John Williamson Only 19 Lyrics

Only 19 Lyrics

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

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 youngon', strong and clean

And there's me
with me slouch hat, my 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

We made our tents a
home, V.B. and pinups 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 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, 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 somethin' 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 goin' home in June



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,
lyin' screamin' 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 d