The band formed in Adelaide in 1973 as a heavy metal band called Orange around keyboard player Don Walker and original bassist Les Kascmarek and while hard rock remained at the core of their sound Cold Chisel displayed a remarkable versatility. Read Full BioCold Chisel produced the canonical example of Australian pub rock, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and they are acknowledged as one of the most popular and successful Australian groups of the period, although this success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to Australia.
The band formed in Adelaide in 1973 as a heavy metal band called Orange around keyboard player Don Walker and original bassist Les Kascmarek and while hard rock remained at the core of their sound Cold Chisel displayed a remarkable versatility. When Kascmarek left in 1975, Walker became the major creative force of the band. Built around Walker's superb songwriting, the group also featured the dazzling guitar and vocal talents of Ian Moss and the enormously powerful lead vocals of Scottish immigrant Jimmy Barnes.
While typically classified as a hard-driving rock and roll band, the Chisel repertoire included such Australian anthems as the landmark Vietnam War song "Khe Sanh", "Bow River", "Flame Trees" and "Saturday Night", but also included thoughtful ballads like "Choir Girl" (written about the subject of abortion), pop-flavoured love songs like "My Baby" and caustic political statements like "Star Hotel", an attack on the late-70s government of Malcolm Fraser and inspired by a riot at a Newcastle pub. The music was not political in context, however Walker's songs were observations of everyday life within the Australian society and culture. One song from this period, "Misfits", which featured on the b-side to "My Baby", was written in the same vein as Chuck Berry, and was about homeless kids in the suburbs surrounding Sydney.
Cold Chisel weren't just a band, they were a lifestyle for many of their followers, who were known as some of the roughest in the land. This gave Chisel their hard living approach to their music and made them a tough live band as well. More than 30 years after they originally played together, they attract generation after generation of new listeners. This is also evidence of Chisel's dominance of the pub rock era. They are the only Australian band to have sold more records after breakup than before and are among other bands that have become transgenerational. "Khe Sanh" consistently ranks highly in lists of Australia's most popular songs and their music remains a staple of rock station playlists. The Ian Moss song "Never Before" (from the East LP) was chosen by FM rock station 2JJJ (Triple Jay) as the first record played on-air when the station made its transition from AM to FM in 1980.
By 1983 the band had reached the zenith of their career in Australia and with overseas markets reluctant to accept them, Cold Chisel began to disintegrate. Their abortive US sojourn was commemorated in Barnes' excoriating rocker "You Got Nothing I Want" from the Circus Animals album, an emotional volume created from the frustration of the band’s experiences overseas.
Increasing internal tensions and the pressures of touring took their toll and Steve Prestwich -- who was often in conflict with Barnes -- left the band, to be replaced by veteran Australian drummer Ray Arnott (ex Spectrum). Shortly afterward, in 1984, Cold Chisel announced their split and a series of farewell concerts, for which Prestwich re-joined. That tour became a legend in itself and was not without incident when Barnes lost his voice before the Sydney shows, which then had to be rescheduled. The band's final performance was filmed for the documentary concert film The Last Stand, which remains to this day the best-selling concert film of any single Australian act.
In mid 2011 the group announced a series of upcoming concerts.
Khe Sanh
Cold Chisel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
And the soul was sold with my cigarettes to the blackmarket man
I 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 Harbor, I saw an old friend but I couldn't kiss her
Well, she was lined, and I was home to the lucky land
Well, she was like so many more from that time on
Their lives were all so empty 'until 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-packets lean
And the telex writers clattered where the gunships once had been
Car parks make me jumpy, and I never stopped the dreams
Or the growing need for speed and Novocain
So I worked across the country from end to end
Tried to find a place to settle down, where my mixed up life could mend
I held a job on an oil rig, flyin' 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 worse for wear
And I've been back to Southeast Asia, and the answer sure ain't there
But I'm drifting north, to check things out again, yes, 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
And 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
You know 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
No, 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
The song "Khe Sanh" by Cold Chisel is an emotive and powerful reflection of the Vietnam War and its effects on the soldiers who fought it. The lyrics delve into the psyche of a veteran who is struggling to come to terms with his experiences of war and the difficulties he has faced since returning home. In the first stanza, the soldier reflects on the things he left behind when he was deployed to Khe Sanh, including his heart and soul. He also mentions the Vietnam cold turkey, a colloquial term used to describe the symptoms of withdrawal soldiers experienced when returning from Vietnam. The stanza ends on a hopeful note, with the soldier acknowledging that only other veterans can truly understand his experiences.
The second stanza offers a bleak picture of life for many Vietnam veterans after they returned home. The soldier reflects on the empty lives of the women he encountered, who were seeking solace after the war. He also mentions the grind of everyday life, with its legal pads, long hours, and small pay packets. The stanza ends with a reflection on the growing need for speed and Novocain, likely referring to the use of drugs as a coping mechanism.
