John Williamson - Only 19 Lyrics
Mum and Dad and Danny saw the passing out parade at PuckapunyalIt was a long march from cadetsThe sixth battalion was next to tour, it was me who drew the cardWe did Canungra, Shoalwater, before we leftAnd Townsville lined the footpaths as we marched down to the quayThis clipping from the paper shows a youngon', strong and cleanAnd there's me with me slouch hat, my SLR and greensGod help me - I was only nineteenFrom Vung Tau riding Chinooks to the dust at Nui DatI'd been in and out of choppers now for monthsWe made our tents a home, V.B. and pinups on the lockersAnd an Asian orange sunset through the scrubAnd can you tell me, doctor, why I 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 nineteenA four week operation, any step could be your last one on two legsIt was a war within yourselfBut you wouldn't let your mates down 'til they had you dusted offSo you closed your eyes and you thought about somethin' elseThen someone yelled out "Contact", and the bloke behind me sworeWe hooked in there for hours, then a God almighty roarFrankie kicked the mine the day that mankind kicked the moonGod help me - he was goin' home in JuneI can still see Frankie, drinkin' tinnies in the Grand HotelOn a thirty-six hour rec. leave in Vung TauAnd I can still hear Frankie, lyin' screamin' in the jungle'Til the morphine came and killed the bloody rowAnd the Anzac legends didn't mention mud and blood and tearsAnd the stories that my father told me never seemed quite realAnd I caught some pieces in my back that I d
