“I Was Only Nineteen” (also known as “A Walk in the Light Green”) was written by John Schumann (born in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1953), performed by Redgum (with John Schumann as lead singer), and was released as a single in 1983; it reached #1 on the charts that same year. The song is about an Australian soldier’s experience of the Vietnam War.
Redgum : I Was Only 19 (on the Don Lane Show, 1983)
I Was Only 19 – from the movie Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan
‘I was only 19’ with special intro from John Schumann
Redgum – I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green) (Official Video)
Redgum – The Story of “Only 19”
Versions by other musicians:
Jack Rabid – I was only 19 (A walk in the light green)
Jordan Cade – I Was Only 19 (A Walk In The Light Green)
Sydney Watson – I Was Only 19 [female vocals]
The Herd – I Was Only 19 [rap version]
References and further information:
Redgum, John Schumann (archived)
I Was Only Nineteen, Wikipedia
Redgum, Wikipedia
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