The Sandman

by Amy DeWitt | Jan 13, 2018 | Songs set in War Times

America’s Sandman – Soldier or Evader?

In this entry, I want to talk about America‘s song, Sandman. Over the holidays, I was listening to my son playing his Takamine guitar. He was showing me some new chords he had recently learned. Some of the chords seemed to be in a progression, that sounded so familiar. It was driving me crazy, but all I could remember, for the moment was, ‘Aint it foggy hm, hm, All the something, something, something’. What is that song? I racked my brain for half the day. Then, it finally came to me. I understand you’ve been running from the man, that goes by the name of the Sandman.

I have always loved the group America, and I always liked the song, Sandman. Once I remembered the name of the song, I told my son that he should learn it. I mean He was already half-way there. And as a bonus, the lyrics are talking about drinking beer with a long-lost friend. Those lyrics coincide with one of my son’s favorite past times. So, it is a perfect song for him. I digress.

My son had never heard the song Sandman

When my son told me he had never heard the song, I said, “Alexa play America, Sandman”. I had not heard this song in such a long time. And to be frank, it’s never been a lyrical standout for me. Nevertheless, I’ve always thought it was a cool song. In fact, a couple of my friends and I used to sing it around campfires, back in the day. It seemed appropriate, due to the line in the song, “There’s a fire inside, let’s all go stand around it.”

For me, Sandman was slightly more interesting than Muskrat Love.

Oddly enough, I never really thought too much about the meaning of Sandman. This was just another song, by America, that sounded good, but didn’t have a lot of depth for me. In other words, for me, it was slightly more interesting than Muskrat Love. But, I’m older now, and war still rages, and I knew the song had something to do with war. So, I really listened and I think I heard it this time.

I find myself writing about songs and lyrics lately. And, I was thinking, someone reading this might find my perspective interesting, or way off base. Either way, I wanted to address my thoughts on Sandman. As I listened, I heard a conversation between a draft dodger and a friend, that was on leave. from the Vietnam War. Funny, I’ve been there, you’ve been here, and we ain’t had no time to drink that beer. I understand you’ve been running from the man that goes by the name of the Sandman. He rides the sky, like an eagle in the eye of a hurricane that.s abandoned,

Dewey Bunnell wrote Sandman, based on conversations he had with soldiers.

I did a little research and learned that Dewey Bunnell, who wrote Sandman and sang the lead on their first album, America, in 1970. Bunnell and the other members of America, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley all met in London in High School. They were all sons of American Air Force personnel. The band formed after graduation in 1969. And America, the group’s first album, was released in 1971, and Sandman was the second track. Bunnell was also responsible for Horse With No Name and Tin Man among others.

At the age of 9, I already attended funerals for mere boys, serving in Vietnam.

In light of what I’ve now read, I’m not sure how I established my personal interpretation of what Sandman meant. That said, I think mine, is a valid perspective. I was a 9-year-old girl when the song came out. We were fighting in Vietnam, and I had already been to a few memorial services for young men that went to my church. Truth be told, even at my age, I thought the war was senseless. I’m much older and I hope wiser now, yet I still have the same opinion, we shouldn’t have been in Vietnam. I feel like I always knew about draft evasion and desertion, and I sympathized with those young men and their convictions.

I have now read Dewey Bunnell’s explanation, of writing Sandman, and his explanation of the song. In an interview, Bunnell talks of hearing Vietnam soldiers telling stories of how scared they were to even fall asleep, for fear of dying. Some of the soldiers even admitted to taking stimulants to avoid the ‘Sandman’. Personally, I think I’ll keep my own perspective on the song, and what it means. Because, either way, Mr. Bunnell was not talking about the Sandman that brings you sweet dreams. Rather he eludes to the Sandman that gives you nightmares you can never wake up from. I hope my son learns this song soon.

