Khe Sanh
Cold Chisel
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I left my heart to the sappers round Khe Sanh And the soul was sold with my cigarettes to the black market man I've had the Vietnam cold turkey From the ocean to the Silver City And it's only other vets could understand About the long forgotten dockside guarantees How there were no V-day heroes in nineteen seventhy-three How we sailed into Sydney Harbor Saw an old friend but couldn't kiss her She was lined, and I was home to the lucky land And she was like so many more from that time on Their lives were all so empty, till they found their chosen one And their legs were often open But their minds were always closed And their hearts were held in fast suburban chains And the legal pads were yellow, hours long, pay packet lean And the telex writers clattered where the gunships once had been Car parks made me jumpy And I never stopped the dreams Or the growing need for speed and Novocaine So I worked across the country end to end Tried to find a place to settle down, where my mixed up life could mend Held a job on an oil-rig Flying choppers when I could Oh but the nightlife nearly drove me round the bend And I've traveled round the world from year to year And each one found me aimless, one more year the more for wear And I've been back to South East Asia But the answer sure ain't there But I'm drifting north, to check things out again, yeah I am Well the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone And only seven flying hours, and I'll be landing in Hong Kong There ain't nothing like the kisses From a jaded Chinese princess I'm gonna hit some Hong Kong mattress all night long Well the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone You know the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone And it's really got me worried I'm goin' nowhere and I'm in a hurry And the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone Well the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone You know the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone And it's really got me worried I'm goin' nowhere and I'm in a hurry You know the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone
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Written by: DONALD WALKER
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Song Introduction"Khe Sanh" is one of the most famous songs performed by Australian rock band Cold Chisel. It was released as a 45 rpm single in May 1978 and appeared on their self-titled debut album in November that year.
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Hit ChartsAlthough the song did not hit the top charts due to broadcasting restrictions, it has since become one of the most popular songs in Australia, frequently appearing in 'best of' music polls.
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Compositional CreditsThe song was written by the band's keyboard player, Don Walker, who was known for his deep and suggestive lyrics.
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Broadcasting RestrictionsThe song was banned from commercial radio at the time of its release due to its explicit references to drugs and sex. This greatly affected its chart performance.
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Song Theme"Khe Sanh" is a song about a Vietnam veteran struggling to reintegrate into society following the war. The title refers to the Battle of Khe Sanh in 1968, fought during the Vietnam War.
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Influence"Khe Sanh" became synonymous with the Australian experience of the Vietnam War, and its portrayal of veterans' post-war trauma has been praised for bringing attention to their struggles.
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Cultural RecognitionIn 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) named "Khe Sanh" as one of the top 30 Australian songs of all time.
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Popular CoverIn 2007, Khe Sanh was covered by Australia's country music queen, Lee Kernaghan, and became a country music hit.
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Sports Connection"Khe Sanh" is often played at Australian Rules Football matches and has become something of an anthem in the sporting world.
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Album PerformanceDespite the restrictions on "Khe Sanh", the album "Cold Chisel" was a major success. It stayed in the Australian album charts for an impressive 150 weeks.
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Music VideoThe music video of "Khe Sanh" features the band performing the song at a live concert, interspersed with historical footage from the Vietnam War.
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Live PerformancesThe song is a staple of Cold Chisel's live performances, often featuring as the closing number and getting the loudest audience response.
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Citation
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"Khe Sanh Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 11 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/1377000/Cold+Chisel/Khe+Sanh>.
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