Sadly, it's also the song played at funeral services for our fallen comrades-in-arms.

Victor Company's association with "Green, Green Grass" began at a concert performance some months earlier. The Maori Volcanics came to Nui Dat to perform for the troops. In a marquee full of big strong New Zealand troops of Victor Company and 161 Battery Royal NZ Artillery, the Volcanics sang their show stopper, "The Green, Green Grass of Home", and there was hardly a dry eye in the place.

They touched the hearts of all of us, and the song became ours.

Victor had a excellent relationship with 161 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight, an Australian aviation unit that flew light aircraft, as airborne observation posts, and also as psychological warfare platforms.

On the day we left they put up a loudspeaking aircraft and circled the Nui Dat base for what seemed like the whole day. And they played "The Green Green Grass of Home" over and over and over again. We were seen out in style.

Once again the Australian brass were not impressed. But we were mightily impressed. And the memory of that day lingers on. "The Green, Green Grass of Home" is still our song, 32 years later (November 1999).

Left click: play MP3 voice file of the song.
Right click: save on your own disk!
(at 2.5mb this is a very slow loader)

The old home town looks the same
As I step down from the train,
And there to meet me is my mama and papa.
Down the road I look and there runs Mary,
Hair of gold and lips like cherries.
It's good to touch
The green, green grass of home.

Chorus:
Yes, they'll all come to meet me,
Arms reaching, smiling sweetly;
It's good to touch
The green, green grass of home

The old house is still standing
Tho' the paint is cracked and dry,
And there's that old oak tree that I used to play on.
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary,
Hair of gold and lips like cherries.
It's good to touch
The green, green grass of home.
Chorus:

Then I awake and look around me
At four grey walls that surround me
And I realize that I was only dreaming.
For there's a guard, and there's a sad old padre,
Arm in arm we'll walk at daybreak.
Again I'll touch
The green, green grass of home.

Chorus:
Yes, they'll all come to see me
In the the shade of that old oak tree
As they lay me
'neath the green, green grass of home.

Lebanon,
Tennessee (USA)

Tennessee Greetings to Victor Company...

I came across this site today and was truly touched by the "story" related to "The Green, Green Grass of Home." My father Claude Putman, Jr. (a.k.a. Curly Putman) wrote this song in the early 1960's and had a long and successful career in the music business. He just turned 72-years-old in November and has mostly retired. He is enjoying life on his farm just out-side of Nashville, TN and makes for a wonderful baby-sitter (my two boys). He does not have computer access; however, I am going to make certain that he sees this site and the story you have shared.

Thank you for the opportunity to communicate.
Troy Putman