Memories of ‘Nam

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Produced by Blue Trumpet for Radio 2RRR, Jove’s Pearls is a collection of verse 'chiefly in the Australian vernacular' by Jovial Mark ... painter, poet, dilettante, and ratbag, hailing from the deep south of South Australia...

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The poem...

Put the GI in the body bag
Put the GI in the body bag
Put the GI in the body bag
Then we can all go home

Mark it: Remains not Viewable
Mark it: Remains not Viewable
Mark it: Remains not Viewable
Then we can all go home

Jig-jig girl gives us the pox
Jig-jig girl gives us the pox
Jig-jig girl gives us the pox
Then we can all go home

The pig wastes dinks in the boonies
The pig wastes dinks in the boonies
The pig wastes dinks in the boonies
Then we can all go home

Hard-assed sarges all get fragged
Hard-assed sarges all get fragged
Hard-assed sarges all get fragged
Then we can all go home

AP mine blows off our nuts
AP mine blows off our nuts
AP mine blows off our nuts
Then we can all go home

H & I raids blow hamlets up
H & I raids blow hamlets up
H & I raids blow hamlets up
Then we can all go home

ARVN forces turn and run
ARVN forces turn and run
ARVN forces turn and run
Then we can all go home

LBJ says we’ll bomb Hanoi
LBJ says we’ll bomb Hanoi
LBJ says we’ll bomb Hanoi
Then we can all go home

Westmoreland says we’ll win the war
Westmoreland says we’ll win the war
Westmoreland says we’ll win the war
Then we can all go home

Memories of 'Nam


Music...

Music featured in the poem comes from Jimi Hendrix' historic performance of the 'Star Spangled Banner' (Woodstock 1969) and 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' by Louis Lambert (1863).


Credits...

Radio 2RRR 88.5FMProduced by Blue Trumpet for Radio 2RRR
Original verse by Jovial Mark
Adapted for radio by James Benn
With special thanks to Johnny Boxer
Poems interpreted by…

  • Johnny Boxer
  • James Benn

Introductions and credits by Amie Maguire