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Christmas in Kandahar

from Dust of Uruzgan by Fred Smith

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about

Many ISAF troops in Afghanistan are concentrated on large bases. Kandahar Airfield (KAF) is now home to around 30,000 soldiers from thirteen different countries. This wouldn’t be so bad except the sewerage system was built to accommodate 5,000 bums. If you can get used to the fragrance though, the place could be worse. They have a Boardwalk with a Pizza Hut, a McDonald’s, Px stores, TGIF, and Timmy Hortons for Canadians.
While the boys out at the FOBs are certainly at more risk, I never envied the Groundhog Day life at bases like KAF. The place reeked of boredom and loneliness. Whenever I passed through, after doing some shopping, I always found myself looking to get on the next flight elsewhere.

lyrics

I am writing tonight, from the lines here in Kandahar.
Bunks beneath neon lights, hear the other guys snore and fart.
Planes take off in the night, on missions unknown. While the rest of us turn away and face the night all alone.

Fighting season is through, and the winter seems here to stay.
Not like it was in June, ramp ceremonies every day. Put the flag on the box, then fly the boy home.
We salute and then turn away and face the night all alone.

On the Boardwalk tonight, karaoke ‘til half past ten.
Hockey under the lights, you just can’t help those Canadians.
While the Yanks and the Brits, line up for the phones.
Make their calls and then turn away to face the night all alone.

Could do much worse I guess, than a Christmas in Kandahar.
I ate too much at the mess, then stumbled home to this cold guitar.
Someone turns out the lights, but I sit like a stone.
‘Til I lay down and turn away and face the night all alone.

credits

from Dust of Uruzgan, released August 30, 2020

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Fred Smith Canberra, Australia

“Fred Smith is simply the best folk/country musician working in this country in 2020. Beyond writing some of the finest songs about Australians at war, he has created a repertoire that is wry, literate, witty, powerfully emotional and insightful.”(Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald). ... more

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