I Was Only 19 Songtext
von John Williamson

Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing out parade
At Pacapanyo, it was a long march from cadets
The sixth battalion was next to tour
It was me who drew the card
We did Canungra, Shoalwater before we left

And Townsville lined the footpaths as we marched down to the quay
This clipping from the paper shows a young ′un strong and clean
And there's me with my slouch hat, my SLR and greens
God help me, I was only nineteen

From Bun Tower ride in Chinooks to the dust at Nui Dat
I′d been in and out of choppers now for months
We made our tents a home, BB and pin-ups on the lockers
And an Asian orange sunset through the scrub

And can you tell me doctor why I can't get to sleep?
And night time's just a jungle dark and a barking M16
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, any step could be 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 you thought about something else

Then someone yelled out "Contact!" and the bloke behind me swore
We hooked in there for hours then a God almighty roar
Frankie kicked the mine the day that mankind kicked the moon
God help me, he was going home in June

I can still see Frankie drinking tinnies in the Grand Hotel
On a thirty-six hour reg leave in Bun Tower
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
And I caught some pieces in my back that I didn′t even feel
God help me, I was only nineteen

And can you tell me doctor why I still can't get to sleep?
And why the Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet?
And what′s this rash that comes and goes?
Can you tell me what it means?
God help me, I was only nineteen