It's On

Annotation

Contemporary folk artist Gary Shearston, born 9 January 1939 in Inverell, NSW, Australia. He died 1 July 2013, Tenterfield, NSW, Australia, prominent on the scene, who wrote and recorded many political, social, and economic protest songs. This included several Vietnam War-related songs: "Twenty Summers" and "The Conscription Romp" on his 1965 album Australian Broadside. He also released the song "The Lost Soldier" on his 1966 album Sings His Songs.. On this single, featured the anti-war song "It's On" (CBS # BA-221124), composed by Don Henderson, who wrote many Vietnam War-related songs, discussed below. While the Vietnam conflict was well underway in 1964, very few Australians participated until the Menzies government upgraded its commitment in April 1965 - so this is more of a Vietnam-era protest song, not specifically mentioning the conflict, but a representation of the early 60s anti-war movement in Australia. The lyrics revolved around the absurdity of conflict as two people get into a fight: "reason and logic are gone, winning the fight won't prove that you're right". The final verse criticised governments / politicians that "save on education and spend on defence". Melbourne artist Trevor Lucas also recorded a version, on his 1966 album Overlander, and Raymond Crooke, on his YouTube channel.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs

Contemporary folk artist Gary Shearston, born 9 January 1939 in Inverell, NSW, Australia. He died 1 July 2013, Tenterfield, NSW, Australia, prominent on the scene, who wrote and recorded many political, social, and economic protest songs. This included several Vietnam War-related songs: "Twenty Summers" and "The Conscription Romp" on his 1965 album Australian Broadside. He also released the song "The Lost Soldier" on his 1966 album Sings His Songs. On this single, featured the anti-war song "It's On" (CBS # BA-221124), composed by Don Henderson, who wrote many Vietnam War-related songs, discussed below. While the Vietnam conflict was well underway in 1964, very few Australians participated until the Menzies government upgraded its commitment in April 1965 - so this is more of a Vietnam-era protest song, not specifically mentioning the conflict, but a representation of the early 60s anti-war movement in Australia. The lyrics revolved around the absurdity of conflict as two people get into a fight: "reason and logic are gone, winning the fight won't prove that you're right". The final verse criticised governments / politicians that "save on education and spend on defence". Melbourne artist Trevor Lucas also recorded a version, on his 1966 album Overlander, and Raymond Crooke, on his YouTube channel.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: A sad story you'll hear if you listen to me / About two men who could never agree / What one said was white, the other called black / They'd argue a while ands then they'd step out the back / And it's on, and it's on / Reason and logic are gone / Winning the fight won't prove that you're right / It's sad, but it's true, it's on / And when it was over they'd come back then / The argument would become heated again / Who won the first round they couldn't decide / To one asked the other, would he step outside, and it's on... / They'd been fighting so long they could neither recall what in the first place started it all / But they keep at day in and day out / Now they're fighting to see what they're fighting about / It's on... / Well can you imagine if intellectuals came to an agreement by Queensberry rules / It could easily be argued that the square root of 4 was 15 less 3, plus a smack in the jaw, and it's on... / And when government thinks that it makes better sense to save on education and spend on defence / It could also be argued, that on the same grounds, that elections should be the best of ten rounds / It's on, and it's on / Reason and logic are gone / Winning the fight won't prove that you're right / It's sad, but it's true, it's on

About the artist

Born 9 January 1939 in Inverell, NSW, Australia. He died 1 July 2013, Tenterfield, NSW, Australia

Themes

Anti-War · ANZUS

In collections

Australian & New Zealand Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]