I Was Only Nineteen

Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs

Hip Hop cover of the song "I Was Only Nineteen" (Elefant Traks # ACE021). This group formed in 2001, Sydney, NSW, Australia. The line-up featured: Ozi Batla (MC), Urthboy (MC), Berzerkatron (MC), Unkle Ho (drum programming), Traksewt (drum programming, accordion, clarinet), Sulo (drum programming, guitar), Toe Fu (guitar), Rok Poshtya (bass), Jane Tyrell (vocals), Alejandro (laptop, vocals), and Snapsuit (production). The song dealt with the negative impact of war on the soldier. Written by John Schumann, born 18 May 1953 in Adelaide, Australia, leader singer of Redgum, formed in 1975, Adelaide, and disbanded in 1990. As discussed above, John Schumann based it largely on the experiences of the Vietnam war veteran Mick Storen (his brother-in-law).1 This song provided an important representation of the loss of innocence for a nineteen year old, whose life changed because of the war. It brought attention to the plight of the Australian Vietnam veteran. Sources1I Was Only Nineteen (John Schumann)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: "Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing out parade at Puckapunyal / It was a long march from cadets / The sixth battalion was the next to tour and it was me who drew the card / We did Canungra and Shoalwater before we left / And Townsville lined the footpaths as we marched down to the quay / This clipping from the paper shows us young and strong and clean / And there's me in me slouch hat with me 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 / And 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 still 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, when each step can mean 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 thought about somethin' else / And then someone yelled out "Contact", and the bloke behind me swore / We hooked in there for hours, then a God almighty roar / And Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon / God help me - he was goin' home in June And 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…

Notes

Cover of the Redgum song (1983).

About the artist

The Herd - hip hop collective formed 2001 in Sydney, NSW: Ozi Batla, Urthboy and Berzerkatron (MCs), Unkle Ho, Traksewt and Sulo (production), Toe Fu, Rok Poshtya, Jane Tyrell, Alejandro and Snapsuit.

Themes

ANZUS · PTSD · Agent Orange · Drugs · Vet · Soldier's Perspective · Helicopter

In collections

Australian & New Zealand Songs · PTSD Songs · Rap / Hip Hop Songs