Thank you for your reaction. You certainly did post it on ANZAC Day, it is currently 12:31 am in Sydney, Australia on the 25th April. I had family who served in the armed forces. My grandfather was a member of the Australian Light Horse Regiments & a mechanic in WW2, my great uncle also served. My grandfather was one of many young country men in Australia who came from the land & were very skilled riders. All but a few of these units were slowly mechanised prior & during WW2, hence his change to mechanics. Neither of them spoke of the war, they both came home different men. This song encompasses all who fought & fight today, a small glimpse of their courage, loyalty & sacrifice. I’m off to bed, I have an early start to attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service. Lest We Forget.
ANZAC day is the only public holiday in Australia where we are sad and dont have a party. Every year I listen to only 19 and the band played waltzing Matilda.
This song was sung at the beginning of yesterday's ANZAC day AFL football match in front of 95,000 fans, and there was not a dry eye in the stadium. So poignant and meaningful on our day of remembering those who sacrificed themselves so that we might be free. Lest we forget.
Thoughtful reaction. A whole stack of Aussie words in the lyrics. Few things to note; Vũng Tàu is a costal resort town. Besides from an old French fort, the town was the main port of arrivals for soldiers, bars for R&R and good hospital. The Aussies often rode Chinooks back and forth to Núi Đất (some 20km) which was the main Aussie base due to Việt Cường activity. "And an Agent Orange subset through the shrub" is often wrongly written on online lyrics pages as 'And an Asian Orange....'. The "rash" in next line refers to this defoilant chemical used by the US during the war. Indeed, large areas around the Biên Hòa airbase near Sài Gòn.
Yes, I did wonder about the Asian Orange but thought it might have been deliberately written in that way but still referring to Agent Orange. Thank you for your comments and info.
Just to let you know re agent orange, I thought the same thing but a guy said it says asian orange on the album cover so looks like it is correct. Agent orange makes a lot more sense to me but I think using asian was just an euphanism anyway.
This song brings me back memories of my early university days in 1972. At the time, Australia had brought in conscription for men over 18, determined by random ballot on your birthday. One of my friends was a year older than me, and was concerned that he would be drafted and so he tried to ensure that he passed the course so that he could have the service deferred. My father had joined the army in 1964 at 45 years of age (because of the recession) and went to Vietnam for a 9 month tour of duty in 1966. He was in the engineering corps and worked on plant equipment, hydraulics etc. I remember my sister (5 years older than me) who was married to a young Army soldier, specifically voted for the Labor party because they campaigned to stop the conscription and pull Australia out of the war. The Whitlam Labor government was elected in 1972 and the rest as they say, is history...
John wrote this song with input from his brother in law who served in Vietnam, and royalties go to support veterans. This song had a huge effect, many veterans were told the rash was detergent in their washing and insomnia was too much coffee. But it showed that they were not alone, Vietnam was not a popular war and veterans suffered neglect afterward until this shone a public light on the problem. John went on to work with the defense force and did a DVD to help soldiers prepare for and deal with PTSD. As much as possible. Frankie also had a part in this song, at some live shows he is sidestage in his wheelchair.
I appreciate this reaction so much. I understand the pride people have and the way most folk talk about war being necessary and something to be revered but you're right.....they sent kids off to get killed and they came back traumatised. My Dad said he never knew my Grandfather because after he came back he spent all day at the pub escaping life with alcohol. The fact that there is still an Us and Them mentality is so damaging. I like your peaceful philosophy and commend you for not glorifying war. People like to hold this song up as a celebration of our troops but it's also quite obvious that the songwriter is pointing out how horrific the system is and that something has to change.
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate it. War tears people apart on all sides and for generations after. Just this week I was trying to negotiate answers for two young students who come from Sudan - a country currently being devastated by two generals on opposing sides. I hope one day people will find a way to live in peace, but I recognize it is a long road to get there.
A bit of help with lyrics for a non Australian. Puckapunyal, Canungra and Shoalwater were army training camps. Townsville is a port in northern Queensland Slouch hat is a synonymous part of Australian army uniform. VB is a popular Australian beer (short for Victorian Bitter)
![Redgum - I Was Only 19 [Reaction]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DRCiOqzTccA/mqdefault.jpg)
![Redgum - I Was Only 19 [Reaction]](/img/tr.png)
Original video: ua-cam.com/video/aXaczfR_lo0/v-deo.html
Redgum's channel: ua-cam.com/channels/iwfduisVazQcxP_eq8o-Dw.html
Thank you for your reaction. You certainly did post it on ANZAC Day, it is currently 12:31 am in Sydney, Australia on the 25th April.
