I Should Be Proud - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

I was under the dryer when the telegram came:

«Private John C. Miller was shot down in Vietnam»

Through my tears I read: «No more information at this time

He’s missin' in action somewhere on the Delta Line»

And they say that I should be proud;

he was fightin' for me

They say that I should be proud, those too blind to see

But he wasn’t fightin' for me, my Johnny didn’t have to fight for me

He was fightin' for the evils of society

Now I prayed night & day that my Johnny wouldn’t die

Love, faith & hope was all that kept me alive

Then 6 weeks later came that cold & heartless letter:

«Private Johnny was killed in action, number 54 327»

And they say that I should be proud;

he was keepin' me free

They say that I should be proud, those too blind to see

But he wasn’t fightin' for me, my Johnny didn’t have to die for me

He was fightin' for the evils of society

They shipped him home with medals of honor & glory

Even our local paper ran a front-page story

But the whole time gave him praisin' & said how honored I should be

But I don’t want no superstar, just the good man they took from me

And they tell me I should be proud;

he was fightin' for me

They say that I should be proud, those too blind to see

But he wasn’t fightin' for me, my Johnny didn’t have to die for me

He’s a victim of the evils of society

I should be proud of my Johnny

They tell me that I should be proud;

they just don’t want Johnny for me

They tell me that I should be proud of my Johnny…