View source for The Ballad of the Green Berets

{{Infobox song
| name = The Ballad of the Green Berets
| cover      = Ballad of the Green Berets.jpg
| alt        =
| caption       = album cover
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Barry Sadler]]
| album      = Ballads of the Green Berets
| B-side     = Letter from Vietnam
| released   = January 1966
| format     =
| recorded   = December 18, 1965
| studio     = [[RCA Studios New York#24th St|RCA Victor]], New York City
| venue      =
| genre      = {{hlist|[[Country music|Country]]<ref name="Doggett 2015">{{cite book|title= Electric Shock: From the Gramophone to the iPhone - 125 Years of Pop Music|first=Peter|last=Doggett|date= 1 January 2015|chapter= Freak Out People|page= 364|publisher=[[The Bodley Head]]|location= London|isbn=978-1-847-92218-2
|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Electric_Shock.html?id=guSsCAAAQBAJ|access-date= 21 February 2025}}</ref>|[[March (music)|march]]<ref name= "Molanphy 2022">{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2022/12/year-end-charts-can-produce-upsets|title=Hits of the Year Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=December 16, 2022|access-date=February 26, 2023}}</ref>}}
| length     = 2:27
| label      = [[RCA Victor]]
| writer     = {{hlist|[[Robin Moore]]|[[Staff Sergeant|Staff Sgt.]] [[Barry Sadler]]}}
| producer   = Andy Wiswell<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/SSgt-Barry-Sadler-The-Ballad-Of-The-Green-Berets/release/1472846|title=SSgt. Barry Sadler* - The Ballad Of The Green Berets|work=Discogs|date=January 1966 }}</ref>
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[The A Team (Barry Sadler song)|The A Team]]
| next_year  = 1966
}}
"'''The Ballad of the Green Berets'''" is a 1966 patriotic song in the [[ballad (music)|ballad]] style about the [[United States Army Special Forces]]. Written and performed by [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Barry Sadler]], it was one of the few popular songs of the [[Vietnam War]] years to cast the military in a positive light. Sadler's version became a major hit in January 1966, reaching No. 1 for five weeks on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] and four weeks on [[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]. It was also a [[crossover hit]], reaching No. 1 on ''Billboard''{{'s}} [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Easy Listening]] chart and No. 2 on ''Billboard''{{'s}} [[Hot Country Songs|Country]] survey.
Sadler began writing the song when he was training to be a Special Forces medic. The author [[Robin Moore]], who wrote the book ''[[The Green Berets (book)|The Green Berets]]'', helped him write the lyrics and later sign a recording contract with [[RCA Records]]. The [[Demo (music)|demo]] of the song was produced in a rudimentary recording studio at [[Fort Liberty|Fort Bragg, North Carolina]] with the help of Gerry Gitell and [[Lieutenant general (United States)|LTG]] [[William P. Yarborough]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stripes.com/living/lifestyle/ballad-of-the-green-berets-singer-s-biographer-talks-about-barry-sadler-s-meteoric-rise-murder-charge-violent-death-1.465731|title='Ballad of the Green Berets' singer's biographer talks about Barry Sadler's meteoric rise, murder charge, violent death|work=[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]}}</ref>
The lyrics were written, in part, in honor of U.S. Army [[Specialist (rank)#United States|Specialist 5]] James Gabriel Jr., a Special Forces operator and the first [[Native Hawaiians|native Hawaiian]] to die in Vietnam. Gabriel was killed by [[Viet Cong]] gunfire while on a training mission with the [[Army of the Republic of Vietnam|South Vietnamese Army]] on April 8, 1962.<ref>{{cite web | last=Mizutani | first=Ron | title=First Native Hawaiian Killed in Vietnam Conflict Honored | date=May 18, 2010 | work=KHON2.com | publisher=[[KHON-TV]] | url=http://www.khon2.com/content/news/developingstories/story/First-Native-Hawaiian-Killed-in-Vietnam-Conflict/iSrtWYe-DEmrkW4dYH_m2Q.cspx | access-date=March 12, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616211947/http://www.khon2.com/content/news/developingstories/story/First-Native-Hawaiian-Killed-in-Vietnam-Conflict/iSrtWYe-DEmrkW4dYH_m2Q.cspx | archive-date=June 16, 2011 }}</ref> One verse mentioned Gabriel by name, but it was not used in the recorded version.<ref>''I'm a Lucky One'' by Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler (Macmillan 1967, pp.&nbsp;80–81)</ref>
Sadler recorded the song and eleven other tunes with [[Sid Bass (songwriter)|Sid Bass]] at [[RCA Studios New York#24th St|RCA's 24th Street Studios]] in New York City on December 18, 1965.<ref name="Leepson">{{cite book|last=Leepson|first=Mark|title=Ballad of the Green Beret: The Life and Wars of Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1DIbDgAAQBAJ&dq=%22sid%20bass%22%20conductor&pg=PA63|
page=63|publisher=Stackpole|location=Guilford, Connecticut, US|date=2017}}</ref> The song and album, ''Ballads of the Green Berets'', were released in January 1966. He performed the song on television on January 30, 1966, on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'', and on other TV shows including ''[[The Hollywood Palace]]'' and ''[[The Jimmy Dean Show]]''.
