I Was Only 19 (feat. John Schumann)

Mom, dad and Denny were some amongst many

Who came to watch the passing out parade at Puckapunyal

Seemed every man and his mongrel came to watch cadets stumble

On the long march to the Viet jungle

Oh Christ I mumbled as I drew that card

And my mates came to slap me on the back with due regard

We were the sixth battalion yet next to tour

We did Canungra Shoalwater before we left rest assured

Seemed half of Townsville turned out to see us leave

They lined the footpaths as we marched to the quay

And the papers wrote it up like you wouldn't believe

But we were only looking to the future for fast reprieve

And there's all of us looking young strong and clean

Rocking slouch hats slung SLRs and greens God help me

I was only nineteen

From Vung Tau in black helicopters

Chinook pilots seemed relieved at Nui Dat where they dropped us

Seemed like months running on and off landing pads

Letters to Dad it's like man he's sad

But he can't see the tents that we call home

Cans of VB, pin ups of chicks off TV

The heat, the mosquitos and the noise surprising

Like the first time you see an Agent Orange arising

So please can you tell me doctor why I can't get to sleep

The scars left with me, and night times just a jungle

Dark and a barking M16

We keep saying rest in peace

What's this rash that comes and goes

Don't suppose you can tell me what that means

God help me

I was only nineteen

Sent off on a four week long operation

Where every single step could be your last one

On two legs it was sort of living hell

Fallen with the shells, war within yourself

But you couldn't let your mates down until they had you dusted off

So you closed your eyes and thought of something else

Someone yelled "Contact!", another bloke swore

We hooked in for hours then a God almighty roar

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

God help me

He was going home in June

And I can still see Frank with a can in his hand

Thirty six hour leave in the bar at the Grand

And I can still hear Frank a screaming mess

A bleeding flesh couldn't retrieve his legs

You see the Anzac legend neglected to mention

The mud, the fear, the blood, the tears, the tension

Dad's recollection beyond comprehension

Didn't seem quite real until we was sent in

Chaos and confusion, the fire and steel

Oh shrapnel in my back I didn't even feel

God help me

I was only nineteen

So please can you tell me doctor why I can't get to sleep, I can't hardly eat

And the sound of the channel seven chopper still chills me to my feet

It still fuels my grief

And what's this rash that comes and goes like the dreams

Can you tell me what that means

God help me

I was only nineteen

Mom, dad, and Denny saw the passing out parade at Puckapunyal

It was a long march from cadets

And the sixth battalion was the next to tour

And it was me who drew the card

And a conundrum, Shoalwater before we left

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

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

There's me in me slouch hat in the SLR and greens

God help me

I was only nineteen

So please can you tell me doctor why I can't get to sleep, I can't hardly eat

And the sound of the channel seven chopper still chills me to my feet

It still fuels my grief

What's this rash that comes and goes

Like the dreams, can you tell me what that means

God help me

I was only nineteen