"Khe Sahn", an Oz classic by Cold Chisel

Here's to all of the wanderers in the world (like myself), who are still looking to find themselves and their direction...whether it be in the US, Europe, Australia, or with 'some jaded Chinese princess' in Hong Kong. May we all get to where we're going, whatever path that may be, however long that takes.



Some background on the performing band, Cold Chisel, (yes, Aussie readers, their legend is still largely unknown in the US of A, believe it or not) is from Wikipedia references here. The Wikipedia also has some interesting facts about this song, too.

The lyrics below are from the Cold Chisel website. As yes, in a nod to the irony of it all and as all my faithful readers will here will attest, I change the lyrics when singing this to: "You know the last plane out to Sydney's almost gone." Just because Jimmy Barnes and Co may want to leave Oz, doesn't mean I necessarily would.

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"Khe Sahn"
Performed by Cold Chisel, circa 1978
I left my heart to the sappers round Khe Sanh
And my soul was sold with my cigarettes to the blackmarket 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 1973
How we sailed into Sydney Harbour
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, paypacket lean
And the telex writers clattered where the gunships once had been
But the car parks made me jumpy
And I never stopped the dreams
Or the growing need for speed and novacaine

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
But the nightlife nearly drove me round the bend

And I've travelled 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

You know the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone
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
Yeah 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.