The Beach Bums - The Ballad of the Yellow Beret

Vietnam War song: rateyourmusic....
The Beach Bums, a garage rock band, from Detroit, Michigan, were actually Doug Brown & the Omens, which included Bob Seger. They released this novelty single based on Barry Sadler's "The Ballad of the Green Berets". The song "The Ballad of the Yellow Beret" (1966) mainly addressed draft dodgers. In fact, the writing credit on the record goes to a "D. Dodger", while the record label was mockingly called "Are You Kidding Me? Records" (H-1010). So, was this a hawkish take on the war, genuinely criticising draft dodgers and protesters, or was this a parody of Ballad of the Green Berets? Perhaps both; it certainly was tongue-in-cheek.
"Fearless cowards of the USA
Bravely here at home they stay
They watch their friends get shipped away
The draft dodgers of the Yellow Beret...
The draft board will hear their sob stories today
Only the best the yellow beret"

[@alexanderfretheim5720]

"Put a yellow streak down his back Make sure he never fights back At his physical have him say he's gay Have him win the yellow beret" WOW, it's an accurate description of 2022!

[@TheXorg]

Thanks to all soldiers who did their service

[@rachellespinola9946]

I had never heard this before, but it is Great!

[@MikeJones-cr7mt]

I totally love Bob Seger. But not sure anyone that has never served can sing a song like this.

[@sludge4125]

Exactly, Mike, unless it was autobiographical.

[@mintwestwood7827]

Do you like the song fortunate son?

[@surfercharlie25]

It's satire, my friend. They're taking a song that was considered patriotic at the time and spinning it into a song with an entirely different point of view, and that's what got Barry Sadler so p***ed off. If you doubt and still believe Bob Seger was a hawk, I'd advise you to listen to his "2+2=?", which was released two or three years laver.

[@paulrevere2379]

@@surfercharlie25 I wonder how it would have played out if the lyrics were a consistent slam on the draft dodgers. The part near the end where they caught up with the vermin and drafted him is not something that promotes patriotism, but some wackos out there equate patriotism with compelled compliance. When I first heard the title alone, I presumed it would parody Sandler's original, but most of it appears to be critical of cowards on first hearing. However, it does seem to have a not so obvious message that glorifies cowardice, and maybe that is the real message. Not virtuous by any stretch if that's the case, but clever, quite clever.

[@tracymcknight5626]

He was sued by Barry saddler.

[@irvinginglethorpe]

Yes, I missed the friggin' 'Nam draft by a month....when I die I am going to think what a crazy place this is...was!

[@tracymcknight5626]

Me 2 it ended b4 I got.old enough

[@nicoleceleban7436]

The Beach Bums were actually a pseudonym for Doug Brown & The Omens. Bob Seger was a member of the band.

[@stpaulimdog]

Wow! That really is Bob Seger! I know that voice!

[@sludge4125]

How did bob avoid the draft?

[@nightmarelife452]

Got lucky?

[@gohawkeyes529]

@@sludge4125 You'd think he'd go right down to the nearest recruiter and enlist after they wrapped this song up. Funny how that never happened. Someone needs to write the Ballad of the Chicken Hawk and dedicate it to Seger and Toby Keith.

[@OysterBoyo]

​@@gohawkeyes529I mean, this song is pretty outrageous, but he did the right thing not to enlist, even if it's hypocritical after this song, but the Vietnam War is probably the most stupid war in history to this day. I really hope he changed his mind and views, and I thought he did it, just look at "2 + 2 = ?" probably the best anti-Vietnam War song ever made, and it was made by Seger and the lyrics are basically the opposite of this crap. People change and I'm pretty sure he changed, maybe because some friend who did the "right thing" and enlisted, died for nothing in that stupid war and made Bob saw the things for how they were.

[@joeragman2830]

It really is sad when the education system seems to forget to teach about the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. It is true that if you will not stand for something you will fall for anything.

[@Farrah300]

Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler actually wrote a Cease And Desist letter concerning this song. In other words, he didn't appreciate this song.

[@WheelsRCool]

Farrah Teague From what I understand though, he was a man of questionable character. I don't know if his disapproval of the song was due to intellectual disagreement with it, or because he just felt it infringed on the copyright.

[@killerbee2562]

Apparently he never heard of fair use.

[@5291982]

FGVCK THAT AS$HOLE

[@PotterPossum1989]

Truth hurts

[@nikothehusky2384]

Fair use wasn't invented until '76

[@7425park]

So Bob Seeger was service age during Viet Nam, I wonder what his story was to avoid the Army?

[@sludge4125]

*Exactly!* Oh, I get it, it was autobiographical.

[@n40tom]

@@sludge4125 LMFBO

[@gohawkeyes529]

Seger had the same issue Toby Keith suffered from during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - they just couldn't for the life of them find the nearest recruiter!

