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I'm not from a military family per se, though my ex-hubby was an army brat and his dad a viet vet and my grandfather was a light horseman in WW1, so I've heard my share of war tales. However, I'm starting to feel like I haven't heard enough. So I've temporarily joined this group just to ask a question as it's the most appropriate place to ask.
I've recently been roped into singing for a local band, and one of the songs I was given to learn is "I was only 19" (originally titled "a walk in the light green") by Redgum. It's about PTSD and the Vietnam war.
Now I can relate in the sense that I also suffer PTSD very extremely - even wrote a few advice articles about it, and I have done enough research to get an idea how bad it must have really been; but I haven't been in any war, never been to Vietnam, and have never even been in the army reserves.
I'll be singing it in the first person with no lyric changes and I'm not only too young to have been in the Vietnam war, but I'm also female. I'm a little concerned that people are going to look at me and think, "Yeah, ya singing the song but what the hell would you know!" I'm singing it for the purpose of dedication and that it's a great song that should never be forgotten, just as the story it tells shouldn't be forgotten.
I was wondering if anyone here can tell me anything that might help me get into the headspace of someone that was actually there, looking back on it now. It's a song that needs passion and emotion, but is the emotion needed saddness, anger, frustration or what? I can imagine all of the above and can do that, but looking for a personally experienced opinion here.
Also, would having a younger female singing the song instead of a bloke be frowned upon or appreciated? I imagine appreciated, cause it's not like we're doing a mock of it or anything, but being a female singer... might it be perceived the wrong way? I've never even heard of any female singer doing this song before, not even at a karaoke gig!
Any ideas, stories, opinions, etc; would be appreciated.
Cheers, DA |
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Re: Got a question.
Hi DA, I have stolen my wifes identity to reply to your question. I am currently posted to the 6th Batallion, Royal Australian Regiment, the same Batallion that the song mentions. My best advice, is to try get your hands on any books on the vietnam war, i know there are a lot of books about the Battle of Long Tan, but also just general books about the Australian involvement in the war. the song was written to describe how some vets felt after the war, suffering form PTSD and also the effects of agent orange, which is a cow of a chemical the US poured all over the country side to thin out the jungle, neglecting to tell many soldiers about what effects it had. As with bittenbythebug's comment, just mention that its a song written for the Vietnam vets, and that its a tribute to all the soldiers who wore the uniform and came home, but also the soldiers who didnt return home. If you need any other help, i forgot to see where you are from, but i know on the barracks at enogerra, there is an RAR memorial walk, where soldiers from the regiment have not come home from overseas, its a pretty awe inspiring place when you realise just how many of our diggers have never come home safe. also, what might help, there is a live version of the song floating around, and what it does is describes why the song writer wrote the song. if i can, i will try compile some more info for you to use, also the correct words, as they still get sung incorrect by many people when i hear the song. hope this helps a bit and i will try help some more if needed
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Re: Got a question.
Thanks matey, your response is appreciated.
I've done shitloads of research since posting this question, I have several versions of the song now, including the original when it was titled A Walk In The Light Green sung just to an acoustic guitar - which is how we'll be performing it to start with, and I do have several contradictions in lyrics, but I think I've got the right ones here, but if you could check that for me would be great!
I know what all the words mean now, admittedly I had to look up what a Chinook was. I even understand why it was called the original title.
I've been reading stories and poems til my eyes stung - don't know if it was from all the reading or crying! My research eventually lead me to getting in contact with a member of the Vietnam Veteran's Motorcycle Club who was there, and I'll be phoning him tomorrow to get a first hand personal experience to touch to everything I've learned.
But yeah, if you can check the lyrics for me that'd be great. Here's the lyrics that are correct as far as I know... (and because I've copy/pasted this it'll probably end up all screwy to look at, but the words themselves should be right)
Mum and Dad and Denny 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, Shoal Water before we left
And 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
But we made our tents a home, VB and pinups on the lockers
And an Agent Orange sunset through the scrub
And can you tell me doctor why I still can’t get to sleep
And night times 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
Then someone yelled out CONTACT! And the bloke behind me swore
We hooked in there for hours, then a God-Almighty 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 36 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 7 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.
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Re: Got a question.
Hi, i have once again stolen my wifes identity lol. the words are correct, and it is a common mistake that people when they sing the song, "asian orange" , same as Khe Sanh, how can a train fly 7 hours to Hong Kong lol. as i explained, being in the batallion the song is based on, it shows the history and pride soldiers have for those who have worn the green before us, many vets are more than happy for younger diggers to walk up to them and ask what it was like in their day compared to ours, i dare say i could experience the same thing further down the track in life. I wish you all the best in your efforts in the song, and it doesnt matter who wrote the song, who originally sang it or who does it now, its all about the respect for the fallen. another good song that a few of us have been getting into of late, is "American Soldier" by Toby Kieth, we all know its for American troops, but it rings throught for soldiers the world over. once again, anything i can help you with, i will be more than happy to. also, another thing worth you looking at is a magazine publication put out by the RAR, The Infantry Magazine. i remember seeing various articles written in there on the Vietnam War, and they are told to the writer by soldiers who were there on the ground, living in the moment. if i can find it, i will scan it and post it for you.
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Re: Got a question.
Hi DA, I have stolen my wifes identity to reply to your question. I am currently posted to the 6th Batallion, Royal Australian Regiment, the same Batallion that the song mentions. My best advice, is to try get your hands on any books on the vietnam war, i know there are a lot of books about the Battle of Long Tan, but also just general books about the Australian involvement in the war. the song was written to describe how some vets felt after the war, suffering form PTSD and also the effects of agent orange, which is a cow of a chemical the US poured all over the country side to thin out the jungle, neglecting to tell many soldiers about what effects it had. As with bittenbythebug's comment, just mention that its a song written for the Vietnam vets, and that its a tribute to all the soldiers who wore the uniform and came home, but also the soldiers who didnt return home. If you need any other help, i forgot to see where you are from, but i know on the barracks at enogerra, there is an RAR memorial walk, where soldiers from the regiment have not come home from overseas, its a pretty awe inspiring place when you realise just how many of our diggers have never come home safe. also, what might help, there is a live version of the song floating around, and what it does is describes why the song writer wrote the song. if i can, i will try compile some more info for you to use, also the correct words, as they still get sung incorrect by many people when i hear the song. hope this helps a bit and i will try help some more if needed
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