Comments on: I left my heart to the sappers round Khe Sanh

By: Angry

Angry — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:14:00 +0000

this song is not just about Australian Vetrens, yes we did not get as involved in the war as Americans did but our diggers went there and died there for you to say that there was no ‘major Australian involement’ is in insult to my grandfather and his mates who died for your sorry ass. Many Australian fathers, brothers and sons went there and never came back. Cold Chisle is an iconic Australian band for you to say you don’t like there music fine, but don’t confuse there music and the message that they are giving out to the world. You really should check your facts before you go sprouting out shit that you think id true becuase it’s not.

By: Colin

Colin — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:10:52 +0000

I always thought Khe Sanh was used as the location in order to appeal more to the American market. It’s funny all this talk about whether Aussies were there or not, I think it was a commercial decision, or failing that, the onomatopoeia of the words, Khe Sanh how they sound, have a greater impact than long tan.
As a child of the 70′s who shunned the whole Chisel thing during the 80′s in favour of The Smiths, Pixies, alternative stuff, I am of the opinion that they are actually underrated. I think it had something to do with stonewash, flannelette and mullets.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 10:40:21 +0000

It should be called “Long Tan” as in: “I left my hearts to the sappers round Long Tan”….just makes more sense in my opinion as “Khe Sanh” is an Australian song dedicated to a siege for the most part involving the US.

By: NotMyRealName

NotMyRealName — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 06:56:49 +0000

Khe Sanh is probably the only song that a buch of drunk Australians, anywhere in the world, would be able to sing the lyrics to if you asked them. I think is a beautiful song, both musically and lyrically, but I agree with someone many comments back, that it is actually totally getting the boot into the “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!” mindset of so many of those drung Australians. It is not about the battle of Khe Sanh, it is about the post Vietnam experience of so many Australian soldiers, and the awful small-mindedness of this country. When, after I had happened to have a Chisel CD on in the car, my seven year old son asked me “Daddy, what’s 1973?” I explained the whole issue of the Vietnam war and the awful treatment of the vets when they came home, because I don’t want him to grow up to think that that song is somehow our second national anthem and is saying something good about this country.

By: Mick

Mick — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:11:51 +0000

I agree with Samm, Greenie and HenryK. I was RAAF & joined just at the end of Vietnam and so I was trained by ex-nam ADGs. The song is a good one and obviously uses some poetic licence. I just wonder if he was going to write about Long Tan and “Khe Sanh” just rhymed better. Whats is a name? The message in the song is clear and I now how those vets felt as I was living in Melbourne at the time and going to Uni there. Not too nice. Anyway, when I hear it, and I love it by the way, I just mentally substitute Long Tan. Hmm, can a retard do that? mentally substitute words in a song?? lol, Touchy, you’re a dipsh!t.
cheers n beers to all the viet vets, US, Aussie, NZ, Sth Korea, Phlips, Thai, German, etc (did I miss anyone? sorry if I did)
Mick

By: Tab

Tab — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 03:53:19 +0000

How many of your were actually running around Khe Sanh during the Vietnam war? Unless any of you have actually been to war and suffered its effects then you should probably keep your opinions to yourselves and let the people who have be honoured the way they should be.

By: Nics

Nics — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:30:16 +0000

David…. you said it mate.

By: STOP FIGHTING

STOP FIGHTING — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:42:56 +0000

I am studing Aussie rock bands at school, and I picked Cold Chisel. I do agree that khe sanh really has nothing to do with Aussies but just because someone is from one country doesn’t mean they have to write about songs strictly based around that country. It doesn’t matter much about the origin of the song, I mean if it did none of the ‘top’ songs nowadays would be at the top. Let’s face the facts, the Vietnam war was wrong, and this song was just expressing that fact by linking the song to a story, a story which fighters in the vietnam war lived.

By: jeffro

jeffro — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 08:05:38 +0000

khe sanh is an iconic aussie song,whether it is historically correct or not doesn’t really matter. Vietnam vets had a horrendous time on their return home from a war that should never had happened,and this song goes some way towards getting that message out to younger people.How would a young bloke feel when,having his whole life,his dreams cut short by being conscripted into a war which we now know should not have happened?And then on his return home he is disrespected and ridiculed by his countrymen/women.Protest the government that sent these guys not the guys themselves.Anyway,the song is ok.

By: Vic Check

Vic Check — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:11:00 +0000

I’m a khe sanh Veternan ex pat American. Col. Ivan Cahill an Australian Served with the 2 Battalion 3 Marines as a company commander with with Echo company…. that company actually wore slouch hats at base Camp Carrol Quang Tri Province…. A Great man a great leader…. Believe me everytime I hear that song….its give brings anger to me against the gov’ts who sent us there …. Vic Check field medical technican 2/3 Marine Special Landing Force SLF Bravo It was no victory for anyone..Most who fought there carryn the the mental scare of the most violet clashes of the American War in vn. google it fools….