Famous Vietnam War Protest Song “ I Got A Letter From LBJ. 1967. Tom Paxton Sings It

The time is 1967. Tom Paxton is an influential American folk singer-songwriter who came to prominence in the 1960 when this film was recorded. His music features politically conscious lyrics and he’s known for writing protest songs on a variety of topics, including the Vietnam War. This song, “Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation“ (which you referred to as “I Got a Letter from LBJ”), is one such protest song. It was released on Paxton’s 1967 album “Ain’t That News“. The song is a satirical critique of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s decision to escalate the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War. Lyrics like “Lyndon Johnson told the nation, ’Have no fear of escalation, I am trying everyone to please. Though it isn’t really war, We’re sending fifty thousand more, To help save Vietnam from Vietnamese.’“ reflect Paxton’s critique of the war and Johnson’s role in it. The song was not a commercial hit and didn’t receive widespread radio play. There are a few reasons for this. Protest songs, particularly those with pointed political messages like “Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation,“ faced difficulty getting airtime on mainstream radio stations, especially during contentious and polarizing times like the Vietnam War era. Many stations, fearing backlash from listeners or advertisers, would steer clear of songs that could be seen as too controversial. Also Paxton was part of the folk music tradition, which, while influential and highly popular in certain circles, didn’t have the same mainstream reach as some other musical genres at that time. His audience was more likely to be college students, folk music fans, and other politically-engaged individuals, rather than the general public. While Paxton’s song was not played widely on mainstream radio, it was heard in coffeehouses, at protests, and on college campuses – places where anti-war sentiment was strong and its message would have been most appreciated and while it might not have been a commercial hit, “Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation“ has had a lasting impact, and Paxton has even updated it in later years to comment on subsequent conflicts like the Iraq War. As of late 2023 Tom Paxton is still active as a musician and continues to perform his catalogue of songs, including “Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation.“