== Popularity ==
In the United States, "The Ballad of the Green Berets" topped the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] in March 1966, staying at No. 1 for five weeks.<ref name="Hot100"/> It placed tenth on the year-end Hot 100 chart published by ''Billboard'' in December 1966.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hSIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 |title=Top Singles |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=78 |issue=52 |date=December 24, 1966 |access-date=July 17, 2023 |page=34}}</ref> When ''Billboard'' later revised its year-end rankings for 1966, the song was re-ranked at No. 1;<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RiQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PP47 |title=1966 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=96 |issue=50 |date=December 15, 1984 |access-date=July 17, 2023 |page=90TH-45}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+Hot+100&g=Year-end+Singles&year=1966 |title=Year End Charts – Year-end Singles – The Billboard Hot 100 (1966) |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424061427/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+Hot+100&g=Year-end+Singles&year=1966 |archive-date=April 24, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> since then, ''Billboard'' has recognized "The Ballad of the Green Berets" as the top Hot 100 song of that year.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top50-no1s-60s.shtml |title=The Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Year (1958–1969) |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422180958/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top50-no1s-60s.shtml |archive-date=April 22, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ask-billboard-5-268862/ |title=Ask Billboard |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=April 17, 2009 |access-date=July 17, 2023 |last=Trust |first=Gary}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/photos/billboard-hot-100-no-1-songs-of-the-year-1958-2015/ |title=Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 Songs of the Year: 1958–2015 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=December 10, 2015 |access-date=July 17, 2023}}</ref> On ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]''{{'s}} 1966 year-end chart, "The Ballad of the Green Berets" tied for first with "[[California Dreamin']]" by [[the Mamas and the Papas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-12-24.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-12-24.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Top 100 Chart Hits of 1966|publisher=Cash Box|pages=29–30|date=1966-12-24|accessdate=2021-03-18}}</ref> It was also the No. 21 song of the 1960s as ranked by [[Joel Whitburn]]. The single sold more than nine million copies; the album, more than two million.
"The Ballad of the Green Berets" has been one of the four primary [[marching band|marching tunes]] of the [[Fightin' Texas Aggie Band]] since at least the 1980s.
== In film ==
The song is heard in a choral rendition by [[Ken Darby]] in the 1968 [[John Wayne]] film ''[[The Green Berets (film)|The Green Berets]]'', based on [[Robin Moore]]'s book. The film's score was not released as an album until ''[[Film Score Monthly]]'' released it in 2005. A movie [[tie-in]] featuring artwork from the film and a [[cover version]] by [[Ennio Morricone]] was released in Europe, though the album's other tracks were from ''[[A Fistful of Dollars]]'' and ''[[For a Few Dollars More]]''. In ''[[The Many Saints of Newark]]'', while Dickie Moltisanti is driving over in his car to meet Harold McBrayer for the first time, "The Ballad of the Green Berets" is playing on the radio.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://screenrant.com/many-saints-newark-movie-soundtrack-songs/| title = Many Saints of Newark Soundtrack: Every Song in the Movie| website = [[Screen Rant]]| date = 2 October 2021}}</ref>
The cast of the 2018 movie ''[[12 Strong]]'' sing the tune as their Chinook helicopter takes off.
This song is featured in the 1979 film ''[[More American Graffiti]]'', during the first sequence of Terry the Toad's New Year's Eve in 1965 Vietnam.
