歌词
Mum, Dad and Denny were some amongst many
Who turned up to see the passing out parade at Puckapunyal
Seemed every man and his mongrel watched cadets stumble
On the long march to the Viet jungle
"Oh Christ," he mumbled as I drew that card
And my mates came to slap me on the back with due regard
We were the 6th Battalion and the next to tour
We did Canungra and Shoalwater before we left, rest assured
Seemed half of Townsville turned out to see us leave
And they lined the footpaths as we marched to the quay
The papers wrote it up like you would not believe
But we were looking to the future for a fast reprieve
The newspaper clippings show us young, strong and clean
Rockers, slouch hats, slung SLRs and greens
God help me
I was only 19
From Vung Tau in black helicopters
The Chinook pilot seemed relieved and knew he'd out when he dropped us
Feels like months running on and off landing pads
Letters to Dad 'cause it's like man he's sad
But he can't see the tents that we call home
Cans of VB and pin-ups on the lockers of chicks off TV
The noise, mosquitoes and the heat surprising
Like the first time you see an Agent Orange horizon
So please can you tell me doctor
Why I still can't get to sleep
The scars left in me
Night times is the jungle dark
And a barking M16
He keeps saying "Rest in peace"
What the hell's this rash that comes and goes
Don't suppose you could tell me what that means
God help me
I was only 19
Sent off on a four week long operation
Where every single step could be your last one
On two legs it was sort of living hell
Falling with the shells, war within yourself
But you wouldn't let your mates down
'Til they had you dusted off
So you closed your eyes and thought of something else
And someone yelled "Contact!"
Another bloke swore
We hooked in for hours and it got almighty raw
Then Frankie picked a mine
The day that mankind kicked the moon
God help me
He was going home in June
And I can still see Frank with a can in his hand
36 Hour leave in the bar at the Grand
I can still hear Frank, a screaming mess
Of bleeding flesh, couldn't retrieve his legs
The ANZAC legend neglected to mention
The mud, the fear, the blood, the tears, the tension
Dad's recollection beyond comprehension
Didn't seem quite real until we were sent in
The chaos and confusion, the fire and steel
Hot shrapnel in my back I didn't even feel
God help me
I was only 19
So please can you tell me doctor
Why I can't get to sleep
I can't hardly eat
And the sound of the Channel 7 chopper
Still chills me to my feet
It still fuels my grief
And what's this rash that comes and goes
Like the dreams
Can you tell me what that means
God help me
I was only 19
Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing out parade at Puckapunyal
It was a long march from cadets
The 6th Battalion wasn't next to tour
And it was me who drew the card
We did Canungra and Shoalwater before we left
So please can you tell me doctor
Why I can't get to sleep
I can't hardly eat
And the sound of the Channel 7 chopper
Still chills me to my feet
It still fuels my grief
And what's this rash that comes and goes
Like the dreams
Can you tell me what that means
God help me
I was only 19
