Black Wall

Dennis DeYoung

a look at the Vietnam War

The lyric quotes listed are from the Dennis DeYoung song Black Wall. Visit the lyric page for the complete lyrics and additional song information.


And the ghosts of Ðiên Biên Phú

The French, wanting to regain control of the area from the Viet Minh (League for the Independence of Vietnam), set up base in Ðiên Biên Phú to use as an air base, and to cut supply lines for the Viet Minh. From the highlands above, the Viet Minh were able to attack Ðiên Biên Phú and force the French to surrender. The battle marked the end of the first Indo-China War. During the Geneva conference that followed, Vietnam was divided into two countries.


'Cause many a good man died
On the road from Têt to Huê

Têt is the Vietnam New Year. The Têt Offensive was launched on December 31, 1968: Têt Nguyên Ðán (lunar new year). The Viet Cong united with the North Vietnam's People's Army of Vietnam and went from city to city in South Vietnam. The bloodiest battle occured in Huê, where it is believed that thousands of civilians were executed.


Not a word about Dominoes

The domino theroy was that if one nation in a region became controled by Communists, then others nearby also would fall into Communist control, similar to a row of dominoes falling. This theroy was used by the United States to help justify their involvement in the Vietnam war.

Or the horrors of Napalm

Napalm is a flammable liquid fuel weapon. It is made by mixing gasoline with styrofoam (napalm-B). It was designed because gasoline burned too quickly to be used as a flammable weapon. The original makeup of napalm added a soap made from naphthenic acid (chemical name naphthene). The addition made napalm as flammable as gasoline, but burned at a much slower rate. Napalm burns at around 1000°C (1832°F)

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