[@alexanderfretheim5720]

The song "Like a Rock" offers a clue, as it seems to contrast his condition at 38 as opposed to one struggling with severe liver disease, e.g.: "my hands were steady/my eyes were clear and bright"/"lean and solid everywhere".

[@arizonadoowopper148]

This is a horrible song from a time gone by. Whether you served or refused this song is pouring salt into old wounds. I would like to think this country has healed and learned much from a tragic episode in our history. I recall an All In The Family Episode, it's season 7 episode 15 (on youtube) where the meathead's friend, a draft resister who fled to Canada, was sitting at a Christmas dinner table with Archie & family. Archie's friend Pinky was there who sadly was a gold star dad; he lost his son in Viet Nam. I have never forgotten watching this episode on air for the 1st time. I was a grown man & it made me cry. This episode is what made television great back then & did a lot to help this nation recover. I've been to Vietnam 3 years ago. The people should hate Americans, they do not. The war is known there as the American War. If i were a history teacher i would use this song to help students understand what this war did to America. To all who served, welcome home. To all that left the country, welcome home.

[@brucenadeau2172]

the war was not cause by american it was north veitnam comminist goverment that invaded the south the president gave them numerious chances to end the fighting

[@peterjanssen5901]

Man, I was in the yellow Berets. I was placed in Mexico, I remember...eh...remember? Peyote and hookers with moustaches, maybe a donkey-show.

[@ThomasSmith-hq7in]

A different kind of WAR song with an opinion that many shared Ask John Wayne !

[@alexanderfretheim5720]

John Wayne's an interesting character, because in many ways the later part of his career was dominated by guilt. Personally, I'm more a fan of the early part of his career. He also was a pretty good comic actor, as he proved in North to Alaska and The Quiet Man.

[@henrylarmay1404]

Outstanding where did you find t

[@VietnamWarSongProject]

Unfortunately it's a boring story, I got this one on Ebay.

[@marty3888]

I heard Bob Seger wrote this song but Barry Sadler threatened to sue if he released it, so he didn't.

[@VietnamWarSongProject]

thanks

[@sludge4125]

How did bob avoid the draft?

[@nightmarelife452]

Got lucky

[@alexanderfretheim5720]

The song "Like a Rock" offers a clue, as it seems to contrast his condition at 38 as opposed to one struggling with severe liver disease, e.g.: "my hands were steady/my eyes were clear and bright"/"lean and solid everywhere".

[@unit219]

Wow...

[@m_recordz]

For everyone praising the message in this song, try listening to Seger's 2+2=? : Well I knew a guy in high school Just an average friendly guy And he had himself a girlfriend And you made them say goodbye Now he's buried in the mud Over foreign jungle land And his girl just sits and cries She just doesn't understand So you say he died for freedom Well if he died to save your lies Go ahead and call me yellow He performed "Yellow Berets" as a joke! 2+2=? is Seger wearing his true feelings on his sleeve.

[@alexanderfretheim5720]

No I don't think it's completely insincere or sarcastic. Both songs I think represent Seger's real feelings. "The Ballad of the Yellow Beret" is making fun of people who draft dodge or protest because they genuinely are cowards, rather than because of any real moral conviction, people who are happy to watch others go and die in war and only care when it effects them personally.

[@builttrainer]

I wonder what he thinks about President Bone Spur and the four draft deferments LOL

[@okalright8097]

I've got a hangnail, hanging from my cuticle

[@HueroVat]

Funny.

[@sharonramone7186]

What year was this song released?

[@VietnamWarSongProject]

1966

[@sharonramone7186]

@@VietnamWarSongProject Thanx

[@lordoflynn6017]

P PP cool cool cool cool yellow submarine

[@seekoie]

Well Said! Have NO time for draft dodgers....Was not allowed where I grew up. (South Africa)

[@kennethmorgan6516]

A song about draft dodgers by draft dodgers.

[@nightintheruts617]

THAT WOULD BE THE COOLEST 45 RECORD EVER TO FIND

[@1969CampEvans]

Great song with a great message. I will dedicate this song to the following who Clim to be Patriots but never served a day in War or the US Military: Newt Gingrich Mitt Romney Bill Clinton Trent Lott John Boehner Tom Delay Saxby Chamliss Lindsey Graham Chris Mathews Bill O'Reilly Sean Hannity JohnWayne Charlie Daniels Antonin Scalia Pat Robertson Wayne LA Pierre Rick Santorum Clarence Thomas Cassius Clay. AKA. Muhammad Ali Michael Savage AKA. Michael Weiner Jeb Bush George W. Bush earned to be placed on this list due to the fact, two weeks before his college graduation at the end of his Draft Deferment Dubya enlisted in the Texas Air National Guard. The waiting list was long, extremely long and Dubya was at the very back of it. Despite that fact how did Dubya bypass all those men in front of him ? But it made no diffence he went around the men that was in frint of him. Dubya was accepted in the. Texas Air National Guard. After many hours of research it revealed that Bush missed to many required training drills. The members in his Air National Guard Unit had no positive comments for our 43rd President. Dubya was never charged with Desertion nor was he charged for AWOL. I do remember he was given a Honorable Discharge. That would only work for George W. Bush no one else ! In closing I remember Dubya standing on the USS Abe Lincoln ( Air Craft Carrier ) dressed with a Pilot Suit with a Big Banner that read Mission Accomplished. That summed it up for Bush in his success avoiding the Viet Nam War as a Fighter Pilot.

