I Was Only Nineteen

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Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing out parade at Puckapunyal from cadets The Sixth Batalion was the next to tour and it was me who drew the card We did Canungra and Shoal water before we left Townsville lined up the footpaths as we marched down to the quay This clipping from the paper shows the young and strong and clean And there''s me in my slouch hat with my S L R and greens God help me I was only nineteen From Vung Tau riding Chinooks to the dust of Nui Dat I''d been in and out of choppers now for months But 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 I''m sixteen 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 wara was within yourself But you wouldn''t let

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