Man From Vietnam

Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs

Dennis Marsh, aka Dennis Te Uhi Marsh, born on 22 February 1951, Te Kuiti, New Zealand, is a country musician. He has Ngāpuhi and Ngati Hine iwi affiliations. He has released many songs in the Māori language - this is the Eastern Polynesian language spoken by the Māori people, the indigenous population of New Zealand.123 The song "Man From Vietnam" (Sony Music # 888750852328), opened and closed with helicopter sound-effects. It firstly contained lines about combat, looking at the soldier's perspective: "shots rang out in Saigon, smoke cloud... hiding in those foxhole". Secondly, in featured patriotic sentiment: "fighting for his country... no matter what the cost". Thirdly, the song was about preserving the memory of the conflict and those that died: "we will remember them... we salute the man from Vietnam". This song is particularly significant as it included several verses in Māori language (subsequently translated into English, in blocks), the only Vietnam War song to do so. Sources1Wikipedia: Dennis Marsh↩2rnz.co.nz: Dennis marsh it s about people and passion↩3e-tangata.co.nz: A winning recipe maori flavoured country music↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: November 6th 1965 / He's standing on the front line, just trying to stay alive / Shots rang out in Saigon / Smoke cloud filled the air / Hiding in those foxhole, the enemy is here / Fighting for his country, protecting his pride / Some men still remember some of our men died / Vietnam, one nation under god / They fought hand in hand, no matter what the cost / We will remember them / And we salute the man from Vietnam / From Vietnam... / [Māori language spoken]: 'They shall grow old not old... as we grow old' .... / [Māori language spoken]: 'Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn' ... / [Māori language spoken]: 'At the going down of the sun and in the morning' ... / [Māori language spoken]: 'We will remember them' / Fighting for this country, protecting his pride / Some men still remember, some of our men died / In Vietnam, one nation under god / They fought hand in hand no matter what the cost / We will remember them / And we salute the man from Vietnam...

Notes

The only Vietnam War song with verses in Māori (the Ode of Remembrance). Helicopter sound effects open and close it.

About the artist

Dennis Marsh (Dennis Te Uhi Marsh) - country singer born 22 February 1951 in Te Kuiti, New Zealand, of Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Hine iwi; has recorded many songs in te reo Māori.

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · Combat · Patriotic · Saigon · Helicopter · War Memorials

In collections

Australian & New Zealand Songs