I Was Only 19 - John Williamson

[00:00.0]I Was Only 19 (Live) - John Williamson
[00:00.29]Written by：Schumann John
[00:14.93]Mum and Dad and Danny saw the passing out parade at Puckapunyal
[00:21.28]It was a long march from cadets
[00:25.63]The sixth battalion was next to tour it was me who drew the card
[00:31.02]We did Canungra Shoalwater before we left
[00:37.05]And Townsville lined the footpaths as we marched down to the quay
[00:42.76]This clipping from the paper shows a youngon' strong and clean
[00:48.41]And there's me with me slouch hat my SLR and greens
[00:53.98]God help me
[00:58.32]I was only nineteen
[01:02.92]From Vung Tau riding Chinooks to the dust at Nui Dat
[01:08.11]I'd been in and out of choppers now for months
[01:14.07]We made our tents a home V.B. and pinups on the lockers
[01:19.64]And an Asian orange sunset through the scrub
[01:25.39]And can you tell me doctor why I can't get to sleep
[01:31.05]And night time's just a jungle dark and a barking M.16
[01:36.7]And what's this rash that comes and goes can you tell me what it means
[01:42.36]God help me
[01:46.81]I was only nineteen
[01:54.11]A four week operation any step could be your last one on two legs
[02:00.86]It was a war within yourself
[02:05.36]But you wouldn't let your mates down 'til they had you dusted off
[02:10.97]So you closed your eyes and you thought about somethin' else
[02:16.89]Then someone yelled out Contact and the bloke behind me swore
[02:22.69]We hooked in there for hours then a God almighty roar
[02:28.59]Frankie kicked the mine the day that mankind kicked the moon
[02:33.97]God help me
[02:38.3]He was goin' home in June
[03:09.15]I can still see Frankie drinkin' tinnies in the Grand Hotel
[03:14.42]On a thirty-six hour rec leave in Vung Tau
[03:20.62]And I can still hear Frankie lyin' screamin' in the jungle
[03:26.02]'Til the morphine came and killed the bloody row
[03:31.75]And the Anzac legends didn't mention mud and blood and tears
[03:37.56]And the stories that my father told me never seemed quite real
[03:43.19]And I caught some pieces in my back that I didn't even feel
[03:48.95999]God help me
[03:53.6]I was only nineteen
[03:58.02]And can you tell me doctor why I still can't get to sleep
[04:03.54]And why the Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet
[04:09.2]And what's this rash that comes and goes can you tell me what it means
[04:15.02]God help me
[04:19.42]I was only nineteen