In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Mum and dad and Danny 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 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
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
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 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
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
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by 19townsl
I Was Only 19 (A Walk In The Light Green) Lyrics as written by John Lewis Schumann Dale Anthony Harrison
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this is the song that has to most meaning to me, it represents all that returned vietnam vets have been through, and just the general futility of war
John Schumann of Redgum: "We've just put out a single called "I Was Only 19" or "A Walk in the Light Green" and, ah, it's a song about two mates of mine who went to Vietnam and came back Agent Orange victims. It's, ah, the title "A Walk in the Light Green" stems from the fact that, when the Australian soldiers in Vietnam were given their missions they looked at the areas that they'd be working in on the map, and if ah, it was sort of dark green on the map, there was cause for some consolation, 'cause dark green meant thick jungle, lots of cover and there were no mines. If they were working in areas that were light green on the map, that meant light jungle, not much cover and heaps of mines."
Puckapunyal is an army training base in Victoria, Canungra and Shoalwater are bases that provide specialist training in jungle warfare. Vung Tau and Nui Dat are cities in Vietnam. Anzac stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the original name given to the forces that landed on Gallipoli Beach in World War One. Agent Orange was a herbicide used to kill the jungle to reduce the cover.
This song reduced me to tears the first time I heard it. My Dad played it for me, and we both sobbed. Though he didn't go to Vietnam, he's old enough to have friends who did, and who have had their lives destroyed by that war.
The first time I heard this song I was in year 12, and I was part of a drama ensemble. We were exploring the breakdown of communication over the generations and the different views people had, we had decided to use WW2 and Vietnam returning soldiers to illustrate our point. On principle I don't agree with war, but people who have gone to fight do deserve our respect for doing their jobs and surviving, what would have to be horrible situations and experiences. This song reminds me not only of the reality of war but also the suffering people who go to war are put through and every-time I listen to it I cry and think about all the people like "Frankie" or the narrator of the song, who either died, were injured physically and emotionally.
They all deserve our understanding and respect and for me that is what this song is, a reminder to show understanding and respect for courageous men and women who serve in the armed forces.
What I like about this song is that it says to USA that your not the only ones that fought in vietnam
China, Japan, and France sent troops, but I know of no other country that sent troops. Others sent equipment, etc. And why would you assume the U.S. felt it was the only country who fought in Viewnam? You make no sense.
Oops..According to Wiki, "Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War began as a small commitment of 30 men in 1962, and increased over the following decade to a peak of 7,672 Australians deployed in South Vietnam or in support of Australian forces there. The Vietnam War was the longest and most controversial war Australia has ever fought." The troops were withdrawn in 1970.
Hey I'm not sure what he means by "the 6th battalion was the next to tour it was me who drew the card" but just in case anyone was wondering "We did Canungra, Shoalwater before we left." refer to millitary training bases in Queensland, Australia.
Also from the second verse, an SLR is a "self loading rifle"...
And just to clear it up is the "God almighty roar" an airstrike or poor Frankie's landmine?
Thank you very much. This helped me a lot with my English Assignment!
@samadamas could the "card" reference be in regards to conscription? Which was drawn from a ballot.<br /> <br /> vietnam-war.commemoration.gov.au/conscription/birthday-ballot.php
yeh, i like this song in what it is about, it needed to be said. it still gts radio play and i think that is important.
This song means alotv to me because military runs in my families blood. i have a rele that was killed in the american civil wars another was captured by the Japanese in WW2 and another was at Pearl Habour when it was bombed. they are the bad stories of my families military service. so my family has a very long military service record and i intend to keep the record going when i try for a 2nd time to get into the Australian army. btw im only 17 i could be in a war my self in 2 yrs if that is what the future holds
I'm curious about the 'we hooked in there for hours' part. It mentions 6th btn and Nui Dat. Does this mean that this part of the song is about Long Tan, were D company was up against an entire regiment of NVA?
I believe that the hooked in there for hours part is about D Company, 6th Battalion at Long Tan. Means a bit as D Coy 6 Bn was the sponser of my training platoon at Kapooka when I enlisted in the Australian Army and I had the honour of meeting veterans from this battle.
This is a brilliant song, made me cry the first time I heard it. I think it should be played more often, particularly on ANZAC day and stuff... I think it really creates an image of the reality of war, and the lasting impact on the soldiers. An absolute classic.
its fantastic. really sad but it needs to be heard. i love it. i love the heard's cover of it too
i'm just about to turn 16 and i played this song as a solo in front of my school today for anzac day. i was nervous as all hell before but pulled it off and i believe it was the best singing/performance ive ever done (even my principle commented). when i played it i swear you could have heard a pin drop in that hall and i'm glad at least a few of the 800 odd that listened and understood a bit of respect for our diggers. good on you all.