[@rogoldomedonfors4679]

If the "mission" was to get GWB on an aircraft carrier for a photo opportunity, then yes - "mission accomplished". The fact that his presence on board prevented 17 strike or support missions from being being carried out - and a larger number of ground ops that relied on them - means he actually prevented any missions being accomplished that day. Still, it's important to keep perspective and not worry about anybody that might have died because the President was looning around on the flight deck.

[@karenstjohn6759]

Because flying combat missions, going so far into harm’s way to be shot down over enemy territory, being captured and tortured, is draft dodging. That must be some delicious Koolaid you’re sipping, Ian.

[@brucenadeau1280]

@@rogoldomedonfors4679 the president landing on the Abe Lincoln did prevent any combat mission in Iraq from being flown because when he landed on the Lincoln it was a day out coming home from it war cruise and no where near the combat zone.

[@GordonLF]

Linsay Graham served in the US Air Force and received a Bronze Medal for it.

[@brucenadeau2172]

i do not beleive that he missed so many meetings because they would have thrown him out not give honorable discharge

[@randyforgo3275]

Because this song was written & released in 1966; very early into the Viet Nam war, I can extend some grace to Bob Seger & his band mates for not really understanding what that war was about (or, more realistically, what that war wasn't about).

[@petman515]

I can agree it was a political nightmare even all these years later it get hard to sort out all the angles.

[@beckygutierrez5112]

Does/did anyone fully understand that frigin war?

[@randyforgo3275]

@@beckygutierrez5112 No, Becky, it was a pointless war. The excuse the U.S. government made was communism. But they accomplished nothing and 10s of thousands lost their lives because of it. Can you think of any wars that make sense?

[@phishENchimps]

For you dr. fauci

[@CraigHocker]

Piece of crud that should have remained in the trash bin.

[@PotterPossum1989]

It's unkind to insult yourself

[@robertwheeler5125]

this is the trump song.

[@Megadude74100]

What an effin joke this song is!

[@PotterPossum1989]

Honesty always is

[@pokemonfan1richo]

The Draft is wrong.

[@lucken13]

Ah, hasn't been a draft in over 38 years. And for many sorry pussies in this country, it would be good for them to be drafted if we had it.

[@MrPepsicola123]

Thomas Lucken Starting with your dumbass and your family and children, a draft is nothing but sending sorry fools to get killed for the rich and elite.

[@WheelsRCool]

colbyricho I don't think this song is against those who refused the draft so much as the draft-dodgers who were literally anti-military.

[@pokemonfan1richo]

Kyle Blank The Vietnam war was a pointless war. People should have been anti military at the time. 20 years after the most destructive war of all time, America enters a country over a stupid theory, and accomplished nothing while letting 1.5 million people die?

[@MrPepsicola123]

colbyricho They ousted a dictator who murdered his own people with chemical weapons and destroyed the regions dictators who were keeping the country poor, ignorant and stupid for generations. I think that is something to be grateful for. Now that the people are free to get an education which was previously only allowed for the family's of the dictators, the middle east is prospering. The Vietnam war may have seemed pointless, but it was a war against Marxism spreading throughout the world. Millions of Vietnamese were murdered by their own people and america stepped in to stop the bloodshed.

[@jamescooper742]

This song indicates a level of cowardice among lots of Americans. It's time to push for better educational reforms, and petition all oldies station to play this song on a regular basis.

[@PShawtx]

People of the United States should not have to fight in wars the USA should not have been in.The song was Insensitive and mean.

[@schlomoshekelstien6234]

But yet both sides of the establishment whore us out to israhell in the millions. Strange isn't it?

[@PotterPossum1989]

Boohoo

[@athos102]

It's so brave to send another man to die in your stead. It doesn't matter if you think the War is just or not. How could you send another man to die in your stead, and still look yourself in the mirror?

[@brucenadeau2172]

your right we should not have fought but north veitnam could not respect it southern neighbor

[@AsmodeusDHare]

@@schlomoshekelstien6234 That's because the Great American Christian Prophesy requires there to be a country named Israel. The final coming of Christ can't happen until the whole area is Israel. And this is the lunacy we have in government.