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I Was Only 19

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Amixolydian

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! CAPO 1 !
A
AMum and Dad and CDenny saw the Gpassing out pDarade at PuckaApunyal
It was lGong march from cadAets 
The sAixth battalion was the Cnext to tour and it was Gme who drew the carDd
We did CAanungra and ShoalwaGter before we lAeft
And TEownsville lined the footpath as we mDarched down to the quAay
This clEipping from the paper shows us yoDung and strong and cleAan
F#mAnd there's me in my slouEch hat with my DSLR and greenAs
God hEelp me, I was only niDneteen
From AVung Tau riding ChiCnooks to the dGust at Nui DDat
I'd been iAn and out of choGppers now for mAonths
And we Amade our tents a hCome, V.B. and pinGups on the locDkers
And an AAsian orange sunGset through the sAcrub
And cEan you tell me doctor why I sDtill can't get to sleAep?
And nEight time's just a jungle dark and a bDarking M.1A6?
And F#mwhat's this rash that Ecomes and goes, can you tDell me what it meAans?
God hEelp me, I was only ninDeteen
A fAour week operaCtion, when each stGep can mean your last Done
On two lAegs: it was a waGr within yourAself
But you Awouldn't let your mCates down 'til they hGad you dusted ofDf
So you cAlosed your eyes and you tGhought about something eAlse
And then sEomeone yelled out Contact, and the bDloke behind me swoAre
We hEooked in there for hours, then a GDod almighty roAar
F#mFrankie kicked a miEne the day that maDnkind kicked the moAon
God hEelp me, he was going homDe in June
Interlude:
 A-  C-  G-  D-  A-  G-  A(2x)
A1 can still see FCrankie, drinking tiGnnies in the GraDnd Hotel
On a thiArty-six hour rec Gleave in Vung TAau
AAnd I can still hear CFrankie, lying sGcreaming in the junDgle
'Till the mAorphine came and kilGled the bloody rAow
And the AnEzac legends didn't mention mDud and blood and tAears
And stEories that my father told me nDever seemed quite reAal
I cF#maught some pieces Ein my back that I dDidn't even feAel
God Ehelp me, I was only nineDteen
And cEan you tell me doctor why I sDtill can't get to sleAep?
And wEhy the Channel Seven chopper cDhills me to my fAeet?
And F#mwhat's this rash that cEomes and goes, can you Dtell me what it meAans?
God hEelp me, I was only nineDteen
God hEelp me, I was only nineteen

All chords in this song (6)

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I Was Only 19

by Julia Stone

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 1 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

! CAPO 1 !

A C G D A

Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing out parade at Puckapunyal

G A

It was long march from cadets

A C G D

The sixth battalion was the next to tour and it was me who drew the card

A G A

We did Canungra and Shoalwater before we left

E D A

And Townsville lined the footpath as we marched down to the quay

E D A

This clipping from the paper shows us young and strong and clean

F#m E D A

And there's me in my slouch hat with my SLR and greens

E D

God help me, I was only nineteen

A C G D

From Vung Tau riding Chinooks to the dust at Nui Dat

A G A

I'd been in and out of choppers now for months

A C G D

And we made our tents a home, V.B. and pinups on the lockers

A G A

And an Asian orange sunset through the scrub

E D A

And can you tell me doctor why I still can't get to sleep?

E D A

And night time's just a jungle dark and a barking M.16?

F#m E D A

And what's this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means?

E D

God help me, I was only nineteen

A C G D

A four week operation, when each step can mean your last one

A G A

On two legs: it was a war within yourself

A C G D

But you wouldn't let your mates down 'til they had you dusted off

A G A

So you closed your eyes and you thought about something else

E D A

And then someone yelled out Contact, and the bloke behind me swore

E D A

We hooked in there for hours, then a God almighty roar

F#m E D A

Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon

E D

God help me, he was going home in June

Interlude:

A C G D A G A

- - - - - - (2x)

A C G D

1 can still see Frankie, drinking tinnies in the Grand Hotel

A G A

On a thirty-six hour rec leave in Vung Tau

A C G D

And I can still hear Frankie, lying screaming in the jungle

A G A

'Till the morphine came and killed the bloody row

E D A

And the Anzac legends didn't mention mud and blood and tears

E D A

And stories that my father told me never seemed quite real

F#m E D A

I caught some pieces in my back that I didn't even feel

E D

God help me, I was only nineteen

E D A

And can you tell me doctor why I still can't get to sleep?

E D A

And why the Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet?

F#m E D A

And what's this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means?

E D

God help me, I was only nineteen

About I Was Only 19 Chords by Julia Stone

Learn how to play I Was Only 19 by Julia Stone with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “I Was Only 19 chords”, “I Was Only 19 guitar chords”, or “Julia Stone I Was Only 19 chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy I Was Only 19 chords and for experienced players who want accurate I Was Only 19 lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, C, G, D, E, F#m.

FAQ — I Was Only 19 by Julia Stone

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