Viet-Vet

Annotation

This hardcore punk band formed in Seattle, WA, USA in 1981. The original line-up featured Blaine Cook (vocals), Steve Fart (bass), Tommy Hansen (guitar), Loud Fart (drums), Paul Solger (guitar). The group often tackled political subjects, especially involving criticisms of Ronald Reagan. Their first album included the song "Viet-Vet" (Alternative Tentacles # VIRUS 17) which looked at the treatment of Vietnam veterans. The narrator started with the story of young man drafted by the US government: "just seventeen...they sent you off to Vietnam". Wounded, he returned home, where the government and people forgot about him. He suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): "dreams of war in your head". It ended on a contemporary note, warning that American leaders sought destruction elsewhere.The album also featured the song "Hero's (Cum Home in Boxes)", which took a general anti-war position: "in a war there are no winners". It did not mention Vietnam, but questioned people who worshiped the idea that going to war and dying for your country created heroes.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Draft Songs

This hardcore punk band formed in Seattle, WA, USA in 1981. The original line-up featured Blaine Cook (vocals), Steve Fart (bass), Tommy Hansen (guitar), Loud Fart (drums), Paul Solger (guitar). The group often tackled political subjects, especially involving criticisms of Ronald Reagan. Their first album included the song "Viet-Vet" (Alternative Tentacles # VIRUS 17) which looked at the treatment of Vietnam veterans. The narrator started with the story of young man drafted by the US government: "just seventeen...they sent you off to Vietnam". Wounded, he returned home, where the government and people forgot about him. He suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): "dreams of war in your head". It ended on a contemporary note, warning that American leaders sought destruction elsewhere.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Punk Songs

This Hardcore Punk band formed in Seattle, WA, USA in 1981. The original line-up featured Blaine Cook (vocals), Steve Fart (bass), Tommy Hansen (guitar), Loud Fart (drums), Paul Solger (guitar). The group often tackled political subjects, especially involving criticisms of Ronald Reagan. Their first album included the song "Viet-Vet" (Alternative Tentacles # VIRUS 17) which looked at the treatment of Vietnam veterans. The narrator started with the story of young man drafted by the US government: "just seventeen...they sent you off to Vietnam". Wounded, he returned home, where the government and people forgot about him. He suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): "dreams of war in your head". It ended on a contemporary note, warning that American leaders sought destruction elsewhere.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Sent you off into the battle field, it was no dream those shells were real / Shells explode as you screamed in pain, the loss of a leg for a government gain / Just seventeen, barely a man, they sent you off to Vietnam / With no regard for your future plans, you paid the price of Uncle Sam / Gave you a medal and a pat on the back, did they make you a hero / See how quickly they forget, the pitiful crippled Viet-Vet / You've joined the ranks of the living dead, with dreams of war in your head / War has ended but not the suffering...and now a nation lies in wait / While our leaders choose our fate, destruction it seems is the American way You could be one of the proud few who just become dead heros / Give your life to serve your country, but dead men wear no medals / In a war there are no winners, only mangeled, bloody corpses / Young people give their lives, serving the government forces / Die for your country be a hero, this makes the leaders feel so proud / See how proud your family is when you come home in a box / And if you worship T.V. heros it's time for you to face the facts / In real life there are no actors, only heros cum home in box

About the artist

American punk band formed 1981 in Seattle, Washington. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

PTSD · Vet · Draft

In collections

Draft Songs · PTSD Songs · Punk Songs