Episode 76: Vietnam War: The Music - Born on The Fourth of July

First came the book, Born on the Fourth of July. It was published in 1976. It is an autobiography by Ron Kovic, a paralyzed Vietnam War veteran who became an anti-war activist. Kovic was born on July 4, 1946. The book was written in Santa Monica, California, during the fall of 1974. It tells the story of Kovic's life growing up in Massapequa, New York, joining the United States Marine Corps right out of high school, going to Vietnam for two tours of duty, getting shot, finding himself paralyzed and in need of a wheelchair, and eventually starting a new life as a peace activist.
Then came the movie. Born on the Fourth of July is a 1989 biographical war drama film based on Kovic’s autobiography. Directed by Oliver Stone, and written by Stone and Kovic, it stars Tom Cruise, Kyra Sedgwick, Raymond J. Barry, Jerry Levine, Frank Whaley, and Willem Dafoe. The film depicts the life of Kovic (Cruise) over a 20-year period, detailing his childhood, his military service and paralysis during the Vietnam War, and his transition to anti-war activism.
Tom Paxton, the folk singer/political activist, wrote the song "Born on the Fourth of July", which is on his 1977 “New Songs From The Briarpatch” album. Bruce Springsteen wrote the song "Shut Out the Light" after reading Kovic's memoir and then meeting him.
Most of these songs are from the movie. Many will have a special meaning for you. A place, a brother, a time gone by. This program is for you, the Vietnam Vets, who will never forget. - - - - Thank you & “welcome home” to all Vietnam Vets.
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You’ll hear:
1) American Pie by Don McLean
2) Born On the Fourth of July by Tom Paxton
3) Soldier Boy by The Shirelles
4) Shut Out the Light (from the Soundtrack of the 1998 Documentary, Vietnam Long Time Coming) by Bruce Springsteen
5) Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
6) Born On The Bayou by Broken Homes
7) Rock Around The Clock by Bill Haley & The Comets
8) Up Up And Away by The 5th Dimension
9) My Girl by The Temptations
10) Venus by Frankie Avalon
11) A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall by Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians
12) The Times They Are A-Changin' by Bob Dylan
13) Born in the U.S.A. [Live] (from Springsteen on Broadway) by Bruce Springsteen
14) Homecoming by John Williams