Khe Sanh (song)

"Khe Sanh" is a Australian pub rock song, released by the band Cold Chisel in 1978, and named after the Battle of Khe Sanh (1968), during the Vietnam War. The song, written by pianist Don Walker, is about a bitter and disillusioned Australian Vietnam veteran. It is one of the most popular songs ever recorded by an Australian act and one generally seen as a resonant symbol of Australian culture.

Related Topics:
Australian pub rock - Song - Band - Cold Chisel - 1978 - Battle of Khe Sanh - 1968 - Vietnam War - Pianist - Don Walker - Vietnam veteran - Australian culture

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The mood of the song is typified by its first verse:

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I left my heart to the sappers round Khe Sanh

Related Topics:
Sapper - Khe Sanh

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And my soul was sold with my cigarettes to the black market man

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I've had the Vietnam cold turkey

Related Topics:
Vietnam - Cold turkey

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From the ocean to the Silver City

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And it's only other vets could understand

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"Khe Sanh", sung by the band's lead singer, Jimmy Barnes, was released as a 45 rpm single in May 1978. The record reached number four in the band's home town of Adelaide but peaked on the national sales charts at number 43. In August that same year, censors gave it an A Classification, meaning that it was "not suitable for airplay", due to sex and drug references. However, the ban did not affect the song's long term appeal and it is extremely popular among working class men born between 1955 and 1975.

Related Topics:
Jimmy Barnes - Rpm - Single - 1978 - Adelaide - Censor - Working class

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Other points about the song:

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• Few, if any, Australian military personnel were involved in the real Battle of Khe Sanh, which was fought by the United States forces on one side and North Vietnamese on the other.
• The line "Well the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone" is often misquoted as "the last train"
• A reference to soldiers returning from Vietnam sailing "into Sydney Harbour" is inaccurate, since Australian personnel travelled by air, often in Qantas airliners chartered for the purpose.
• During the Australian cricket team's tour of the Caribbean in 1995, the players accorded "Khe Sanh" the status of an unofficial team song and sang it frequently.
 
Khe Sanh (song): The lyrics ►