Born in 1954, I remember vividly images on television of the Vietnam War, the death and destruction and waste of life on both sides. Verse one is a remembrance of the war. Several friends of mine are Vietnam combat veterans, one of whom is Sgt. Huey (so nicknamed after the UH-1 Bell helicopter, or Huey, that he flew in during the war). Verse two is about Sgt. Huey. In 1997 I visited Vietnam for the first time, and I have lived here in Hanoi since 1998, and everywhere have heard stories from Vietnamese about the American War, as they call it. Verse three is their story (Charlie was the name given to the enemy by US forces, as it is short for Victor Charlie, military-speak for VC, which was the abbreviation for the Viet Cong, the communist forces). Verse four is a vision of hope and reconciliation, a vision that has come a long way in the six years I have been here. The chorus is about dealing with the ghosts of the past and moving beyond the pain and loss of war.

Charlie & Huey Thirty years ago, we waged a war, thousands died, we said no more But we can’t go back, what’s done is done, let’s not forget, nobody won The war was fought, in Vietnam, for love of God, and Uncle Sam Our boys were sent, to kill & die, but they never knew, the reason why Vietnam, have you finally found your peace Did the dreams & screams finally cease Vietnam, have you laid your ghosts to rest Did you free the pain within your chest I know a vet, lives down the street, in Vietnam, he took some heat He’s a little odd, somewhat crazy, out on the edge, where life gets hazy It took some years, & therapy, to bring him back, from overseas Now he’s doin’ well, he’s got a life, he hates his job, & loves his wife Vietnam, have you finally found your peace Did the dreams & screams finally cease Vietnam, have you laid your ghosts to rest Did you free the pain within your chest On the other side, even more men died, women & kids, nowhere to hide The Chinese tried, the French were fried, American bombs, couldn’t turn the tide Their own young men, on the battlefield, gave up their lives, they would not yield In the jungle green, in fields of mud, they paid their dues, in bright red blood Vietnam, have you finally found your peace Did the dreams & screams finally cease Vietnam, have you laid your ghosts to rest Did you free the pain within your chest Have we learned, from this tragedy, this waste of life, across the sea To bridge the gap, between east & west, could be for all, a vision quest Brother & sister, reside today, from Mekong Delta, to Halong Bay From what I hear, we’re welcome too, in Vietnam, let’s start anew