Written by D. Harrison
Intro: A C G D A G A A
A C
Mum, Dad and Denny were some amongst many
G D
who came to watch the passing out parade at Puckapunyal
A G
Seemed every man and his mongrel cam watched cadets stumble
A A
on the long march to the Viet jungle.
A C
"Oh Christ", I mumbled as I drew that card
G D
and my mates came to slap me on the back with due regard
A G
We were the sixth battalion, yep next to tour
A A
we did Canungra and Shoalwater before we left, rest assured
E E
Seemed half of Townsville turned out to see us leave
D A
they lined the footpaths as we marched to the quay
E E
And the papers wrote it up like you wouldn't believe
D A
but we were only looking to the future for a fast reprieve
F#m E
And there's all of us looking young
D A
strong and clean rockin' slouch hats slung SLRs and greens
E E F#m D
God help me, I was only nineteen
A C
From Vung Tau the black helicopters
G D
the chinhook pilots seemed relieved at Nui Dat when he dropped us
A G
Seems like months running on and off landing pads
A A
letters to Dad it's like, man, he's sad
A C
But he can't see the tents that we call home
G D
cans of VB, pin-ups of chicks off TV
A G
The heat, the mosquitoes, and the noise suprising
A A
like the first time you see an agent orange horizon
E E D A
So please can you tell me doctor why I can't get to sleep the scar's left in me?
E E D A
Night time's just a jungle dark and a barking M16 that keeps saying "rest in peace"
F#m E D A
And what's this rash that comes and goes Don't suppose you can tell me what that means?
E E F#m D
God help me, I was only nineteen
A C G D
Sent off on a four-week long operation where every single step could be your last one
A G A A
On two legs were sorta living hell falling with the shells, war within yourself
E E D
But you couldn't let your mates down 'til they had you dusted off
A
so you closed your eyes and thought of something else
E E
Someone yelled "contact!" another bloke swore
D A
we hooked in for hours then a god almighty roar
F#m E D A
Then Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon
E E F#m D
God help me, he was going home in June
solo
A / C / G / D
A / G / A / A
A C G D
And I can still see Frank with a can in his hand thirty-six hour leave in the bar at the Grand
A G A A
And I can still hear Frank a screaming mess of bleeding flesh couldn't retrieve his legs
E E D A
You see the ANZAC legend neglected to mention the mud, the fear,the blood,the tears,the tension
E E D A
Dad's recollection beyond comprehension didn't seem quite real until we were sent in
F#m E D A
Chaos and confusion the fire and steel hot shrapnel in my back I didn't even feel
E E F#m D
God help me, I was only 19
E E D A
So please can you tell me doctor why I can't get to sleep I can't hardly eat?
E E D A
And the sound of the Channel Seven chopper still chills me to my feet still fuels my grief?
F#m E D A
And what's this rash that comes and goes like the dreams can tell me what that means?
E E F#m D
God help me, I was only nineteen
A C G D
Mum, Dad and Denny saw the passing out parade at
A G A A
Puckapunyal It was a long march from Cadets
A C G D
The sixth battalion was the next to tour It was me who drew the card
A G A A
we did Canungra and Shoalwater before we left
E E D A
And Townsville lined he footpaths as we marched down to the quay
E E D A
This clipping from the papers showed us young and strong and clean
F#m E D A
There me in me slouch hat me SLR and greens
E E F#m D
God help me, I was only nineteen
E E D A
So please can you tell me doctor why I can't get to sleep I can't hardly eat?
E E D A
And the sound of the Channel Seven chopper still chills me to my feet still fuels my grief?
F#m E D A
And what's this rash that comes and goes like the dreams can tell me what that means?
E E F#m D
God help me, I was only nineteen
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