F-111

Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs

This LP was a split release, between two Australian contemporary folk artists, that wrote many political and socially conscious songs, especially regarding labour rights. It included the well-known anti-Vietnam War song "F-111" (Larrikin Records # LRF-109), written, and performed here by Lyell Sayer. Lyell Sayer wrote on the back of the LP: "One of my earliest songs, and certainly the most popular. My best claim to having written a 'folk' song as it has been recently collected from Vietnam veterans, by Graham Seal. The last two verses written later by Clem to keep the song current, are gratefully acknowledged".1 Released on Warren Fahey's record label, he wrote on the back of the LP: "Both Lyell and Clem enjoy taking the 'mickey' out of our politicians and why not! I have always felt that these contemporary folk songs play a real role in continuing the tradition of the folk song as the voice of the people. Long may the likes of Lyell Sayer and Clem Parkinson write and sing songs about us". The song was a reference to the US-made F-111c fighter bomber. The Australian government ordered a number, for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1963.2 However, the final version of the aircraft were not delivered until 1973, because of technical problems, which included unexplained loses during its use in the Vietnam War in the late 60s and early 70s - or as said in the chorus of this song: "it is a lovely plane... it's a pity that it isn't safe to take it off the ground". The narrator started with the Australian Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, pondering that "our Canberra bombers are...old as hell". He called up "Uncle Sammy" to purchase planes, to "scare some Asians". The narrator noted that the government "sent some off to Vietnam" to "wipe out all the Viet Cong" - a reference to the "VC" - the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (Vietnamese: Mặt trận Dân tộc Giải phóng Miền Nam Việt Nam) (NLFSV or NLF), the political and military resistance to the US and South Vietnamese government from within South Vietnam. However the North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh ordered his comrades not to waste bullets etc., because "these brand-new planes the Yankees have all fall down by themselves". The song had an alternative verse, used on some versions of this songs, such as by Johnny Lad.3 The narrator said here that the price of the aircraft keep increasing, and so suggested that if "Sir Robert was still here", then "we'd make him pay the bill". Continuing with the satire, the narrator also said that at "the present rate of accident", Australia had about "a week's supply" of the aircraft. Sources1vinyl1610.rssing.com: All p7↩2Wikipedia: General Dynamics F-111C↩3Oz Folk Song a Day: The F-111 (13 May 2011)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Now, Sir Robert Menzies was walking down the street / And thinking of our air force which was mostly obsolete / Our Canberra bombers are getting old as hell / We better call up Uncle Sam and see what he can sell / Well he said to Uncle Sammy, "We want to buy a plane / To save our lovely country from going down the drain / We want to scare some Asians, so see what you can do / The answer was, Bob, buddy, we've got just the thing for you /Oh, the F-one-double one it is a lovely plane / It flies at twice the speed of sound and scatters bombs like rain / It's wings go back and forward, it's the latest thing around / It's a pity that it isn't safe to take it off the ground. Bob said, "We'll take two dozen" / The plane they had to make / And soon they had one ready, its first flight for to take / Well it whistled down the runway with a dreadful roaring sound / And then broke up in little bits and fell back on the ground / They sent some off to Vietnam, the country to defend / To wipe out all the Viet Cong and cause the war to end / But Ho Chi Minh said / "Comrades, don't waste our precious shells / These brand-new planes the Yankees have all fall down by themselves.... They want crazy old age pensions / The cost will be too high / They'd rather buy an aircraft that is allergic to the sky / But still I can't help thinking, wouldn't it be nice / If they didn't waste our taxes on that flying opera house / After due consideration, I found a proper use / They should take one…

Notes

Split LP with Clem Parkinson, who wrote the last two verses; on Warren Fahey's Larrikin label. Written in the 1960s about the RAAF's F-111 order.

About the artist

Lyell Sayer - contemporary folk singer-songwriter of political and labour songs; "F-111" was collected from Vietnam veterans by Graham Seal.

Themes

Satire · Air Force · Air War · Robert Menzies · Anti-Government · VC · Ho Chi Minh · ANZUS

In collections

Australian & New Zealand Songs