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I Was Only Nineteen

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Amixolydian

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[Intro]
|   A    C|   G    D|   A    G|      A|
[Verse 1]
  AMum and Dad and CDenny saw the Gpassing out paDrade at PuckaApunyal.
(It was a long march Gfrom cadets.)A  
The Asixth battalion was the Cnext to tour and it was Gme who drew the caDrd.
We did CaAnungra and ShoalGwater before we lefAt.
[Chorus 1]
And ETownsville lined the footpaths as we mDarched down to the quayA.
This Eclipping from the paper shows us Dyoung and strong and cAlean.
And F#mthere's me in me sElouch hat with me DSLR and Agreens.
God Ehelp me, I was EonF#mly  EnineDteen.
[Verse 2]
From AVung Tau riding CChinooks to the Gdust at Nui DaDt,
I'd been Ain and out of Gchoppers now for mAonths.
And we Amade our tents a Chome, V.B. and Gpinups on the Dlockers.
And an AAsian orange Gsunset through the scruAb.
[Chorus 2]
And Ecan you tell me, doctor, why I Dstill can't get to sleeAp?
And Enight time's just a jungle dark and a Dbarking M.1A6?
And F#mwhat's this rash that Ecomes and goes, can you Dtell me what it mAeans?
God Ehelp me, I was only nineDteen.
[Verse 3]
A Afour week operCation, when each Gstep can mean your lDast one
on two lAegs: it was a Gwar within yoursAelf.
But you Awouldn't let your mCates down 'til they Ghad you dusted oDff.
So you Aclosed your eyes and Gthought about somethin' eAlse.
[Chorus 3]
And then Esomeone yelled out "Contact", and the Dbloke behind me swAore.
We Ehooked in there for hours, then a DGod almighty rAoar.
And F#mFrankie kicked a Emine the day that Dmankind kicked the Amoon.
God Ehelp me, he was going home in June.D  
[Interlude]
|   A    C|   G    D|   A    G|      A|
[Verse 4]
And AI can still see FranCkie, drinkin' Gtinnies in the DGrand Hotel
on a Athirty-six hour Grec. leave in Vung ATau.
And AI can still hear CFrankie, lying Gscreaming in the Djungle,
'til the Amorphine came and Gkilled the bloody rAow.
[Chorus 4]
And the EAnzac legends didn't mention Dmud and blood and tAears.
And the Estories that my father told me Dnever seemed quite rAeal.
I F#mcaught some pieces Ein my back that I Ddidn't even fAeel.
God Ehelp me, I was EonF#mly  EnineDteen.
[Chorus 5]
And Ecan you tell me, doctor, why I Dstill can't get to sleeAp?
And Ewhy the Channel Seven chopper Dchills me to my fAeet.
And F#mwhat's this rash that Ecomes and goes, can you Dtell me what it mAeans?
God Ehelp me, I was only nineDteen.
[Outro]
|   A    C|   G    D|   A    G| A  

All chords in this song (6)

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Major chord - Happy, bright sound

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Skill · find home

A mixolydian

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I Was Only Nineteen

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I Was Only Nineteen

by Redgum

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

[Intro]

A C G D A G A

| | | | |

[Verse 1]

A C G D A

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

G A

(It was a 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.

[Chorus 1]

E D A

And Townsville lined the footpaths 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 me slouch hat with me SLR and greens.

E E F#m E D

God help me, I was only nineteen.

[Verse 2]

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.

[Chorus 2]

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.

[Verse 3]

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 thought about somethin' else.

[Chorus 3]

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

And 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

| | | | |

[Verse 4]

A C G D

And I can still see Frankie, drinkin' 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

'til the morphine came and killed the bloody row.

[Chorus 4]

E D A

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

E D A

And the 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 E F#m E D

God help me, I was only nineteen.

[Chorus 5]

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.

[Outro]

A C G D A G A

| | | |

About I Was Only Nineteen Chords by Redgum

Learn how to play I Was Only Nineteen by Redgum with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “I Was Only Nineteen chords”, “I Was Only Nineteen guitar chords”, or “Redgum I Was Only Nineteen 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 Nineteen chords and for experienced players who want accurate I Was Only Nineteen lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, C, G, D, E, F#m.

FAQ — I Was Only Nineteen by Redgum

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The chords for "I Was Only Nineteen" show the original chord names (including A, C, G, D, E, F#m). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.