I was not conscripted like many others to fight in Vietnam, i knew quite a few who were and who suffered badly on return. Returned vets were treated really badly due to very large opposition to the Vietnam war by Australian citizens. Khe Sahn sums this up really well. Pretty sure it was written by Cold Chisel keyboard player Don Walker, a great songwriter who wrote many Chisel hits, including 'Flame Trees' which you already reacted too. He never wasted a word. Love your work Honi Mama, thanks very much!!!!
This was probably the most popular song in Australia for most of the 1980's, 1990's and 2000's on all the 'rock' radio stations. Play it in a pub and any Aussie over 30 will be able to sing along to all the lyrics.
The band spoke with a heap of vietnam vets (who were all treated extremely badly on return) and from the stories they told, an Australian Rock Classic was born
One of my brothers had the wrong birthday but was saved from conscription with the election of the Labor Government. I was young then but invested in the politics and what I recall was that everyone was just relieved that we were out of this really stupid war. Your version of recrimination is the history written by the conservative press. They had that click bait back then too, but also the legacy of conservative government to uphold. But these days the recrimination I’ve heard from vets, not an anecdotal experience or manipulated video but men who went to camera on ABC and said they were shunned by the RSL - it was from them they they felt the revulsion. They didn’t explain the why the RSL was so aggressive. Was it because they weren’t triumphant? … or because they were dragged there by government under the threat of imprisonment …. Or because so many civilians were killed in the war? I live in SA where the RSL isn’t a powerful lobby/enterprise and so the facts have always been far clearer to me.
The other fact that needs to be corrected was that Australians were never at Khe Sanh. When John Schumann wanted to record the song he asked Walker if he could change it to Long Tan. And the answer was please, please - he’d written the song long before they’d been any prospect of getting a recording contract and never thought it’d matter. But I guess the vets felt that it was a song that recognised them and their trials when no one else did and so it was successful and that was why it was an important song. Walker is a superb song writer but it was Drummer Steve Prestwich who wrote the ultimate tribute to the modern veteran - When the War Is Over.
oh, you are so, so right. i am sorry i wasn't as informed as you - i do stand corrected. I will ask my army mates what they think - does a slight historical/geographica anomaly matter more than getting the story told? Believe you me, Kathy, I will get back to you in regards to their feedback
@@theubiquejim I thrive on the opinions of others so I welcome the views of your friends. And I accept that I may have to reevaluate my sense of what was occurring if your friends did experience abuse as history via the press has said. But I feel that because I’ve never seen that evidence and also because anti war protesters at the time well understood that soldiers were there under threat of imprisonment, I have concluded that the animosity didn’t really exist. But people in the eastern states get excited in ways that don’t relate to facts so much. But they can also be convinced of shit that didn’t happen because they’ve been hammered with that story. What I have now since recalled from the previous post is that a Vietnam Vet saying when he tried to join the RSL - they said - That wasn’t a real war. Who knows what that means? Little club mentality most likely. A territorial thing. So yeah, maybe I made my point too strongly … or not? Could be that they didn’t want veterans from a stupid war that lacked political integrity coz it was off brand.
Maybe you need to talk to some Vets. My uncle had a hard time on returning. There was the typical name calling, being spat at and other garbage from the anti war crowd (painting "rape" on the Shrine was soo fucking low) but also girls wouldn't go out with Vets, people that he knew didn't want to know him anymore. Even Jon Fein apologised for how he treated returning Vets. The RSL members didn't think Vietnam was a real war, though both my uncle and father in law assure me as front line combat troops, the VC were shooting real bullets.
Great song great reaction. All the verses, then the chorus! Australia went to Vietnam too. This was their first ever hit, although at first they couldn't get it on the radio due to the references to drugs and sex. But you put this on in a pub and people will still sing along today! Thanks for reacting
This song was like a nuclear explosion when it came out in Cold Chisel's first album in 1978. No main stream radio stations would play it at the time because of a couple of the lyrics but it is now, nearly 50 years later, the other Australian national anthem. As a veteran myself it talks to a whole range of veterans' experiences and especially the fact that most people (for entirely understandable reasons as civilians) don't really understand how we view the world and how we were damaged in varying degrees by our service. Cold Chisel is a national treasure here in Australia and no-one over l suppose 30 years old doesn't know the words to this song. 💙from Australian/Kiwi cuz
You are such a sweetheart! Their saying "the last plane out of Sydneys almost gone.". meaning of you want to go back, that's your last flight fia while. Like he says,"I'm going nowhere and I'm in a hurry".
