Vietnam Syndrome
1983 · XClaim! X-6 · Braintree, Massachusetts
- Artist
- Jerry's Kids
- Title
- Vietnam Syndrome
- Release
- Is This My World?
- Year
- 1983
- Label
- XClaim! # X-6
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- Braintree, Massachusetts, USA
- Genre
- Punk · Hardcore Punk
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
Jerry's Kids - a hardcore punk band formed in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1981. The group originally featured Bryan Jones (vocals), Rick Jones (bass, vocals), Bob Cenci (lead guitar), Dave Aronson (rhythm guitar), and Brian Betzger (drums).1 The song "Vietnam Syndrome" (XClaim! Records # X-6) painted a picture of a crazy Vietnam veteran, suffering from PTSD, that posed a threat to the people around him: "he's after me, we're not American, we're VC". The lyrics criticised society's treatment of the veteran, suggesting that people, or the government "just want him out of sight".Sources1American Hardcore: A Tribal History (Steven Blush, 2001)↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Punk Songs
Jerry's Kids - a Hardcore Punk band formed in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1981. The group originally featured Bryan Jones (vocals), Rick Jones (bass, vocals), Bob Cenci (lead guitar), Dave Aronson (rhythm guitar), and Brian Betzger (drums).1 The song "Vietnam Syndrome" (XClaim! Records # X-6) painted a picture of a crazy Vietnam veteran, suffering from PTSD, that posed a threat to the people around him: "he's after me, we're not American, we're VC". The lyrics criticised society's treatment of the veteran, suggesting that people, or the government "just want him out of sight". Sources1American Hardcore: A Tribal History (Steven Blush, 2001)↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: Ten years back from Vietnam, he gave his mind to Uncle Sam / He thought he had control of his life, but he went demented / And grabbed a knife, lodged deep inside his head / Visions of war, visions of dead, his pencil becomes a bayonet / You tried to help but the fire's set / Now he's after you / And he's after me, we're not American, we're VC / So thanks very much for his kick in the face / He's not alright, he's in outer space / Just give him a shot / He'll be alright, man, you just want him out of sight
About the artist
American hardcore band formed 1981 in Boston, Massachusetts. [Source: Wikipedia]
Themes
Anti-Government · PTSD · VC · Vet · Vietnam Syndrome