I Was Only Nineteen
2005 · Elefant Traks ACE021 · Sydney, Australia
- Artist
- The Herd
- Title
- I Was Only Nineteen
- Release
- The Sun Never Sets
- Year
- 2005
- Label
- Elefant Traks # ACE021
- Format
- CD · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- Sydney, Australia
- Songwriter
- John Schumann
- Genre
- Hip Hop · Hip Hop
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs
Hip Hop cover of the song "I Was Only Nineteen" (Elefant Traks # ACE021). This group formed in 2001, Sydney, NSW, Australia. The line-up featured: Ozi Batla (MC), Urthboy (MC), Berzerkatron (MC), Unkle Ho (drum programming), Traksewt (drum programming, accordion, clarinet), Sulo (drum programming, guitar), Toe Fu (guitar), Rok Poshtya (bass), Jane Tyrell (vocals), Alejandro (laptop, vocals), and Snapsuit (production). The song 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. As discussed above, John Schumann based it largely on the experiences of the Vietnam war veteran Mick Storen (his brother-in-law).1 This song provided an important representation of the loss of innocence for a nineteen year old, whose life changed because of the war. It brought attention to the plight of the Australian Vietnam veteran. Sources1I Was Only Nineteen (John Schumann)↩
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Cover of the Redgum song (1983).
About the artist
The Herd - hip hop collective formed 2001 in Sydney, NSW: Ozi Batla, Urthboy and Berzerkatron (MCs), Unkle Ho, Traksewt and Sulo (production), Toe Fu, Rok Poshtya, Jane Tyrell, Alejandro and Snapsuit.
Themes
ANZUS · PTSD · Agent Orange · Drugs · Vet · Soldier's Perspective · Helicopter