I am looking for the words to this poem which was in an old scrapbook when I was a little girl during W.W.II. Some of the words were "I put my head on a G.I. pillow" Also at that time there was a poem about a "soldiers deck of cards".

[www.fathershands.com]

is the deck of cards

[www.armed-guard.com]

is the GI Pillow

The Deck of Cards poem was turned into a recording by Wink Martindale sometime in the late 50s/early 60s. It was a pretty big hit on the Top 40 charts as I recall. You can probably still find in shops that specialize in old 45 RPMs.

JoeT

Thank you very much !!!

Wink Martindale? Indeed !

Hey, I don't name 'em, I just remember 'em.

I thought he was only a game show host !

His real name is Winston Martindale.

Check this out:
[searchfortruth.freeservers.com]

Read more about him here:
[www.nashspeakers.com]

Wow! That's more Wink Martindale information than anyone could ever want....or need. But thanks for validating the fact that the erstwhile, once seemingly omnipresent game-show host, did record "The Deck of Cards."

That song, as trite as some may regard it, has special significance for me. A group from New Zealand who called themselves The Maori Volcanoes, performed it as part of the finale to their act when they entertained at various US military installations in Viet Nam and Thailand during the Viet Nam War. They were an incredibly talented group of musicians, singers, and dancers who interwove "The Deck of Cards" with the song, "I Believe" as they closed their shows.

No other song was more meaningful to a group of homesick GIs than that. I saw the Maori Volcanoes perform it three or four times at Nakon Phanom Air Base in Thailand when I was there in '69, and they always brought the audience to its feet with their dramatic rendition.

JoeT

The articles from Marian-NYC were interesting. However, my sister seems to think Tex Ritter recorded the "deck of cards'. Anyone else think he did?? Could he have done it before "Wink" ??

I think it has been recorded many times. Bill Oddie (?) wrote a parody of it "cricket bag" in which the stumps bring to mind the Trinity, etc.

The poem was written by T. Texas Tyler, who was the first to record it. It was also recorded by a few others, including country music performer, Bill Anderson. The most notable and successful rendition, however, remains the Wink Martindale version.

JoeT

From Wikipedia...looks like Tex Ritter did all right with it too !

" In 1948, "Rye Whiskey" and his cover of "Deck Of Cards" both made the Top 10 and "Pecos Bill" reached #15."