"Luang Prabang" is a song written by Dave Van Ronk, originally recorded by Patrick Sky for his album Songs That Made America Famous (finally released in 1973). Van Ronk recorded a version himself for Going Back To Brooklyn in 1985. It is named for the city Luang Prabang in Laos. It is one of the few songs Van Ronk wrote himself.[1] Patrick Sky discussed at a concert how Van Ronk was supposed to appear on the album but for some reason did not.[2] At this concert in 1973, Sky and Van Ronk performed the song together.
The song is based on the tune "Byker Hill", but with lyrics about the Vietnam War, and a refrain at the end of each verse of the song "now I'm a fuckin' hero".