Luang Prabang

Patrick Sky

About Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is a song written by Dave Van Ronk, originally recorded by Patrick Sky for his album Songs That Made America Famous (finally released in 1974). Van Ronk recorded a version himself for Going Back To Brooklyn in 1994. It is named for the city Luang Prabang in Laos. It is one of the few songs Van Ronk wrote himself. Patrick Sky discussed at a concert how Van Ronk was supposed to appear on the album but for some reason did not. At this concert in 1973, Sky and Van Ronk performed the song together. The song is based on the tune "Byker Hill", but with lyrics about the Vietnam war, and a refrain at the end of each verse of the song "now I'm a fuckin' hero". 


Year:
2010
1:53
704 
#2

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When I came back from Luang Prabang
I didn't have a thing where my balls used to hang, 
But I got a wood medal and a fine harangue.
Now I'm a fucking hero.

Mourn your dead land of the free! 
If you want to be a hero follow me.
Mourn your dead land of the free! 
If you want to be a hero follow me.

And now the boys all envy me:
I fought for Christian Democracy
With nothing but air where my balls used to be.
Now I'm a fucking hero

Mourn your dead land of the free! 
If you want to be a hero follow me.
Mourn your dead land of the free! 
If you want to be a hero follow me.
 
When one and twenty cannon thunder
Into the bloody wild blue yonder
For a patriotic ball-less wonder.
Now I'm a fucking hero.

Mourn your dead land of the free! 
If you want to be a hero follow me.
Mourn your dead land of the free! 
If you want to be a hero follow me.

In Luang Prabang there is a spot
Where the corpses of your brothers rot, 
And every corpse is a patriot, 
And every corpse is a hero.

Mourn your dead land of the free! 
If you want to be a hero follow me.
Mourn your dead land of the free! 
If you want to be a hero follow me.

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Patrick Sky

Patrick Sky (born Patrick Lynch in Liveoak Gardens, Georgia, in 1943) is a musician, singer and songwriter of Irish and Native American ancestry (Creek Indian, Sky was raised near the Lafourche Swamps of Louisiana). A contemporary of Bob Dylan and others in the Greenwich Village folk boom of the 1960s, following military service Sky released a number of well received albums from 1965 onwards and played with many of the leading performers of the period, particularly Buffy Sainte-Marie, Eric Andersen and the blues singer Mississippi John Hurt (whose Vanguard albums Sky produced). Sky's song "Many A Mile" became a folk club staple, and has been recorded by Sainte-Marie and others. more »

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Written by: DAVE VAN RONK

Lyrics © DOWNTOWN MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Composition and Philosophy
"Luang Prabang" by Patrick Sky is a song that interweaves its narrative through the point of view of a soldier dying on the battlefield. The lyrics are a sober look at the complexities of war and the profound impact it has on the people involved.
Origin of Song Title
The title "Luang Prabang" refers to Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Laos, a country that was severely impacted during the Vietnam War, reflecting Sky's anti-war sentiment.
Historical Context
The song was released in 1965, during the heat of the Vietnam War. It was a significant part of the anti-war movement of the 1960s and 1970s.
Singer's journey
Patrick Sky was known for his folk songs which often included political undertones. Sky's combat experience as an Air Force Reservist partially influenced the composition of "Luang Prabang".
Artistic Influence
"Luang Prabang" has influenced several other artists, including Dave Van Ronk who made his own cover of the song. It has even made its way into literature, as it is quoted in the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “The Killer Angels”.
Public Reception
"Luang Prabang" was initially deemed too controversial for radio play due to its vivid depiction of war. However, the song has persisted and continues to be an influential anti-war anthem.
Song's usage in Media
Despite its controversial nature, "Luang Prabang" has been featured in several documentaries about the Vietnam War, including "Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam".
Discography
"Luang Prabang" is featured in the album "A Harvest of Gentle Clang", Patrick Sky's third album. The song is noted for being a departure from the softer, more traditional folk songs that Patrick Sky was known for at the outset of his career.
Record Company
Though highly controversial, Vanguard Records produced the album "A Harvest of Gentle Clang" which included "Luang Prabang". Vanguard Records was known for being a major label for folk artists in the 1960s and 70s.
Legacy of song
"Luang Prabang" is now often considered a classic anti-war song. Its brutally honest and poignant portrayal of the realities of war have seen it used in journalistic and educational contexts to educate about the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement of the 60s.

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