2) - Kix originally called themselves "The Shooze" before changing that to "The Generators" (and, for a couple of weeks, "The Baltimore Cocks") before finally settling on "Kix".
Hanoi 68
The Generators Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
when he'd get his poison
he'd rest his bones
a vietnam vet,
star-spangled reject
you'll catch him at the shelter
on spring and 5th
pre chorus:
prayed hard to jesus christ
charlie got strung out in 69'
chorus:
long live charlie hurst
ho chi mihn and the 101st
the nva, and bombs away
hanoi rocked in 68'
phan chu was from
north vietnam
across the border
in a communist land
he ran guns for
the asha valley
fought for v.c
against the u.s. military
his village was wiped out
his family was gunned
he ran the jungle
in the middle of the night
charlie don't know how to surf
this one knew how to fight
chorus:
long live phan trihn
charlie hurst and ho chi mihn
lbj, the bombing campaign
hanoi rocked in 68'
68'... bomb's away...
hanoi rocked, in 68'
The lyrics in The Generators' song 'Hanoi 68' tell the stories of two characters, Charlie Hurst and Phan Chu, who were involved in different sides of the Vietnam War. Charlie Hurst was a veteran who was once hailed as a hero in Saigon but became a drug addict after returning from the war. He could often be found seeking refuge in a shelter on Spring and 5th. The song also mentions his contempt towards the US government and his admiration for the Vietnamese people, including the communist leader Ho Chi Minh.
Phan Chu, on the other hand, was from North Vietnam, across the border in a communist land. He fought for Viet Cong against the US military and ran guns for the Asha Valley. His village was attacked, and his family was killed, which made him run to the jungle in the middle of the night.
The song pays homage to the people who lost their lives during the Vietnam War while highlighting the political turmoil and human suffering that resulted from it. It portrays a sense of despair, desperation, and frustration that reflected the feelings of many Americans and Vietnamese during the time.
Line by Line Meaning
charlie hurst was a rolling stone
Charlie Hurst was a person who constantly moved from place to place.
when he'd get his poison
When he got drugs or alcohol.
he'd rest his bones
He would relax and rest.
a vietnam vet,
A person who fought in the Vietnam War.
star-spangled reject
A person who did not conform to American ideals.
you'll catch him at the shelter on spring and 5th
You can find him at a homeless shelter at the intersection of Spring and 5th street.
american icon, hero in saigon
A person who is viewed as a hero in Vietnam.
prayed hard to jesus christ
He had faith in Jesus.
charlie got strung out in 69'
Charlie became addicted to drugs in 1969.
long live charlie hurst ho chi mihn and the 101st
May Charlie Hurst, Ho Chi Minh, and the 101st army unit live long.
the nva, and bombs away
The North Vietnamese Army and bombs being dropped during the war.
phan chu was from north vietnam
Phan Chu was a person from North Vietnam.
across the border in a communist land
Across the border in a land with a form of government known as communism.
he ran guns for the asha valley
He helped supply guns for the Asha Valley.
fought for v.c against the u.s. military
He fought for the Viet Cong against the United States military.
his village was wiped out his family was gunned
His village was destroyed, and his family was killed by the military.
he ran the jungle in the middle of the night
He escaped through the jungle at night.
charlie don't know how to surf
Charlie does not know how to surf, which means he is not familiar with popular culture.
this one knew how to fight
Phan Chu was skilled at fighting.
long live phan trihn charlie hurst and ho chi mihn lbj the bombing campaign
May Phan Trihn, Charlie Hurst, Ho Chi Minh, and Lyndon B. Johnson's bombing campaign live long.
hanoi rocked in 68'
Hanoi was heavily impacted in 1968.
Contributed by Levi O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.