19

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Paul Hardcastle’s “19” was about the average age of american troops in Viet Nam. Here we are decades later and American teenagers are still dying every day in a war we cannot win in a foreign land.

Here’s the much longer version

In 1965 Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war
but it wasn’t
It was different in many ways, as so were those that did the fighting
In World War II the average age of the combat soldier was 2
In Vietnam he was 19
In inininininin Vietnam he was 19
In inininininin Vietnam he was 19
In inininininin Vietnam he was 19
n n n n nineteen
The shooting and fighting of the past two weeks continued today
25 miles north-west of Saigon
I wasn’t really sure what was going on
Nininini Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19
In Vietnam the combat soldier typically served a twelve month tour of duty
But was exposed to hostile fire almost everyday
Ninininininininininin 19 nininininninin 19
Ninininininininininin 19 nininininninin 19
In Saigon a U.S military spokesman said today more than 700 enemy troops
Were killed last week in that sensitive border area
Throughout all of South Vietnam the enemy lost a total 2689 soldiers
All those who remember the war
They won’t forget what they’ve seen
Destruction of men in their prime
Whose average was 19
Dedededededede-Destruction
Dedededededede-Destruction
According to a Veteran’s Administration study
Half of the Vietnam combat veterans suffered from what Psychiatrists call
Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder
Many vets complain of alienation, rage, or guilt
Some succumb to suicidal thoughts
Eight to Ten years after coming home almost eight hundred thousand men
Are still fighting the Vietnam War
None of them received a heroes welcome
Dedededededede-Destruction
Nininininininininin Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19
Nininininininininin Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19
Vietnam S S Saigon
Vietnam S S Saigon
Vietnam S S Saigon
Vietnam S S Saigon
Purple heart Saigon
Purple heart Saigon
I wasn’t really sure what was going on
I wasn’t really sure what was going on