Rate a song- i was only 19-Red Gum

[MagpieScouser]

great aussie song that pays tribute to the vietnam war veterans and what they endured during and after the war

 

[Bomber Bears]

great song
also love the cover by the herd

 

[Bomber32]

One of the great Aussie songs of the 80's and a very moving tribute to the Vietnam vets.

 

[crisco]

2/10- ppl may say 'where is your patriotism?', however music is an art, and this song is not a very well constructed piece of art, so hence the bad rating, not to say i hate it though

 

[oxx]

Cash-in job.
Song is shit

 

[CaptainDavey]

Politics aside, I think it's a good song. Love the Herd covering it

 

[Dagless]

Guessing you watched 20 to 1 tonight...

The first time he sings the lyrics 'God help me, I was only 19' is pretty stirring, though as crisco said, it doesn't flow too well. Hard to listen to sometimes.

 

[skilts]

Great song.

Such a pity the lyrics were stolen, without attribution or financial compensation, from a Vietnam veteran who was a poet.

 

[nicky]

8/10 good song

 

[TooFar]

Great song.

Such a pity the lyrics were stolen, without attribution or financial compensation, from a Vietnam veteran who was a poet.

So people keep saying. Is there any proof to this allegation, or is this just another urban legend?

 

[raskolnikov]

So people keep saying. Is there any proof to this allegation, or is this just another urban legend?

urban legend

 

[Valentino Dmitri]

Don't really like it, or the herd cover. Hate that breakdown part where it sounds a little bit like a pirate singalong sea shanty.

Doesn't give me much.

 

[Mr Eagle]

Great song, but that Herd cover was godawful.

 

[skilts]

So people keep saying. Is there any proof to this allegation, or is this just another urban legend?

I knew the wife of the bloke who wrote it. We used to drink together at a pub in New St, Brighton, Melbourne. They spent five, unsuccessful years in litigation about it. If Vietnam didn't destroy him, having his work stolen without attribution certainly did. If I were him, I'd have been less than happy too.

 

[Dagless]

urban legend

I knew the wife of the bloke who wrote it. We used to drink together at a pub in New St, Brighton, Melbourne. They spent five, unsuccessful years in litigation about it. If Vietnam didn't destroy him, having his work stolen without attribution certainly did. If I were him, I'd have been less than happy too.

Who to believe, who to believe

 

[Leaping Lindner]

Who to believe, who to believe

Yeah who to believe??? A guy who actually went to Vietnam, or a singer songwriter who never had an original idea in his life.

 

[Dagless]

Yeah who to believe??? A guy who actually went to Vietnam, or a singer songwriter who never had an original idea in his life.

Exactly, its a tough choice

 

[lookkg386]

Great song for the times, does it stand up still??

mmmmmmmmmm....maybe yes.

 

[Fade to Gray]

Great song, and as far as I am aware John Schuman did acutually go to Vietnam.

One line that I have always found a little strange is the line about Frankie kicking a mine the day that Mankind kicked the moon. Well if the moon landing was in July and he was going home in June, that means he still had at least 11 months to serve. (Or am I being to picky)?

 

[Leaping Lindner]

Great song, and as far as I am aware John Schuman did acutually go to Vietnam.

One line that I have always found a little strange is the line about Frankie kicking a mine the day that Mankind kicked the moon. Well if the moon landing was in July and he was going home in June, that means he still had at least 11 months to serve. (Or am I being to picky)?

If he did it was on a ConTiki tour.

 

[diesel and dust]

I recently learnt it on the guitar.....and i played it to a mate on his voice mail while he was at the albion park dawn service this year because i couldn't make it....


good song.... great lyrics...good melody....well sang

 

[Mr Eagle]

Great song, and as far as I am aware John Schuman did acutually go to Vietnam.

One line that I have always found a little strange is the line about Frankie kicking a mine the day that Mankind kicked the moon. Well if the moon landing was in July and he was going home in June, that means he still had at least 11 months to serve. (Or am I being to picky)?

He was *meant* to go home in June, but didn't. The Wikipedia article on the song covers this quite nicely:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Walk_in_the_Light_Green

 

[Jimi]

They played this song to my platoon right after marching out of Kapooka, it was moving to say the least.

 

[monty1104]

Ive gotta admit, I had never heard of the song before 20 to 1 the other night, but after listening to it (both Redgum and The Herd versions) ive gotta say its a great song.

Being 20, I cant really relate to it, but I can imagine what effect it would have on Vietnam veterans. For me, it rates up there with Khe Sanh as the best "war story" song, which says alot since Khe Sanh is and always will be my favourite song.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Cash-in job.

Proceeds went to charity, moron