I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)
1983 · Epic ES 844 · New York City, New York
- Artist
- Redgum
- Title
- I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)
- Release
- I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green) / Yarralumla Wine
- Year
- 1983
- Label
- Epic # ES 844
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- New York City, New York, Australia
- Songwriter
- John Schumann
- Genre
- Rock · Folk Rock
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
The track "I Was Only 19" (Epic Records # ES 844) reached # 1 in the Australian singles chart (Kent Music Report), one of the most successful Australian Vietnam War songs. It dealt with the negative impact of war on the soldier. Written by John Schumann, born 18 May 1953 in Adelaide, Australia, leader singer of Redgum, formed in 1975, Adelaide, and disbanded in 1990. Other member included on this record were: Hugh McDonald (violin, vocals), Brian Czempinski (drums), Trevor Lucas (backing vocals), and Peter Coughlin (bass guitar). (1). John Schumann based it largely on the experiences of the Vietnam war veteran Mick Storen (his brother-in-law). Schumann noted as a teenager in the late 1960s his friends being drafted to fight the war: "They left as wide-eyed, grinning Australian lads, pushing and shoving and joking at their embarkation leave parties. They were returned to us as damaged goods - sullen, disconnected and with the trade-mark thousand yard stare". He soon developed an anti-war perspective in the early 1970s: "the popular movement against the Vietnam war gained traction. It wasn’t too long before a clear majority of Australians, including me, opposed it". But not into the…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs
The track "I Was Only 19" (Epic Records # ES 844) reached # 1 in the Australian singles chart (Kent Music Report), one of the most successful Australian Vietnam War songs. It dealt with the negative impact of war on the soldier. Written by John Schumann, born 18 May 1953 in Adelaide, Australia, leader singer of Redgum, formed in 1975, Adelaide, and disbanded in 1990. Other member included on this record were: Hugh McDonald (violin, vocals), Brian Czempinski (drums), Trevor Lucas (backing vocals), and Peter Coughlin (bass guitar). (1) John Schumann based it largely on the experiences of the Vietnam war veteran Mick Storen (his brother-in-law). Schumann noted as a teenager in the late 1960s his friends being drafted to fight the war: "They left as wide-eyed, grinning Australian lads, pushing and shoving and joking at their embarkation leave parties. They were returned to us as damaged goods - sullen, disconnected and with the trade-mark thousand yard stare". He soon developed an anti-war perspective in the early 1970s: "the popular movement against the Vietnam war gained traction. It wasn’t too long before a clear majority of Australians, including me, opposed it". But not into the…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Formed 1975, Adelaide, SA, Australia. Disbanded 1990.
Themes
ANZUS · PTSD · Agent Orange · Drugs