The song is featured prominently as a prop (with French lyrics unrelated to the American lyrics), in the opening scene of the French-produced Netflix biopic miniseries about [[Bernard Tapie]] eponymously titled ''Tapie''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keslassy |first=Elsa |date=2023-04-19 |title=Netflix's Biopic Series 'Tapie' Delivers Intimate Rags-to-Riches Portrayal of Flamboyant French Tycoon |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/netflix-biopic-tapie-cannneseries-laurent-lafitte-1235588599/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Tapie |date=2023-09-13 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27921612/ |type=Biography, Drama, History |access-date=2023-11-23 |others=Laurent Lafitte, Joséphine Japy, Patrick d'Assumçao |publisher=Unité}}</ref>
== Other versions derivatives ==
Many other American recording artists did their own versions of the song ranging from [[Kate Smith]] and [[Duane Eddy]] to unknown artists singing on various [[drugstore records]].
Many versions in other languages are rewritten to reference local units; these include:
* A German version (''Hundert Mann und ein Befehl''), sung by [[Freddy Quinn]] and later again by [[Heidi Brühl]] had considerable success in [[Germany]]. The German version is a song ''against'' the war.  [[Freddy Quinn]] sings the song from the point of view of a reluctant but forced soldier,{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} Heidi Brühl from the point of view of the crying girlfriend of the soldier.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} Freddy Quinn's version was later recorded by [[Welle: Erdball]] and also by [[Cryptic Wintermoon]].
* The Royal Netherlands Army's [[Korps Commandotroepen]] (KCT) use the original lyrics with a couple changes referencing the Netherlands. This version is sung to recruits who have successfully completed the harsh Basic Commando Training (ECO), and who receive their Green Beret.
* [[The Residents]] recorded a cover of the song for the album ''[[The Third Reich 'n Roll]]'' as a part of "Hitler was a Vegetarian"
* [[Rhodesian]] singer-songwriter [[John Edmond]] recorded the "Ballad of the Green Berets" with reference to the soldiers of the [[Rhodesian Light Infantry]] (RLI), commando-style [[fireforce]] units of Rhodesian Security Forces who wore [[berets]] of [[green]] [[color]], with a slight difference in the chorus, saying "''These are men, of The Fatherland’s Best.''" & "''Make him one of The Fatherlands best''" A "Ballad of the Red Beret" was sung by the Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs at their battlecamp in [[Chikurubi]]. In [[South Africa]], the "Ballad of the Green Berets" was recorded as the "Ballad of the Maroon Berets". The [[Maroon beret]] is a symbol of the [[South African Special Forces Brigade]] and the [[South African 44 Parachute Regiment]]. Also this song was re-recorded by South African opera singer Leonore Veenemans as "My Land Suid-Afrika".
* The Swedish version "Balladen om den blå baskern" is a salute to the Swedish soldiers serving in the United Nations' peace-keeping forces (the Blue Berets). It was sung by [[Anita Lindblom]].
* The Italian version is called ''La Ballata del Soldato'', sung by [[Quartetto Cetra]].
* Since 2004, the Infantry Officer's School of the [[Swiss Armed Forces]] uses a [[Languages of Switzerland|quadrlingual]] (German, French, Italian and Rumansch) version of the song, ''Die Infanterieballade'' (The [[Infantry]] Ballad), as their anthem. The lyrics were written by cadets from all linguistical regions of Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.he.admin.ch/internet/heer/de/home/themen/schulen/Kaderschulen/infkader1/inf_ballade.html|title=Die Infanterieballade|website=Admin.ch|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513081511/http://www.he.admin.ch/internet/heer/de/home/themen/schulen/Kaderschulen/infkader1/inf_ballade.html|archive-date=13 May 2016}}</ref> It is sung everyday onwards to the morning [[wikt:roll call|roll call]], before the [[National anthem of Switzerland|National Anthem]].
* In 1966, Bernard Tapy (real name [[Bernard Tapie]], businessman and politician), recorded an adaptation in French as "Passeport pour le soleil"<ref>[http://www.encyclopedisque.fr/disque/23082.html ≪Passeport pour le soleil. Bernard Tapy. 1966. RCA Victor≫], sur le site Encyclopédisque</ref>
* The official song of the [[Portuguese Paratroopers]] a.k.a. "Boinas Verdes" ("Green Berets") uses the melody with Português-language lyrics
* The Ukrainian version 2015 ''100 Soldiers''. Lyrics by [[Oleksa Nehrebets'kyi]].<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8wLN79Ii5Q| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211123/n8wLN79Ii5Q| archive-date=2021-11-23 | url-status=live|title=100 бійців|date=29 December 2014|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* The Finnish version titled "Balladi punaisista bareteista" was released in 1966 by Kivikasvot.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.aanitearkisto.fi/firs2/kappale.php?Id=Balladi+punaisista+bareteista| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180805143532/http://www.aanitearkisto.fi/firs2/kappale.php?Id=Balladi+punaisista+bareteista| archive-date = 2018-08-05| title = Search Results for track Balladi punaisista bareteista}}</ref>
* The Norwegian version "Balladen om den grønne beret" (both Norwegian and English lyrics) is about the [[Garrison of Sør-Varanger]] (GSV). They monitor the border between Norway and Russia 24/7. Their motto is "VOGT OG VERN" (GUARD AND PROTECT).
