Two songs written by Joe DeFilippo and performed by the R.J. Phillips Band.

“Deep Water”

Remembering the Columbia Eagle incident (read the historical description on the Zinn Education Project site) and listen to the song performed: https://soundcloud.com/hillipsand/deep-water

Lyrics:

We left Pier 245J
For Thailand we were bound
The cargo we carried
Was meant to scorch the ground
10,000 tons of napalm
Might bring a victory
The last thing we expected
Was a mutiny

Two merchant seamen: Clyde and Al
Armed with guns in hand
They hijacked the “Eagle”
Assumed the ship’s command
If they could stop the genocide
Risk their lives they would
I wondered if their motives
Would be misunderstood?

The “Eagle” reached Cambodia
Without a casualty
Clyde & Al surrendered
To authorities
The killing they had hoped to stop
Would only be delayed
The bombs meant for Vietnam
Would see another day

Deep water, deep water…
What are we fighting for? (where is the peace?)
Save us from the throes of war (when will this cease?)

“Before the Fall”

Remembering what war won’t let us forget! Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/hillipsand/before-the-fall

Watch the video here:

Lyrics:

There’s a photo of a soldier
From years gone by
When I remember
A tear falls from my eyes
Once upon a time
I answered the call
But that was long ago
Before the fall

Ma put her arms around me
I still feel her embrace
Dad just smiled
A look of pride on his face
As I bid farewell
He said “Son, stand tall”
But that was long ago
Before the fall

The stars and stripes
Flew outside our front door
On the 4th, we sang
My country tis of thee
But after what I did
And the things I saw
So much for the land of the free

And tho I returned
I never was the same
Were we following orders
And who was to blame?
Like a good soldier
I blindly gave my all

But that was long ago
That was long ago…that was long ago
Before the fall
Before the fall