Vietnam-krigen afsatte selvfølgelig også en række sange, der enten forherligede amerikanernes heltemodige kamp eller – og dem var der flest af – protesterede mod krigen i ord og toner. Af en eller anden grund fik Gertruds kommentar mig til straks at mindes Donovans sang om Susan, der venter på Vestkysten. Som folkesanger var Donovan jo en af dem, der talte mod krig. Hvem husker ikke hans udgave af Buffy Sainte-Maries klassiske sang om The Universal Soldier. På samme EP, hvor denne sang figurerede, var der i øvrigt tre andre anti-krigs-sange, blandt andet The War Drags On og Ballad Of A Crystel Man.
Sangen kom i 1965, og på det tidspunkt var det endnu uhørt, at en ikke-amerikansk kunstner således talte imod Vietnam-krigen. Verdenopinionen havde endnu ikke vendt sig imod den.
Og i 1969 udsendte Donovan så singlen med Susan On The West Coast Waiting. På B-siden var Atlantis. B-siden blev et større hit. Og en af forklaringerne var, at de amerikanske DJ’s vendte pladen om og spillede B-siden igen og igen.
Men den calypso-inspirerede A-side var og er min favorit af de to sange.

To Susan on on the West Coast Waiting

Dear Susan, I know you love me so
But I want to hear it in my ear.
You know I’d be there working at my craft
Had it not been for the draft.
Dry up your tear and feel no fear,
You’re here with me like I’m there with you.
To Susan on the West Coast waiting,
From Andy in Vietnam fighting.
To Susan on the West Coast waiting,
From Andy in Vietnam fighting.
I’m writing a note beneath a tree,
The smell of the rain on the greenery.
Our fathers have painfully lost their way,
That’s why, my love, I’m here today
Hear me when I say there will come a day
When Kings will know and love can grow.
To Susan on the West Coast waiting,
From Andy in Vietnam fighting.
To Susan on the West Coast waiting,
From Andy in Vietnam fighting.
To Susan on the West Coast waiting,
From Andy in Vietnam fighting.
To Susan on the West Coast waiting,
From Andy in Vietnam fighting.
Susan, I know you love me so
But I’d like to hear it in my ear.
You know I’d be there working at my craft
Had it not been for the draft.
Dry up your tear and feel no fear,
You’re here with me like I’m there with you.
To Susan on the West Coast waiting,
From Andy in Vietnam fighting.
To Susan on the West Coast waiting,
From Andy in Vietnam fighting.
To Susan on the West Coast waiting,
From Andy supposedly hating.
To Susan on the West Coast waiting,
From Andy in Vietnam fighting.

Begge sange fra singlen findes på Donovans Greatest Hits-album som bonusnumre.