Dear Uncle Sam

"Dear Uncle Sam"
Single by Loretta Lynn
from the album I Like 'Em Country
B-side	"Hurtin' for Cheatin'"
Released	January 1966
Format	7" single
Recorded	November 15, 1965 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genre	Honky tonk country
Length	2:14
Label	Decca
Writer(s)	Loretta Lynn
Producer(s)	Owen Bradley
Loretta Lynn singles chronology
"When I Hear My Children Pray" (1965) "Dear Uncle Sam" (1966) "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" (1966)

"Dear Uncle Sam" is a song written and originally recorded by American country artist Loretta Lynn. It was released as a single in January 1966 via Decca Records.

Background and reception

"Dear Uncle Sam" was recorded at the Columbia Recording Studio on November 15, 1965. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the session was produced by renowned country music producer Owen Bradley. Three additional tracks were recorded during this session, including the single's B-side, "Hurtin' for Cheatin'".^[1]

"Dear Uncle Sam" is told from the perspective of a wife whose spouse is entering the Vietnam War. It was one of the first country music songs to discuss war. It was Lynn's first self-composed song to enter the country music charts.^[2]

"Dear Uncle Sam" reached number four on the Billboard Hot Country Singles survey in 1966. The song became her seventh top ten single on the country chart. It was included on her 1966 studio album, I Like 'Em Country.^[3]

Track listings

7" vinyl single^[4]

• "Dear Uncle Sam" – 2:14
• "Hurtin' for Cheatin'" – 2:00

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1966)	Peak position
US Hot Country Singles (Billboard)[3]	4

References

1. "Praguefrank's Country Discography 2: Loretta Lynn, part 1". Praguefrank. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
2. "Top 10 War Songs in Country Music: Loretta Lynn: Dear Uncle Sam (#7)". The Boot. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research.
4. "Loretta Lynn - Dear Uncle Same/Hurtin' for Cheatin' (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 April 2016.