DESCRIPTION:
Vietnam War songs: https://rateyourmusic.com/list/JBrummer/vietnam_war_song_project/
Stonewall Jackson, born in Emerson, North Carolina (6 November 1932), known as a star of the Grand Ole Opry, released the pro-government Vietnam song "The Minute Men (Are Turning in Their Graves)" (Columbia Records # 4-43552) in 1966. Like other patriotic country songs of the era, the narrated defined his political position in relation to the protest movement (protesting against protesters), strongly criticising those who "march in line and carry signs", questioning their loyalty to the country. The title of the song referred to the founding fathers of the US, such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, whom the narrator claimed were "crying tears of shame" because of the "free Americans" who "pull for the other side". The narrator also referenced World War Two, saying that people did not "send food to Hitler's troops or praise the enemy" - a direct attack on members of the anti-war movement, who sent aid to the North Vietnamese, and backed their cause.

Columbia Records certainly promoted this single heavily, giving it a half-page advertisement in Billboard on 16 April 1966, which described the song as a "star-spangled hit!" It peaked at # 24 in the Billboard country chart on 4 June 1966.

"They march in lines and carry signs protesters one and all
They'd rather go to prison than to heed their country's call
Get out of here get out of there let's have an end to war
I'm glad they weren't around to say get out of Valley Forge
The Minute Men are turning in their graves
Washington and Jefferson are crying tears of shame
To see these men who'd rather live as slaves
The Minute Men are turning in their graves
What's happened to our heritage what's happen to our pride
Since when do free Americans pull for the other side
Did we send food to Hitler's troops or praise the enemy
Did all our children die in vain defending liberty
The Minute Men are turning in their graves...
I can't condemn a man who feels that taking life is wrong
But I fail to understand a man that won't defend his home
Dear Lord I've got one little prayer I pray in years to come
Don't ever let those kind of people serve in Washington
The Minute Men are turning in their graves"