Tom: A | 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.