 1971). "Consumer Guide (17): Additional Consumer News". The Village Voice. Shelby Singleton's Plantation Records, which first hit with "Harper Valley PTA," is getting a lot of c&w airplay for "The Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley," written and performed (execrably, by the way) by non-professionals and published, no kidding, by Quickit Publishing Co.
  2. ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 299. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
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