Lyrics of Tonkin Gulf by HistoryMusicNerd
In the Gulf of Tonkin 1964,
A storm was brewing, whispers of war.
The USS Maddox sailed the sea,
On August second claimed hostility.
North Vietnam’s boats, so they said,
Fired on the ship with bullets of lead.
But was it true or just a tale?
A spark for war, a growing gale.
Maddox ready for the fight
Boats or shadows in the night?
Who can tell whats wrong or right?
A snake against a wolf
In the Tonkin Gulf
Torpedos from the other side
But none that ever would collide
And soon the jungle did ignite.
A snake against a wolf
In the Tonkin Gulf
In the Tonkin Gulf
August forth, they claimed again,
Another attack in the storm and rain.
Torpedoes seen on the radar screen,
unleashed the US war machine.
“Fight communism“, said President Johnson,
authorized by the Tonkin Resolution.
Maddox ready for the fight
Boats or shadows in the night?
Who can tell whats wrong or right?
A snake against a wolf
In the Tonkin Gulf
Torpedos from the other side
But none that ever would collide
And soon the jungle did ignite.
A snake against a wolf
In the Tonkin Gulf
In the Tonkin Gulf
By early ’65, the skies turned red,
With Operation Rolling Thunder ahead.
Bombs rained down on jungle and towns,
Escalations sound with every round.
March of ’65, the shift began,
The first US Marines deployed to Da Nang.
Ground troops sent to defend the base,
Marking the start of a deadly race.
Maddox ready for the fight
Boats or shadows in the night?
Who can tell whats wrong or right?
A snake against a wolf
In the Tonkin Gulf
Torpedos from the other side
But none that ever would collide
And soon the jungle did ignite.
A snake against a wolf
In the Tonkin Gulf
In the Tonkin Gulf
In the Tonkin Gulf
Historical Background and Meaning
In short: The song is about the incident in the Tonkin Gulf, that led to the US entering Vietnam War.
Tonkin Gulf – The Spark That Lit the Vietnam War
Sometimes, wars start with a single bullet. Other times, they start with a lie.
In 1964, an alleged attack in the Gulf of Tonkin led the United States into a full-scale war in Vietnam. But did it really happen?
The Incident – A Battle That Never Was?
“In the Gulf of Tonkin 1964, a storm was brewing, whispers of war.”
On August 2, 1964, the USS Maddox, a U.S. Navy destroyer, was patrolling the Gulf of Tonkin.
- The North Vietnamese navy allegedly attacked the Maddox.
- The U.S. responded with gunfire and airstrikes.
- Two days later, another attack was reported—but no evidence was ever found.
“Maddox ready for the fight, boats or shadows in the night?”
Escalation – The War Begins
“Fight communism,” said President Johnson, authorized by the Tonkin Resolution.”
With limited evidence, President Lyndon B. Johnson asked Congress for the power to strike back.
- Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
- It gave Johnson unlimited military power in Vietnam.
- By 1965, the U.S. launched Operation Rolling Thunder—massive bombings of North Vietnam.
“By early ’65, the skies turned red, with Operation Rolling Thunder ahead.”
The Truth – Was It a Lie?
Years later, declassified reports showed:
- The second attack never happened.
- U.S. officials exaggerated intelligence to justify war.
- The Pentagon Papers (1971) revealed how the U.S. misled the public.
“Who can tell what’s wrong or right?”
The Vietnam War had begun—not with an invasion, but with a manufactured incident.
Want to Learn More?
- 🎥 The Tonkin Gulf Incident explained (YouTube)
- 🎥 Tonkin – The Attack that Made the US Join the Vietnam War – Animated History (YouTube)
- 📖 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Wikipedia)
- 📖 Operation Rolling Thunder (Wikipedia)
The Lesson?
One incident—real or fabricated—can drag an entire nation into war.
And in Vietnam, the cost was millions of lives.
