Khe Sahn
Cold Chisel Lyrics

I left my heart to the sappers round Khe Sanh
I lost my desire to love, amidst the chaos of the Vietnam War

And my soul was sold with my cigarettes to the blackmarket man
I became devoid of spirit when I had to resort to black markets to fulfill my basic needs

I've had the Vietnam cold turkey
I had to quickly and abruptly adapt to a non-war lifestyle when I returned from Vietnam

From the ocean to the Silver City
I wandered aimlessly across the country, from beach towns to cities

And it's only other vets could understand
Only those who have experienced the horrors of war can relate to my struggles and feelings

About the long forgotten dockside guarantees
I reminisce about the promises of a better life that were made to me when I returned from war

How there were no V-dayheroes in 1973
We were not celebrated as heroes when we returned from Vietnam in 1973, despite our sacrifices

How we sailed into Sydney Harbour
We returned to our home country, hoping for a warm welcome and a return to normalcy

Saw an old friend but couldn't kiss her
I was forced to distance myself from those who were once close to me due to my changed state of mind

She was lined, and I was home to the lucky land
My friend's face was lined with experience and worry, while I was home but still struggling to adjust

And she was like so many more from that time on
My friend was just one of many who suffered from the emptiness and loneliness of post-war life

Their lives were all so empty, till they found their chosen one
Many turned to relationships to fill the void left by war

And their legs were often open
Some sought connection through casual sex

But their minds were always closed
Despite their experiences, many vets were hesitant to open up and share their struggles with others

And their hearts were held in fast suburban chains
Many vets felt trapped in a mundane suburban life that they couldn't escape from

And the legal pads were yellow, hours long, paypacket lean
The daily grind of work was tedious and hardly paid enough to survive

And the telex writers clattered where the gunships once had been
The noise of the office was a stark contrast to the sounds of war

But the car parks made me jumpy
Even everyday places like car parks could trigger anxiety and PTSD

And I never stopped the dreams
Nightmares and flashbacks haunted me even when I was awake

Or the growing need for speed and novacaine
I turned to drugs and risky behavior to escape the memories and pain of war

So I worked across the country end to end
I tried to find a sense of purpose and belonging by traveling and working various jobs across the country

Tried to find a place to settle down, where my mixed up life could mend
I yearned for stability and normalcy, hoping to finally find a place to call home

Held a job on an oil-rig
One of the many odd jobs I worked to make ends meet

Flying choppers when I could
I took whatever work I could get, including flying helicopters

But the nightlife nearly drove me round the bend
The party lifestyle was thrilling but ultimately unsustainable, causing more harm than good

And I've travelled round the world from year to year
I've sought solace in traveling, hoping to find a sense of belonging outside of my home country

And each one found me aimless, one more year the worse for wear
Despite my efforts, each year left me feeling more lost and hopeless than the last

And I've been back to South East Asia
I returned to the place where it all began, hoping to find closure or answers

But the answer sure ain't there
Unfortunately, my journey did not provide the answers or closure I was searching for

But I'm drifting north, to check things out again
I remain restless and unable to settle down, constantly searching for something more

You know the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone
Time is running out for me to make a change or find happiness

Only seven flying hours, and I'll be landing in Hong Kong
Escape and adventure await me in a new destination

There ain't nothing like the kisses
I look forward to finding comfort in the arms of a new lover

From a jaded Chinese princess
I am drawn to the exotic and the unknown

I'm gonna hit some Hong Kong mattress all night long
I will indulge in pleasure and forget about my problems for a while

And it's really got me worried
Despite my attempts to escape, my life remains empty and unfulfilled

I'm goin' nowhere and I'm in a hurry
I am directionless but feel the need to keep moving and searching for something more

And the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone
Time is running out for me to find purpose and happiness in life