Why am I so lonely?
Why am I so blue?
Vietnam did this to me,
Did it do it to you?
Among all the mayhem and killing,
How many among us were really willing;
To go over there at some ones order,
To stop the aggression crossing the border.
Nineteen years old, cannot vote,
Told pack your bags, youre on the boat.
For many among you its a one way trip,
Most of you, your mind will flip.
Thrown into a strange world of violence,
blackmarkets' and drugs.
Fighting in a jungle full of strange,
'crawlie', weird bugs.
Bombs and shells tearing through the night,
Men and boys silently screaming in fright.
All day in the rain scared and wet,
Is Charlie coming to get you yet?
The day has gone the night has come,
Is that the Death March beating on the drum?
On operations for weeks on end,
Stay cool mate, dont go round the bend.
Were not here for life,
After a year youll see your family and wife.
Five days rest and recreation,
Thats no bloody vacation.
Where can you go? Hong Kong, Taiwan,
Bangkok or Singapore.
Thats all there is, there aint no more
Because son, youre at war.
Now youre back in civilization,
You have a sudden realization;
What you did was for your nation,
But you get no gratification.
So you go down to the boozer,
Youre just another loser.
All those lives, all that sweat,
Youre just another, whinging
Vietnam Vet.
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©
Jack Gennings |
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