In the final stanza, the soldier reflects on his futile attempts to find a place to settle down and live a normal life. He has traveled the world and returned to Southeast Asia in search of answers, but to no avail. The stanza ends with the soldier acknowledging that he is still adrift and searching for meaning in his life.
Overall, "Khe Sanh" is a poignant and raw reflection on the struggles faced by Vietnam veterans after experiencing the trauma of war.
Line by Line Meaning
I left my heart to the sappers 'round Khe Sanh
I lost a piece of myself during my time at Khe Sanh
And the soul was sold with my cigarettes to the blackmarket man
I traded my morals and values for small comforts in a time of war
I had the Vietnam cold turkey from the ocean to the Silver City
I experienced the pain and suffering of the Vietnam War both overseas and at home
And it's only other vets could understand
The shared trauma and experiences of other veterans is the only thing that makes me feel understood
About the long forgotten dockside guarantees
Promises made to us when we returned home from war have been forgotten
How there were no V-Day heroes in 1973
The lack of victory and celebration upon returning from Vietnam made us feel less like heroes
How we sailed into Sydney Harbor, I saw an old friend but I couldn't kiss her
Coming home from war was bittersweet, I saw familiar faces but couldn't fully embrace them due to my experiences
Well, she was lined, and I was home to the lucky land
She had lived through her own struggles, but I was fortunate to make it home alive
Well, she was like so many more from that time on
She was one of many who struggled to find meaning and purpose after the war
Their lives were all so empty 'until they found their chosen one
Many people found solace in relationships, but still struggled with their own inner emptiness
And their legs were often open, but their minds were always closed
Sex and pleasure offered temporary relief, but we struggled to truly connect with others
And their hearts were held in fast suburban chains
We felt trapped and limited by societal expectations and norms
And the legal pads were yellow, hours long, pay-packets lean
The jobs we worked were often mundane and unfulfilling, with little pay and long hours
And the telex writers clattered where the gunships once had been
Our work in offices and other jobs felt insignificant compared to the intense experiences of war
Car parks make me jumpy, and I never stopped the dreams
Normal, mundane surroundings can still trigger memories and nightmares of the past
Or the growing need for speed and Novocain
We turned to drugs and other ways to numb our pain and seek excitement
So I worked across the country from end to end
I tried to find purpose and stability by working various jobs across the country
Tried to find a place to settle down, where my mixed up life could mend
I searched for a place to call home and start over, hoping to heal from the trauma of war
I held a job on an oil rig, flyin' choppers when I could
I tried to find work that felt meaningful and made use of the skills I had acquired during the war
Oh, but the nightlife nearly drove me 'round the bend
The party culture and chaos of nightlife made it hard for me to find peace and overcome my trauma
And I've traveled 'round the world from year to year
I have moved from place to place, seeking new experiences and a sense of purpose
And each one found me aimless, one more year the worse for wear
Despite my travels, I still feel lost and unfulfilled, with each passing year feeling more hopeless
And I've been back to Southeast Asia, and the answer sure ain't there
Returning to the place where my trauma occurred did not bring me closer to healing or finding answers
But I'm drifting north, to check things out again, yes, I am
I am still searching, still exploring, still trying to find my way
And only seven flying hours, and I'll be landing in Hong Kong
I am traveling to a new place, hoping to find something new and different
And there ain't nothing like the kisses from a jaded Chinese princess
I am seeking comfort and connection, but I know it may be shallow and fleeting
I'm gonna hit some Hong Kong mattress all night long
I am throwing myself into pleasures and distractions, but I know they will not fulfill me in the long run
No, it's really got me worried, I'm goin' nowhere and I'm in a hurry
Despite my endless searching and distractions, I feel stuck and aimless, with time slipping away
You know the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone
Time is running out, and I feel the pressure to find meaning and purpose before it's too late
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Donald Hugh Walker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SCG8
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 I 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 packets lean
And the telex writers clattered where the gunships once had been
Car parks make me jumpy
And I never stopped the dreams
Or the growing need for speed and Novocaine
So I worked across the country from 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 worse 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, yes 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
Curtis T
It's so weird being a US Air Force vet and this Australian Vietnam era song hits closer to home than any of popular the US war songs.
HNR
Thank you for your service ❤️
Bradley Condon
@CMA Melgna no worries. I don’t know what ps is? Have a good one. ( get msgs sent to me by mistake to me alot )?. All the best
ceeejay
Us Aussies just get shit(like almost everything....like, kinda in a pragmatic way!? ...i think, lol
I dunno....I'm just a typical Aussie sheila
Matthew Latter
My dad told me once that when he was over in Scotland he was in a pub. He was drunk, so he got up and chose this song for karaoke. He then announced that '"any Australians who know this song, stand up and sing it with me". Apparently half the pub stood up and started singing this song. Shit I love Australia!
MissMadiGD
And people don't think we have a culture lol
Richard Monahan
Still still Our unofficial Anthem KENOATH
ShowaGojira
thanks mate thats much respect to us australians
Caitlyn East
Who doesn't love this land man I'm from wa
JimiJop Woodstock
Never tear those Power fans apart