== Parodies or humorous use ==
{{Multiple issues|section=yes|
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2018}}
{{in popular culture|date=December 2021}}
}}
* The melody and rhyme pattern were adapted by Filipino musician Eddie Tallada recording the ''Ballad of Subic Bay'' describing Vietnam war sailors' [[shore leave|liberty]] in the town of [[Olongapo]] adjacent to the [[Subic Bay Naval Base]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/eddie-tallada-ballad-subic-bay-253687159 |title=Eddie Tallada BALLAD OF SUBIC BAY Vietnam US Navy Souvenir, Rare Raunchy Parody |website=WorthPoint |accessdate=12 May 2022 }}</ref>
* In 1968, The Beach Bums, an ad hoc group featuring a young [[Bob Seger]], recorded "The Ballad of the Yellow Beret", chronicling the adventures of a [[draft dodger]].  The record was withdrawn after a [[cease and desist]] letter from Sadler.
* [[The Residents]] parodied the song on their ''[[Third Reich & Roll]]'' album.
* Another parody was used on an episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' that [[William Shatner]] hosted in 1986, called "Ollie North, The Mute Marine". Shatner participated in the sketch, outfitted in a USMC Class A uniform, alluding to [[Oliver North]]'s refusal to speak about his participation in the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]; Shatner spoke no words.
* The song is used to humorous effect in [[Michael Moore]]'s film ''[[Canadian Bacon (film)|Canadian Bacon]]'' as ill-informed Americans prepare for an invasion by [[Canada]].
* In the film ''[[Caddyshack]]'', [[Bill Murray]] mumbles the song under his breath while he is connecting the wires to the plunger as he prepares for his final battle with his [[gopher (animal)|gopher]] nemesis.
* In an episode of ''[[Cheers]]'', Cliff Clavin aborts his plans to emigrate to Canada with his love interest when Sam, Woody, and Frasier appeal to his patriotic side by singing the song.
== Charts ==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Chart performance for "The Ballad of the Green Berets"
! scope="col"| Chart (1966)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Germany ([[GfK Entertainment Charts|Official German Charts]])<ref>[http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Staff+Sergeant+Barry+Sadler&titel=The+Ballad+Of+The+Green+Berets&cat=s "Swedishcharts.com – STAFF SERGEANT BARRY SADLER - THE BALLAD OF THE GREEN BERETS"]. [[Sverigetopplistan|Singles Top 100]].</ref>
|style="text-align:center"|4
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|31|artist=Barry Sadler|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|South Africa (Springbok Radio SA Top 20)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sa_charts_1969_1989_songs_(A-B).html|title = South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Songs (A-B)}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center"|1
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|24|artist=Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=SSgt Barry Sadler|rowheader=true|refname="Hot100"}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=SSgt Barry Sadler|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|2|artist=SSgt Barry Sadler|rowheader=true}}
|}
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Ballad of the Green Berets"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Sgt. Barry Sadler|title=Ballad of the Green Berets|award=Gold|relyear=1966|certyear=1966|access-date=July 1, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== Further reading ==
* Collins, Ace (2003). ''Songs Sung, Red, White, and Blue: The Stories Behind America's Best-Loved Patriotic Songs''.  HarperResource.  {{ISBN|0-06-051304-7}}.
== External links ==
* ''[http://marcleepson.com/sadler/index.html Ballad of the Green Berets: The Life and Wars of Army Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler]'' by Marc Leepson (Stackpole Books, 2017)
* [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=the-ballads-of-the-green-berets-r67869|pure_url=yes}} ''Ballads of the Green Berets''] at [[AllMusic]]
* [http://joangushin.net/pass.html "Soon This Will Pass"] sung by Joan Gibbs at Barbara Joan Gushin
{{Billboard Year-End number one singles 1960–1979}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballad of the Green Berets, The}}
[[Category:Songs of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:American patriotic songs]]
[[Category:Pop ballads]]
[[Category:Barry Sadler songs]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in South Africa]]
[[Category:Songs about the military]]
[[Category:1966 singles]]
[[Category:1966 songs]]
[[Category:Anita Lindblom songs]]
[[Category:RCA Victor singles]]