The Charlie Daniels Band was formed in 1970, with Charlie Daniels joined by Barry Barnes (guitar), Mark Fitzgerald (bass), Fred Edwards and Gary Allen (drums), and Taz DiGregorio (keyboards). They started recording southern rock-styled albums for Kama Sutra. Although a multi-instrumentalist, Daniels was a limited vocalist, but his voice was well suited to the talking-style "Uneasy Rider", which reached the US Top 10 in 1973. He followed it with his anthem for southern rock, "The South's Gonna Do It". In 1974, Daniels had members of The Marshall Tucker Band and The Allman Brothers Band join him onstage in Nashville. It was so successful that he decided to make his so-called Volunteer Jam an annual event. It led to some unlikely combinations of artists such as James Brown performing with Roy Acuff, and the stylistic mergers have included Crystal Gayle singing the blues with the Charlie Daniels Band.
The Charlie Daniels Band underwent some personnel changes on 1975's 'Nightrider", with Tom Crain, Charlie Hayward and Don Murray replacing Barnes, Fitzgerald and Allen respectively. When Daniels moved to Epic in 1976, there was a concerted effort to turn the band into a major concert attraction, despite the fact that at 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 20 stone Daniels was no teenage idol: he hid his face under an oversized cowboy hat. The albums sold well, and in 1979, when recording his "Million Mile Reflections" album, he recalled a 20s poem, "The Mountain Whipporwill", by Stephen Vincent Benet. The band developed this into "The Devil Went Down To Georgia", in which Johnny outplays the Devil to win a gold fiddle. Daniels overdubbed his fiddle seven times to create an atmospheric recording that topped the US country charts and reached number 3 in the US pop charts. It was also a UK Top 20 success.
In 1980 the band recorded "In America" for the hostages in Iran, and then in 1982, "Still In Saigon", about Vietnam. The band were featured on the soundtrack for Urban Cowboy and also recorded the theme for the Burt Reynolds movie "Stroker Ace". The 13th Volunteer Jam was held in 1987, but financial and time constraints meant the event was put on temporary hiatus (it resumed four years later). In the late 80s Daniels appeared in the movie "Lone Star Kid" and published a book of short stories, but continued touring and playing his southern boogie to adoring audiences.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, several of Daniels' albums and singles were hits on the Country charts and the music continues to receive airplay on country stations today. Daniels also released several Gospel and Christian records.
http://www.charliedaniels.com/
Still In Saigon
Charlie Daniels Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And got off in Vietnam
I walked into a different world
The past forever gone
I could have gone to Canada
Or I could have stayed in school
But I was brought up differently
Thirteen months and fifteen days
The last ones were the worst
One minute I'd kneel down and pray
And the next I'd stand and curse
No place to run to
Where I did not feel that war
When I got home I stayed alone
And checked behind each door
Cuz I'm still in Saigon
Still in Saigon
I am still in Saigon
In my mind
The ground at home was covered in snow
And I was covered in sweat
My younger brother calls me a killer
And my daddy calls me a vet
Everybody says I'm someone else
And I'm sick and there's no cure
Damned if I know who I am
There was only one place I was sure
When i was still in Saigon
Still in saigon
I am still in saigon
In my mind
Every summer when it rains
I smell the jungle, I hear the planes
I can't tell no one, I feel ashamed
Afraid some day I'll go insane
That's been ten long years ago
And time has gone on by
Now and then I catch myself
Eyes searching through the sky
All the sounds of long ago
Will be forever in my head
Mingled with the wounded cries
And the silence of the dead
'Cuz I'm still in Saigon
Still in Saigon
I am still in Saigon
In my mind
I am still in Saigon
I am still in Saigon
Yes, I'm still in Saigon
In my mind
The song “Still in Saigon” by Charlie Daniels Band is a powerful story about a Vietnam War veteran who is still haunted by his traumatic experiences in the war. The song tells the story of a soldier who joined the army rather than dodging the draft or fleeing to Canada. He was shipped off to Vietnam, where he stayed for thirteen months and fifteen days, the last ones being the worst. The song describes his struggle with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and how it has affected his life since he returned home.
The soldier struggles to come to terms with his experiences and feels isolated from those around him. He describes how he feels like a stranger in his own country and how his family and friends no longer understand him. The song tells of his fear of going insane and how the memories of the war will always be with him. The soldier is still in Saigon, in his mind.
The song is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of war on the lives of those who fight it. It highlights the struggles of veterans in dealing with PTSD and the challenges they face in reintegrating into civilian life. The lyrics of the song deliver a message of compassion and understanding for these soldiers who often find themselves forgotten and struggling to cope.
Line by Line Meaning
Got on a plane in 'Frisco
I boarded a flight in San Francisco
And got off in Vietnam
And disembarked in Vietnam
I walked into a different world
I found myself in a completely different reality
The past forever gone
My previous life was irretrievably lost
I could have gone to Canada
I had the choice to flee to Canada
Or I could have stayed in school
Or I could have continued with my education
But I was brought up differently
But my upbringing prevented me from deserting
I couldn't break the rules
I was unable to disobey orders
Thirteen months and fifteen days
I spent a year and a month in Vietnam
The last ones were the worst
The end of my tour was the most difficult
One minute I'd kneel down and pray
At times I found solace in prayer
And the next I'd stand and curse
While at other times I expressed my anger vocally
No place to run to
There was nowhere I could escape from the war
Where I did not feel that war
I was constantly aware of the war, no matter where I went
When I got home I stayed alone
When I returned home I kept to myself
And checked behind each door
I was paranoid and suspicious, always checking my surroundings
Cuz I'm still in Saigon
Because in my mind I am still in Saigon
Still in Saigon
Mentally, I am still in Vietnam
I am still in Saigon
My memories of Vietnam are still fresh
In my mind
Even though physically I am in a different place
The ground at home was covered in snow
When I returned home it was during winter
And I was covered in sweat
Despite the cold, I was still experiencing heavy sweating
My younger brother calls me a killer
My brother believes that I took human lives in Vietnam
And my daddy calls me a vet
While my father acknowledges my service in the war as a veteran
Everybody says I'm someone else
Those around me see me in a different light
And I'm sick and there's no cure
I am emotionally and psychologically unwell and there seems to be no remedy
Damned if I know who I am
I have lost my sense of identity and am uncertain of who I am
There was only one place I was sure
The only thing I am certain of is that I still feel trapped in the past
Every summer when it rains
Whenever it rains during summertime
I smell the jungle, I hear the planes
I am reminded of Vietnam, I can smell the vegetation and hear the aircraft
I can't tell no one, I feel ashamed
I cannot share these feelings with anyone, I am embarrassed
Afraid some day I'll go insane
I fear that I may lose my mind due to the trauma I experienced
That's been ten long years ago
It has been a decade since my involvement in Vietnam
And time has gone on by
The years have passed
Now and then I catch myself
Occasionally I find myself
Eyes searching through the sky
Looking up at the sky, scanning for signs of danger
All the sounds of long ago
The sounds that I heard in Vietnam
Will be forever in my head
Will be with me for the rest of my life
Mingled with the wounded cries
Combined with the agonizing screams of the injured
And the silence of the dead
And the haunting absence of those who lost their lives
'Cuz I'm still in Saigon
Because mentally, I am still in Vietnam
Yes, I'm still in Saigon
Indeed, I am still mentally trapped in the war
In my mind
Despite being physically removed from Vietnam
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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