Covid Island Discs

Day 332: I was only 19, Redgum

Yesterday I shared the song Heaven by Bryan Adams which I first heard at the tender age of 19. As I mused over the memories of that song, the fact I was 19 reminded me of another great song by the Aussie band Redgum. This song strongly reminds me of the other Anzac song Waltzing Matilda (see Covid Island Discs Day 36) which recalls the origin of Anzac day when Australian forces failed to take Anzac Cove in the Gallipolli campaign of 1915-1916.

In contrast this song tells of a much more recent conflict for the Australian armed forces and that was the terrible Vietnam conflict which left so many young me both physically and psychologically broken; the latter so aptly captured in the song’s lines:

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 19