Sandman – Dewey Bunnell

Ain’t it foggy outside
All the planes have been grounded
Ain’t the fire inside?
Let’s all go stand around it
Funny, I’ve been there
And you’ve been here
And we ain’t had no time to drink that beer

(Chorus) ‘Cause I understand you’ve been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman

He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that’s abandoned

Ain’t the years gone by fast
I suppose you have missed them
Oh, I almost forgot to ask
Did you hear of my enlistment?

Funny, I’ve been there
And you’ve been here
And we ain’t had no time to drink that beer

‘Cause I understand you’ve been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman
He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that’s abandoned

Repeated 3 more times

Love Not War Playlist

War of Man – Neil Young, Excellent Cover by Ann Wilson(feat. Allison Krauss)

War Child – The Cranberries

Love Will Win the War – Darden Smith

Prisoner of War – David Wilcox

When the War Came – The Decemberists

The Cruel War – Peter, Paul & Mary, Excellent cover by Dolly Parton

War – Jonatha Brooke & the Story

War is Over – Melissa Etheridge

Bury Me Far (From My Uniform) – Joe Pug

It Ain’t The Old Cold War Harry – Grant Lee Phillips

The Crow On The Cradle – Jackson Browne Graham Nash & David Lindley

Soldiers – James Taylor

Peace Train – Cat Stevens, excellent cover by the late great Richie Havens

One Tin Soldier – Coven

Teach Your Children – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan

Get Together – Jesse Colin Young and the Youngbloods

For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield

Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Volunteers – Jefferson Airplane

Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds

Find The Cost Of Freedom – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

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6 Comments

Dave on April 6, 2019 at 7:06 am

Dan is “the late” not Gerry.
Amy on April 17, 2019 at 7:40 pm

Dave – Thank you for reading the post. I appreciate you catching my mistake. I took out “the late”. Thank you again! Amy
- 43151c crew chief mech. F4E Phantom fighter on November 7, 2019 at 4:44 pm
  
  I was assigned to Hahn Air Force Base in west germany in the late 70’s. Rumor had it that the base commander in the early 70’s call name was sandman and was a holy terror to his pilots on base. The reason why we felt that the song was written about the base and it’s commander because of the lyrics ” ain’t the fire inside..let’s all go and stand around it. The base bowling alley burned to the ground because the fire hydrants were all frozen and could not stop the fire. Colonel sandman probably. So Bunnell was being told this story by his father who may have been sent there temporary duty. It got very cold on that base cause it is on top of the highest points of S.Western Germany. So was our sister base bitberg a f base.
  - Amy DeWitt on November 18, 2019 at 5:37 pm
    
    First of all, thank you for the time and service you gave. I also appreciate you taking
    time to read and comment on the post. I also appreciate your take and “insider” information.
    
    Thank you
James Yellow Hawk on November 15, 2019 at 8:21 pm

I was there, Jan. 67 – Mar. 68 USMC 1st Bat./9th Marines. Still love the song. To me, JUST a song, no overt or covert meaning. Remember Bridge over troubled water? Everyone thought drugs were the bridge in that song. Radio stations would not, or could not play it (I guess that changed later on). To me, Just a song, a great one.
I never had an issue with draft dodgers, or protesters, BUT, remember, Hate the was, NOT the warriors!
Now, lets talk about “Where have all the flowers gone” 🙂
- Amy DeWitt on November 18, 2019 at 6:01 pm
  
  Hi James,
  
  Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my post. I agree that
  sometimes a song is just a song, but I am also a songwriter, and I know I
  write lyrics with obvious meanings and some with deeper, more complex meanings.
  This song for me has very complex lyrics that paint a very detailed intricate picture
  that leaves room for broad interpretation. Also,
  knowing that the boys that wrote it were privy to insider tales of the war and
  people involved, leaves even more room for wonder.
  
  As far as Where Have All the Flowers Gone, for me, that song lyrically paints an unmistakable
  view of its meaning. No interpretation needed.
  
  Thank you again,
  Amy