I had family who served in the armed forces. My grandfather was a member of the Australian Light Horse Regiments & a mechanic in WW2, my great uncle also served. My grandfather was one of many young country men in Australia who came from the land & were very skilled riders. All but a few of these units were slowly mechanised prior & during WW2, hence his change to mechanics. Neither of them spoke of the war, they both came home different men. This song encompasses all who fought & fight today, a small glimpse of their courage, loyalty & sacrifice.
I’m off to bed, I have an early start to attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service.
Lest We Forget.
Thank you for watching, your comments, and information, Renée. All best wishes.
Anzac day here a couple of days ago. Much respect to all service men and women, past and present.
Lest we forget❤
🙂
ANZAC day is the only public holiday in Australia where we are sad and dont have a party. Every year I listen to only 19 and the band played waltzing Matilda.
This song was sung at the beginning of yesterday's ANZAC day AFL football match in front of 95,000 fans, and there was not a dry eye in the stadium. So poignant and meaningful on our day of remembering those who sacrificed themselves so that we might be free. Lest we forget.
Thoughtful reaction. A whole stack of Aussie words in the lyrics. Few things to note; Vũng Tàu is a costal resort town. Besides from an old French fort, the town was the main port of arrivals for soldiers, bars for R&R and good hospital. The Aussies often rode Chinooks back and forth to Núi Đất (some 20km) which was the main Aussie base due to Việt Cường activity.
"And an Agent Orange subset through the shrub" is often wrongly written on online lyrics pages as 'And an Asian Orange....'. The "rash" in next line refers to this defoilant chemical used by the US during the war. Indeed, large areas around the Biên Hòa airbase near Sài Gòn.
Yes, I did wonder about the Asian Orange but thought it might have been deliberately written in that way but still referring to Agent Orange. Thank you for your comments and info.
Just to let you know re agent orange, I thought the same thing but a guy said it says asian orange on the album cover so looks like it is correct. Agent orange makes a lot more sense to me but I think using asian was just an euphanism anyway.
Such a hauntingly beautiful song about something so terrible.
That is true! Thank you for commenting. 🙂
This song brings me back memories of my early university days in 1972. At the time, Australia had brought in conscription for men over 18, determined by random ballot on your birthday. One of my friends was a year older than me, and was concerned that he would be drafted and so he tried to ensure that he passed the course so that he could have the service deferred.
My father had joined the army in 1964 at 45 years of age (because of the recession) and went to Vietnam for a 9 month tour of duty in 1966. He was in the engineering corps and worked on plant equipment, hydraulics etc. I remember my sister (5 years older than me) who was married to a young Army soldier, specifically voted for the Labor party because they campaigned to stop the conscription and pull Australia out of the war. The Whitlam Labor government was elected in 1972 and the rest as they say, is history...
Thank you for your comments and information, Ausrocker.
John wrote this song with input from his brother in law who served in Vietnam, and royalties go to support veterans.
This song had a huge effect, many veterans were told the rash was detergent in their washing and insomnia was too much coffee.
But it showed that they were not alone, Vietnam was not a popular war and veterans suffered neglect afterward until this shone a public light on the problem.
John went on to work with the defense force and did a DVD to help soldiers prepare for and deal with PTSD. As much as possible.
Frankie also had a part in this song, at some live shows he is sidestage in his wheelchair.
No war should be popular; but, yes, I remember how unpopular the Vietnam war became. Maybe one day....🙂
I appreciate this reaction so much. I understand the pride people have and the way most folk talk about war being necessary and something to be revered but you're right.....they sent kids off to get killed and they came back traumatised. My Dad said he never knew my Grandfather because after he came back he spent all day at the pub escaping life with alcohol. The fact that there is still an Us and Them mentality is so damaging. I like your peaceful philosophy and commend you for not glorifying war. People like to hold this song up as a celebration of our troops but it's also quite obvious that the songwriter is pointing out how horrific the system is and that something has to change.
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate it. War tears people apart on all sides and for generations after. Just this week I was trying to negotiate answers for two young students who come from Sudan - a country currently being devastated by two generals on opposing sides. I hope one day people will find a way to live in peace, but I recognize it is a long road to get there.
A bit of help with lyrics for a non Australian.
Puckapunyal, Canungra and Shoalwater were army training camps. Townsville is a port in northern Queensland
Slouch hat is a synonymous part of Australian army uniform.
VB is a popular Australian beer (short for Victorian Bitter)
Hi Stuart,
Thank you for the information. I could guess at some, but always good to know for sure. 🙂