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Dear Uncle Sam
Last updated: 11.10.23
I've put "Dear Uncle Sam" amongst the German folk songs because I believe this English language song was written here in Germany, by whom, I don't know. I learned "Dear Uncle Sam" from Wilfried Drygala of Idle Fellows fame and he liked to sing it very often. Being a NATO patriot myself, I always had great problems with the sentiments expressed but artistically I cannot quarrel with the song itself. I would never sing it to a USA citizen or audience however, as I'm quite sure many, particularly the military men would feel quite insulted, and I would personally add, unfairly so too.
Judging by the lyrics, it dates from the depths of the Cold War where pacifism was the order of the day here in Germany in the 1960's and 1970's and the whole tenor of its well-crafted four verses is in the "Go home Yank" vein. It is a pretty clever piece of work in kind of smart-ass sense and no doubt some smug so-and-so without much feeling for world history feels pretty good about it.
Sorry, they are not my favourite lyrics.
Having found that the lyricist is Irish, this webpage has been re-classified as an Irish song.
     Performer CD Title Supplier
       
cd15.gif Colum Sands Unapproved Road flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15it.gif flag15es.gif
     Title Performer Composer
       
youtube15.jpg Dear Uncle Sam (3:10) Colum Sands