The First Vietnamese War

Annotation

Psychedelic Rock group formed in Austin, Texas, USA in 2004, its membership included: Christian Bland (guitar, vocals, bass, drums), Alex Maas (vocals, bass, sitar, organ), Stephanie Bailey (drums, percussion, bass), Jennifer Raines (organ, Drone Machine, 2004-08), Nate Ryan (bass, guitar), Kyle Hunt (keyboards, percussion, bass, guitar, organ). In the song "The First Vietnamese War" (Light in the Attic Records # LITA 45-006), the Black Angels questioned the point of current conflicts, probably a reference to the Iraq War and the invasion of Afghanistan, and thus an interesting example of post-war songs looking back at Vietnam to understand contemporary wars: "Sixty thousand men died", but "you ask for more now". Also note that the lead singer was in the group Christian Bland & The Revelators, which released The Lost Album (2010) with the song "Hoi Chi Minh".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: You gave a gift to me / In my young age / You sent me overseas / And put the fear in me / And I ask what for now / Why me, why war? / And I ask what for now / Vietnam War? / Spent my time there by the shore / Oh, we got off that boat / Charlies everywhere / A lotta killin' and dying / And no one seems to care / I ask what for now / We say hell no / And I ask what for / Why me, why war? / And I spent my time there by the shore / Sixty thousand men died / While you were here / You came into our homes / And you took our kids / And you ask for more now / For this new war / And you ask for more now / Vietnam War / I spent my time there by the shore

Notes

The pictured record is the Light in the Attic 7-inch single LITA 22-7: "The First Vietnamese War" (Side A), Death Song Publishing Co. (ASCAP), backed with "Nine Years"; ℗ & © 2005 & 2006 Light In The Attic Records & Productions, PO Box 31970, Seattle, WA 98103. The picture sleeve shows a black-and-white war photograph of a scarred hillside with a soldier and a bare tree, cut into vertical bars; the back, marked Stereo "Ultrasonic Sound", notes the A-side is "Taken from The Black Angels album Passover (CD/2xLP)" and shows that album's op-art cover; graphic design by Christian Bland; barcode 826853002271. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

American psychedelic rock band formed 2004 in Austin, Texas. [Source: Wikipedia]