Following the album's release, the Screaming Jets went to the UK where they based themselves for over two years, touring there and throughout Europe with a variety of hard rock and heavy metal bands. During a series of shows with Ugly Kid Joe, Heaney was fired and replaced for the rest of the tour by one-time Judas Priest drummer Dave Holland.
The band's next album Tear of Thought, which featured Heaney's drumming, was initially slow to gain acceptance until a cover of Boys Next Door's "Shivers" saw the Screaming Jets back in the charts. Heaney was permanently replaced in the line-up by former BB Steal drummer Craig Rosevear and after a US tour with Def Leppard Lara was replaced by Melbourne musician Jimi "The Human" Hocking, who had previously fronted his own band, Jimi Human and Spectre 7, that released an album and two singles at the turn of the decade.
While the Screaming Jets remained only moderately successful overseas, in Australia they were one of the top-drawing live bands of the early-mid 1990s and perhaps the last remaining example of the pub rock acts that had ruled the country's live scene in the late 1970s - mid 1980s. While their single releases rarely scored high on the charts, they won significant airplay on rock radio and the band's tours were wildly successful. In 1995 the Screaming Jets' self-titled album made history when it became the first CD launched via live Webcast.
By the late 90s the Screaming Jets were touring less often and had not released an album of new material since 1996. Hocking had left in 1997 to be replaced by former Judge Mercy guitarist Izzy Osmanovich and after an extensive Australian tour in 2000, Rosevear left to be replaced by Col Hatchman. Although no longer the force they had once been, the Screaming Jets could still draw large crowds and in 2001 were selected to tour with Kiss and Alice Cooper; at the end of that year the band announced an extended break from all touring and recording, playing a final series of shows.
In December 2002, the Screaming Jets did another brief tour in support of a self-financed live album that had been recorded the previous year, but then did not play live again until mid-2004. Since then have continued to record and tour, though more sporadically than during the early 1990s and have also signed a record publishing deal with Universal Records.
Blue Sashes
The Screaming Jets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fire Base Green,
Got my AK-47 ready and clean.
Watching the treeline,
I'm waiting for a break,
I've got my finger on the trigger,
And I just can't wait.
There's gonna be no more fuckin' around,
Don't give a shit we want 'em to hit,
We want 'em to hit,
We want 'em to hit.
At Fire Base Green,
Lay Charlie clean,
Tonight we go,
We go to the Blue Sashes.
Know our first stop Fire Base Green,
Got my AK-47 ready and clean.
Watching the treeline,
I'm waiting for a break,
I've got my finger on the trigger.
There's gonna be no more fuckin' around,
We're gonna get those commies and mow 'em all down.
Said at Fire Base Green,
Lay Charlie clean,
Tonight we go,
We go to the Blue Sashes.
My Sarge got dusted off,
I tie on my blue cloth,
You know it's in my head,
It's in my head,
It's in my head.
At Fire Base Green,
Lay Charlie clean,
Tonight we go,
We go to the Blue Sashes.
The Screaming Jets' song "Blue Sashes" is a high-energy, hard-rocking tribute to the soldiers of the Vietnam War. The lyrics paint a picture of a young soldier, stationed at the Fire Base Green, waiting for his chance to take down the enemy. He is armed and ready, and he has no doubt in his mind that he and his fellow soldiers will achieve their goal. The song speaks of the soldiers' determination to succeed and their willingness to risk their lives in the service of their country.
The lyrics are both poignant and powerful, capturing the spirit of the soldiers who fought in Vietnam. The references to "Fire Base Green" and "Charlie" are nods to the military slang of the time, while the line "We want 'em to hit" is a reflection of the soldiers' desire to engage and defeat the enemy. The final verse, with its references to the "blue cloth" and the "Blue Sashes," provide a sense of closure, as though the soldier has completed his mission and is now ready to move on.
Overall, "Blue Sashes" is a rousing tribute to the men and women who served in Vietnam, and a powerful reminder of the sacrifices they made to protect their country.
Line by Line Meaning
Know our first stop
We are familiar with our first destination and are mentally prepared for it.
Fire Base Green,
We are heading to the military base known as Fire Base Green.
Got my AK-47 ready and clean.
I am armed and ready with my AK-47 rifle that is free from dirt, dust, or grime.
Watching the treeline,
We are constantly surveying the tree-covered area for any movement or signs of danger.
I'm waiting for a break,
I am anticipating an opportunity to engage the enemy forces or for any change in the environment.
I've got my finger on the trigger,
My finger is positioned on the trigger of my gun, ready to shoot at any given moment.
And I just can't wait.
I am eager and excited to start the combat and fulfill my duty as a soldier.
There's gonna be no more fuckin' around,
We are serious and determined to eliminate the enemy forces without delay or hesitation.
We're gonna get those commies and mow 'em all down.
Our mission is to kill all the communist enemies we encounter.
Don't give a shit we want 'em to hit,
We have no sympathy for the enemy forces and we hope they attack us for the chance to fight and kill them.
We want 'em to hit,
We are eager for the enemy forces to assault us so we can retaliate and engage in combat.
At Fire Base Green,
We are located at the military base known as Fire Base Green.
Lay Charlie clean,
We have successfully eliminated the enemy forces that are referred to as 'Charlie.'
Tonight we go,
We are planning to continue our mission.
We go to the Blue Sashes.
We are heading to a new location known as the Blue Sashes.
My Sarge got dusted off,
My sergeant has been killed in action.
I tie on my blue cloth,
I am putting on a blue bandana or headscarf that is meant to honor my fallen comrades.
You know it's in my head,
The memory of my comrades and the fallen soldiers is constantly on my mind.
It's in my head,
The emotional burden and memory of the war is difficult to shake off and is always present in my thoughts.
At Fire Base Green,
We are still located at the military base known as Fire Base Green.
Lay Charlie clean,
We are still victorious in killing the enemy forces known as 'Charlie.'
Tonight we go,
We have not finished our mission yet and are still planning to move on.
We go to the Blue Sashes.
We are still heading towards the new location known as the Blue Sashes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRANT WALMSLEY, GREGORY ALLAN BRYCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Earthy Irwin
on Better
Great work Grant Walmsley