This classic Aussie anthem was first released in 1978 on the debut album "Cold Chisel", as well as on a 7" single backed with "Just How Many Times". I do not own this fucking great song. This track was taken directly from the first edition of the 1980s pressing of the CD. Over time, the track has endured multiple "remastering", "equalization" and "brick walling" techniques, which has not completely preserved the dynamic range of the original masters. Also, the version which gains most of the radio airplay nowadays is the mid 80s remix of the track by Mark Opitz, and the two versions are often confused. Enjoy this great classic, the way it was originally intended to be heard! Interesting to note, that there are actually three different studio versions of this song. There is the original version, which was released on the first album and single in 1978. In 1980, the vocals and organ solo were re-recorded during East sessions and included on the US version of the East album. Two mixes exist: on promo copies and early pressings of the album, Don Walker's keyboard solo is completely cut from the intro, leaving only the acoustics. Later, more common mixes take an opposite approach: the acoustic part is cut from the intro, leaving only Don's keyboard solo. This mix also gives Barnes' vocals more reverb. http://coldchisel.com/ Song written by Don Walker. Lyrics: I left my heart to the sappers round Khe Sanh And my soul was sold with my cigarettes to the blackmarket man I've had the Vietnam cold turkey From the ocean to the Silver City And it's only other vets could understand About the long forgotten dockside guarantees How there were no V-dayheroes in 1973 How we sailed into Sydney Harbour Saw an old friend but couldn't kiss her She was lined, and I was home to the lucky land And she was like so many more from that time on Their lives were all so empty, till they'd found their chosen one And their legs were often open But their minds were always closed And their hearts were held in fast suburban chains And the legal pads were yellow, hours long, paypacket lean And the telex writers clattered where the gunships once had been But the car parks made me jumpy And I never stopped the dreams Or the growing need for speed and novacaine So I worked across the country end to end Tried to find a place to settle down, where my mixed up life could mend Held a job on an oil-rig Flying choppers when I could But the nightlife nearly drove me round the bend And I've travelled round the world from year to year And each one found me aimless, one more year the more for wear And I've been back to South East Asia But the answer sure ain't there But I'm drifting north, to check things out again You know the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone Only seven flying hours, and I'll be landing in Hong Kong There ain't nothing like the kisses From a jaded Chinese princess I'm gonna hit some Hong Kong mattress all night long Well the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone Yeah the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone And it's really got me worried I'm goin' nowhere and I'm in a hurry And the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone

• published: 19 Jan 2014
• views: 526944