I Was Only 19 Lyrics - Singles - Redgum

Mum and Dad and Danny saw the passing out parade at Puckapunyal 

It was a long march from cadets 

The sixth battalion was the next to tour and it was me who drew the card 

We did Canungra and Shoalwater before we left 

And Townsville lined the footpaths as we marched down to the quay 

This clipping from the paper shows us young and strong and clean 

And there's me in me slouch hat with me SLR and greens 

God help me - I was only nineteen 

From Vung Tau riding Chinooks to the dust at Nui Dat 

I'd been in and out of choppers now for months 

And we made our tents a home, V.B. and pinups on the lockers 

And an agent orange sunset through the scrub 

And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can't get to sleep? 

And night time's just a jungle dark and a barking M.16? 

And what's this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means? 

God help me - I was only nineteen 

A four week operation, when each step can mean your last one on two legs 

It was a war within yourself 

But you wouldn't let your mates down 'til they had you dusted off 

So you closed your eyes and thought about somethin' else 

And then someone yelled out "Contact", and the bloke behind me swore 

We hooked in there for hours, then a God almighty roar 

And Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon 

God help me - he was goin' home in June 

And I can still see Frankie, drinkin' tinnies in the Grand Hotel 

On a thirty-six hour rec. leave in Vung Tau 

And I can still hear Frankie, lying screaming in the jungle 

'Til the morphine came and killed the bloody row 

And the Anzac legends didn't mention mud and blood and tears 

And the stories that my father told me never seemed quite real 

I caught some pieces in my back that I didn't even feel 

God help me, I was only 19