I Was Only 19 (ANZAC Day Tribute) - Sydney Watson

It's okay, I'm not going to try to release music or anything. I actually wanted to post this song last year, but ran out of time and never made it back into the studio.

Seeing as ANZAC Day has been put on hold this year, it feels like an even better time to post this song.

Enjoy. Be nice. :D

LYRICS:
Mum and Dad and Danny saw the passing-out parade at Puckapunyal
It was a long march from cadets.
The sixth battalion was the next to tour, and it was me who drew the card.
We did Canungra, Shoalwater before we left.

And the Townsville lined the footpaths as we marched down to the quay
This clipping from the paper shows us young and strong and clean.
And there's me in me slouch hat with me SLR and greens.
God help me, I was only nineteen.

From Vung Tau, riding Chinooks, to the dust at Nui Dat
I'd been in and out of choppers now for months.
And we made our tents a home, VB 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 M16?
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 could mean your last one on two legs
It was a war within yourself.
But you wouldn't let your mates down til they had you dusted off,
So you closed your eyes and thought about something else.

And then someone yelled out "Contact!" and the bloke behind me swore
We hooked in there for hours, then a God all mighty roar
Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon,
God help me, he was going home in June.

I can still see Frankie, drinking tinnies in the Grand Hotel
On a thirty-six hour rec leave in Vung Tau
And I can still hear Frankie, lying screaming in the jungle
Til the morphine came and killed the bloody row.

And the Anzac legends didn't mention mud and blood and tears
And the stories that my father told me never seemed quite real.
I caught some pieces in my back that I didn't even feel
God help me, I was only nineteen.

And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can't get to sleep?
And why the Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet?
And what's this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means?
God help me, I was only nineteen.

Find me:

[SydneyWatson]

No, really. I promise I'm not going to try and release music or something. This is one of my favourite songs, and it commemorates Australia's soldiers beautifully this ANZAC Day.

Even though a lot of you are saying I'm sounding more and more American, I love Australia more than words could ever explain. :)

[wattjock]

Here in America, we have a saying...

“Thank God for Men such as these!”

[anthonyreed]

To all of you commenting on Sydney's singing, she's also playing the piano.  Very multitalented girl.  :-)

[philcal]

"It's okay, I'm not going to try to release music or anything."
-- Sydney, pleeease, do.

[robertlove]

I'm an american veteran, that song brought a tear to my eyes. I know your military vets are proud of you

[jjosephs]

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; 
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. 
At the going down of the sun and in the morning 
We will remember them."

[TritonsGuard]

As an American ex-soldier, your warriors have my respect.

[Vargas]

DEAR GOD.
Gorgeous, smart, funny, not-feminist, amazing in every way AND she can sing???
dear God I love this woman.

[djepp]

I turned 19 during my first deployment to Afghanistan, so this really hit home for me.

[toovanilla]

"Franky kicked a landmine, God help me, he was going home in June."

I felt that.

Your voice is better than expected.

[johnroyston]

I think I speak for everyone here when I say: please Sydney, DO release more music. Our ears demand more 😅👍

[abc]

To those who don’t know, ANZAC stands for: Australian & New Zealand Army Corps

[foundhope]

Just clicked, with in seconds a tear came to my eyes.
Lest we forget.

[bard]

The thing that I love most about Australia is the fact that we still honour ANZAC Day. Even when times are tough and we may have a lot of things happening in our lives, we still take the time to pay our respects on the day.

[Nightshift]

Good lord Sydney your singing voice is like an angel’s kiss

[chrissnyder]

As an American veteran, I hope and pray that someday the need for songs like this will pass

[arrivingsomewherewithmattj]

A large portion of the NZ and Aus population have seemingly forgotten what people that came before them fought for and sacrificed. We have our countries because of their bravery. The education system has more than let us down. History is to the nation what memory is to the individual. Thanks for this cover Sydney.

[DSJ]

Lest we forget, RIP Lads, nation’s finest gone but never forgotten.

[kevinthomas]

For the fallen.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them."

Laurence Binyon

[beardedchefau]

4 years on and still gives me chills. Beautiful rendition of an amazing song.