Vietnam ad vitam aeternam

Annotation

Laurent Malek, musician based in Paris, France, released the protest song "Vietnam ad vitam aeternam" ("Vietnam on Forever") (Mercury Records # 152.084 MCE), which focused on the use and impact of napalm - chemical weapon Napalm B - a jellied gasoline mixture, with polystyrene, benzene, and gasoline. Declared a war-crime since 1980, the US government extensively used this weapon during the Vietnam conflict, dropping 388,000 tons on Indochina between 1963 and 1973.123 The Dow Chemical Company, the largest suppler of napalm to the US military, became a target of Vietnam protests (such as boycotts), particularly on university campuses.4 - "after the napalm... the number of wounded... the sky is torn, rejected, revolted". Also note the reference to atomic / nuclear warfare several times, a reflection of the larger Cold War conflict, "the H-bomb... for Vietnam, napalm, flamethrower, cobalt, atomic chemical".Sources1Napalm: An American Biography (Robert M. Neer, 2013)↩2Times Higher Education: Napalm an american biography by robert m neer↩3Napalm, An American Biography (book website)↩4The War Within: America's Battle Over Vietnam (Tom Wells, 2005)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — European Songs

Laurent Malek, musician based in Paris, France, released the protest song "Vietnam ad vitam aeternam" ("Vietnam on Forever") (Mercury Records # 152.084 MCE), which focused on the use and impact of napalm - chemical weapon Napalm B - a jellied gasoline mixture, with polystyrene, benzene, and gasoline. Declared a war-crime since 1980, the US government extensively used this weapon during the Vietnam conflict, dropping 388,000 tons on Indochina between 1963 and 1973.123 The Dow Chemical Company, the largest suppler of napalm to the US military, became a target of Vietnam protests (such as boycotts), particularly on university campuses.4 - "after the napalm... the number of wounded... the sky is torn, rejected, revolted". Also note the reference to atomic / nuclear warfare several times, a reflection of the larger Cold War conflict, "the H-bomb... for Vietnam, napalm, flamethrower, cobalt, atomic chemical". Sources1Napalm: An American Biography (Robert M. Neer, 2013)↩2Times Higher Education: Napalm an american biography by robert m neer↩3Napalm, An American Biography (book website)↩4The War Within: America's Battle Over Vietnam (Tom Wells, 2005)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: "The great calm / After the napalm / The sea is cobalt blue / The number of wounded / The number of wounded is / It's passed / The sky is torn / Rejected, revolted / And all those who fought / And men and women / For Vietnam / Vietnam ad vitam / Vitam / Aeternam / For Vietnam / Vietnam / Ad vitam / Vitam / Aeternam / Ax blow / The H-bomb / In the cry, the meadows / Are covered with blood / Are covered in blood / Without, without our knowing it / We walk in the rain, in the wind / The wind that we hide / And the punishment says muddy / Spreads on the scene of drama / For the Vietnam / Vietnam ad vitam / Vitam / Aeternam / For Vietnam / Vietnam / Ad vitam / Vitam / Aeternam / Canticle of the atomic era / Soon the desired "Dies Irae" / The tiger will become / The tiger will become / Dra, draped in black / And it will be a big step / Not, not for hope / You will finish your last meal / With a big flamethrower / For Vietnam / Vietnam ad vitam / Vitam / Aeternam / For Vietnam / Vietnam / Ad vitam / Vitam / Aeternam / For Vietnam / Vietnam / Ad vitam / Vitam / Aeternam / For Vietnam, napalm, flamethrower, cobalt, atomic chemical" __________ French: "Le grand calme / Après le napalm / La mer est bleue de cobalt / Le nombre des blessés / Le nombre de blessés c'est / C'est dépassé / Le ciel est déchiré / Révulsé, révolté / Et tous ceux qui se sont battus / Et les hommes et les femmes / Pour le Vietnam / Vietnam ad vitam / Vitam / Aeternam / Pour le Vietnam / Vietnam / Ad…

About the artist

Paris, France

Themes

Anti-War · Napalm · Atomic

In collections

European Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]