I love seeing you get the sadness of this song. For me the saddest line ever is: "there aint nothing like the kisses of a jaded Chinese princess. I'm gonna hit some Hong Kong mattress all night long" It is like the rough Aussie version of Simon & Garfunkel's "But I get no offers, Just a come-on from the whores on 7th Avenue, I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome I took some comfort there" The only thing sadder than a lonely man resorting to the comforts of a poor prostitute is the sadness of the woman herself. The "jaded" in the Chinese princess gets me every time.
Always love a song when it’s got a harmonica playing in it. This is one of my favourite Cold Chisel songs that’s heaps for doing my request. You might wanna fix the spelling in the title, it’s Sanh not Sahn. Could make a difference In the algorithm of people finding this reaction
Its Adam again. I just rewatched your video and I have to say that what I love is you don't stop the song to waffle on. You let it play and then comment. If only more people took a many leaves from your book.🤟❤️
Hey hey fucknnn hey LOL 😂its ya goofy m8te from Australia..the picture is of what i want you to react to next..[ you got nothing I want music video- cold chisel ]..its about cold chisel turning there backs on being big in America...ya goofy m8te from Australia
Play this at ANY Aussie pub at 1 am and you'll get a sing-along like nothing ever heard 🤣. Classic
Play it anywhere in the world, if there's an Aussie present you got a song along
True dat😅
True dat😅
I was not conscripted like many others to fight in Vietnam, i knew quite a few who were and who suffered badly on return. Returned vets were treated really badly due to very large opposition to the Vietnam war by Australian citizens. Khe Sahn sums this up really well. Pretty sure it was written by Cold Chisel keyboard player Don Walker, a great songwriter who wrote many Chisel hits, including 'Flame Trees' which you already reacted too. He never wasted a word.
Love your work Honi Mama, thanks very much!!!!
Yep, Don did write it. I have met Don as we move in the same circles. He's a very measured, astute, fascinating man.
This was probably the most popular song in Australia for most of the 1980's, 1990's and 2000's on all the 'rock' radio stations.
Play it in a pub and any Aussie over 30 will be able to sing along to all the lyrics.
Last Chisel gig I was at in Busselton a few years ago, 50% would have been in their 20's or less. B the way, I wasn't the oldest either.
Im 32 but im blown away sometimes by how many of the younger lot actually know this shit hey its timeless
The band spoke with a heap of vietnam vets (who were all treated extremely badly on return) and from the stories they told, an Australian Rock Classic was born
One of my brothers had the wrong birthday but was saved from conscription with the election of the Labor Government. I was young then but invested in the politics and what I recall was that everyone was just relieved that we were out of this really stupid war. Your version of recrimination is the history written by the conservative press. They had that click bait back then too, but also the legacy of conservative government to uphold. But these days the recrimination I’ve heard from vets, not an anecdotal experience or manipulated video but men who went to camera on ABC and said they were shunned by the RSL - it was from them they they felt the revulsion. They didn’t explain the why the RSL was so aggressive. Was it because they weren’t triumphant? … or because they were dragged there by government under the threat of imprisonment …. Or because so many civilians were killed in the war? I live in SA where the RSL isn’t a powerful lobby/enterprise and so the facts have always been far clearer to me.
The other fact that needs to be corrected was that Australians were never at Khe Sanh. When John Schumann wanted to record the song he asked Walker if he could change it to Long Tan. And the answer was please, please - he’d written the song long before they’d been any prospect of getting a recording contract and never thought it’d matter. But I guess the vets felt that it was a song that recognised them and their trials when no one else did and so it was successful and that was why it was an important song. Walker is a superb song writer but it was Drummer Steve Prestwich who wrote the ultimate tribute to the modern veteran - When the War Is Over.
oh, you are so, so right. i am sorry i wasn't as informed as you - i do stand corrected.
I will ask my army mates what they think - does a slight historical/geographica anomaly matter more than getting the story told?
