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Galveston (song)

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"Galveston"
Song
B-side"Everytime I Itch I Wind Up Scratchin' You"

"Galveston" is a song written by Jimmy Webb and popularized by American country music singer Glen Campbell who recorded it with the instrumental backing of members of The Wrecking Crew.[1] In 2003, this song ranked number 8 in CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music. Campbell's version of the song also went to number 1 on the country music charts.[2] On other charts, "Galveston" went to number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the "Easy Listening" charts.[3] It was certified gold by the RIAA in October 1969.[4]

The song is considered as the official anthem of Galveston Island and the City of Galveston, Texas.

Background and writing

Campbell's recording of the song, released in 1969, was perceived as being a Vietnam War protest song,[5] but Campbell performed it up-tempo, conveying a more general message. The protagonist is a soldier, as shown in the original promo video with Campbell dressed up in a military outfit. Webb described it as an anti-war song, and challenged Campbell's version of his song and the notion that it was in any way a "patriotic song".[6]

Content

The song describes a soldier waiting to go into battle who thinks of the woman he loves and his hometown of Galveston, Texas. The song was originally sung by Don Ho and the second verse was "Wonder if she could forget me, I'd go home if they would let me, put down this gun and go to Galveston" [7] but was changed to "I still hear your sea waves crashing/while I watch the cannons flashing/I clean my gun/And dream of Galveston."[8]

Chart performance

See also

References

  1. ^ Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 66.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 43.
  4. ^ RIAA searchable database
  5. ^ "The Pop Protest Song". Songwriter Jimmy Webb's melancholy ode to a simpler time exemplified what one might consider to be the "tonal protest song," replacing as it does more typical anti-war language with a reflection on the emotional uncertainty of war that even hawks in the heartland could identify with.
  6. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T_oT8Vp9hU
  7. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arYwREJ2KnU
  8. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW5EvReWJF0
  9. ^ http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1969/19690510.html

More extensive lyrics than found at the above "Full Lyrics" link: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/jimmy+webb/galveston_20205878.html

Preceded by Billboard Easy Listening Singles number-one single (Glen Campbell version)
March 29, 1969 (6 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Hot Country Singles
number-one single
April 19-May 3, 1969 		Succeeded by
Preceded by RPM Country Tracks
number-one single
May 19, 1969 		Succeeded by
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