This weekend is one of the most important on the camping/barbecuing calendar. We Aussies are celebrating Australia day on Saturday the 26th, and really it is just an excuse for people to wear the flag as a cape, drink too much, and stand around a barbie eating partially cremated sausages in bread with sauce.
It is also an excuse to chuck a sickie on Friday or Tuesday. Even though we get Monday as a public holiday it would be un-Australian not to at least consider having an unnecessary extra day….
In honour of the day I am posting the song considered by many to be the alternative Australian national anthem, and one that I am sure will get a good run over the weekend, Khe Sanh.
Cold Chisel released this song about a Vietnam veteran trying to return to normal life in 1978* and I doubt there is an Aussie among you who can listen to it and not go over all patriotic. Or resist singing along as soon as you hear those first lines.
I left my heart to the sappers round Khe Sanh
And I sold my soul with my cigarettes to the black market man
I’ve had the Vietnam cold turkey
From the ocean to the Silver City
And it’s only other vets could understand
Happy Australia Day! 
*This clip from a live show in 2003 is the only one I could find that wasn’t homemade. There is something horribly wrong about not being able to watch such a classic being belted out live by Cold Chisel in their prime.
Go Jimmy… go go go!!! … First started performing around here, his home state of South Australia, in venues such as the famed Largs Pier Hotel… whooo hooo, remember it well
Thanks for sharing…
Makes you go all Aussie doesn’t it
I don’t know if you have heard Adam Hills doing the actual anthem to the music of Working Class Man, it is fantastic
I did a post on it a while ago because it was so perfect
http://picsandstuff.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/advance-australia-fair-barnesy-style/
ha ha ha… it does indeed. Luv Adam Hill’s comedy and have never seen this but just checked it out and left a comment. BRILLIANT!!! “Working Class Man” happens to be my most favourite. Love your comment about the vodka … yep!!!
Don’t know if you’ve heard about the new Aussie Flag design?… You can read it on my blog: http://caiteile.com/2013/01/24/new-aussie-flag-design-explained/
Cheerio for now, and enjoy you barbie on Saturday -:)
It is amazing how well the two song fit isn’t it?
Thanks for the link although I love the flag we already have, I hope they never change it!
That is an interesting design though, it seems that every few years a new flag is offered and I understand that people always have aspects of it they want to change but I can only see it as a part of our history.
happy holiday! I wish I had a day off here in America! lol
You could always chuck a sickie and give yourself the day off!
haha
Have a Great Weekend.
We will! We are still deciding how best to celebrate
We don’t have a bbq so I think we’ll just be sitting back and enjoying the cool! Love Cold Chisel but I’ve never understood why we can’t just have Waltzing Matilda as our official anthem. It’s already our unofficial one and I love it. I saw that latest sporting flag design. The green and gold was nice but… If we ever become a Republic then it may be time to change the flag but until then I can’t see the point.
Oh yes, the weather is fantastic right now. I am tucked up on the couch in a cardie!
I love Waltzing Matilda too but I still think the best anthem is the Barnsey-style Advance Australia Fair
I never want the flag to change, I think that even if it did I would never see the new one as our flag, I would stick with the old one no matter what.
-grin- What about that Men at Work classic?
I said do you speaka my language?
He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich….
Ok, that one goes on the list too!
Much as I love Barnsie, that song will always be one of my all time favourites.
Happy Australia Day!
(From a cold, winter’s day in NYC to your sunny BBQ & beer & song celebration!)
Thanks! I will be thinking of all you frost-bitten northern hempispherians while we are relaxing in the sun
I have just watched Adam singing the national anthem to Working Class Man. It is fabulous! And it scans really well. I vote for that version PLEASE!
To add my two bob’s worth into other alternatives to anthems, how about a Paul Kelly song?
It does work perfectly doesn’t it, it isn’t just shoe-horning the anthem into a more popular tune.
I agree with something from Paul Kelly being an anthem as well but which one?! He has created so many icons!