Believe you me, Kathy, I will get back to you in regards to their feedback
@@theubiquejim I thrive on the opinions of others so I welcome the views of your friends. And I accept that I may have to reevaluate my sense of what was occurring if your friends did experience abuse as history via the press has said. But I feel that because I’ve never seen that evidence and also because anti war protesters at the time well understood that soldiers were there under threat of imprisonment, I have concluded that the animosity didn’t really exist. But people in the eastern states get excited in ways that don’t relate to facts so much. But they can also be convinced of shit that didn’t happen because they’ve been hammered with that story. What I have now since recalled from the previous post is that a Vietnam Vet saying when he tried to join the RSL - they said - That wasn’t a real war. Who knows what that means? Little club mentality most likely. A territorial thing. So yeah, maybe I made my point too strongly … or not? Could be that they didn’t want veterans from a stupid war that lacked political integrity coz it was off brand.
Maybe you need to talk to some Vets. My uncle had a hard time on returning. There was the typical name calling, being spat at and other garbage from the anti war crowd (painting "rape" on the Shrine was soo fucking low) but also girls wouldn't go out with Vets, people that he knew didn't want to know him anymore. Even Jon Fein apologised for how he treated returning Vets.
The RSL members didn't think Vietnam was a real war, though both my uncle and father in law assure me as front line combat troops, the VC were shooting real bullets.
Great song great reaction. All the verses, then the chorus! Australia went to Vietnam too. This was their first ever hit, although at first they couldn't get it on the radio due to the references to drugs and sex. But you put this on in a pub and people will still sing along today! Thanks for reacting
The song was written by the Pianist (Don Walker) for his uncle who returned from duty in Vietnam with PTSD.
Peace to you. Thanks for listening to our spiritual national anthem.
This song was like a nuclear explosion when it came out in Cold Chisel's first album in 1978. No main stream radio stations would play it at the time because of a couple of the lyrics but it is now, nearly 50 years later, the other Australian national anthem.
As a veteran myself it talks to a whole range of veterans' experiences and especially the fact that most people (for entirely understandable reasons as civilians) don't really understand how we view the world and how we were damaged in varying degrees by our service.
Cold Chisel is a national treasure here in Australia and no-one over l suppose 30 years old doesn't know the words to this song.
💙from Australian/Kiwi cuz
The Khe Sanh lyrics should be on the Aussie citizenship test!
Thank goodness for the words on the screen..I understand if people don’t want it but it really does help me
Thankyou my darl'n, for taking time out of your day to react to this brilliant Aussie classic.
Sorry for the misspellings, I'm drunk.🤣❤️
U Rock beautiful Lady and thank you for your reaction..So much Love & Respect from DownUnder 🙏❤🙏
You are such a sweetheart! Their saying "the last plane out of Sydneys almost gone.". meaning of you want to go back, that's your last flight fia while. Like he says,"I'm going nowhere and I'm in a hurry".
Nobody rips into a rock song like an Australian!
I love seeing you get the sadness of this song.
For me the saddest line ever is: "there aint nothing like the kisses of a jaded Chinese princess. I'm gonna hit some Hong Kong mattress all night long"
It is like the rough Aussie version of Simon & Garfunkel's "But I get no offers, Just a come-on from the whores on 7th Avenue, I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome I took some comfort there"
The only thing sadder than a lonely man resorting to the comforts of a poor prostitute is the sadness of the woman herself. The "jaded" in the Chinese princess gets me every time.
Cold Chisel formed in Sydney in 1973 same time as AC/DC
Formed in 1973 but in Adelaide. Moved to Sydney in 1977.
Adelaide
Always love a song when it’s got a harmonica playing in it. This is one of my favourite Cold Chisel songs that’s heaps for doing my request. You might wanna fix the spelling in the title, it’s Sanh not Sahn. Could make a difference In the algorithm of people finding this reaction
Most of us know this song word for word
Its Adam again. I just rewatched your video and I have to say that what I love is you don't stop the song to waffle on. You let it play and then comment. If only more people took a many leaves from your book.🤟❤️
When this is done live by chisel, Louder, Harder & faster. Live , not a studio band.
Khe Sanh has no relationship with Australias involvement in vietnam,so i can't see any connection .We were don south.
Hey hey fucknnn hey LOL 😂its ya goofy m8te from Australia..the picture is of what i want you to react to next..[ you got nothing I want music video- cold chisel ]..its about cold chisel turning there backs on being big in America...ya goofy m8te from Australia