# 3 Soul Songs About the Vietnam War That Still Bring Tears to Listeners’ Eyes

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/3-soul-songs-about-the-vietnam-war-that-still-bring-tears-to-listeners-eyes/
- Published: 2026-10-31T17:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-31T18:24:44+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/3-soul-songs-about-the-vietnam-war-that-still-bring-tears-to-listeners-eyes/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Joe Tex sings from a soldier’s perspective.
- Marvin Gaye’s song condemns war and loss.
- Freda Payne’s hit was banned from the forces’ network.

## Summary

Three soul songs reflect different experiences and attitudes connected to the Vietnam War: a soldier’s fear of leaving his partner a widow, a plea against war, and a call for troops to return home. Their emotional force shows how soul artists brought personal and public feelings about the conflict into popular music.

Joe Tex’s “I Believe I’m Gonna Make It” is told through a soldier writing to his sweetheart, while Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” challenges war and laments the deaths of young men. Jackson Browne later described Gaye’s title track as an anti-war song. Freda Payne’s “Bring The Boys Home” became her second gold record, but the US Command banned it from the American Forces Network, fearing it would aid the enemy.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.