What is the message in I was only 19?

John Schumann’s song ‘I was only nineteen’ is a ‘national anthem’ to the Australian veterans who fought in Vietnam. It has become one of Australia’s best-loved and best-known songs, and it honours the memory of those who fought and those who died in that brutal war.

Why is I was only 19 a protest song?

This iconic protest song written by John Schumann was released as a single in March 1983, hitting number one on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The song presents a soldier’s experience of war and reflects on Australia’s attitude to involvement in the Vietnam conflict.

Is I was only 19 a true story?

I Was Only 19 is based on stories and history that Mick Storen told his brother-in-law John Schumann. Mick was a soldier with Frank in 3 Platoon, A Company, 6 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and was injured when that mine exploded in 1969.

What issue is Redgum highlighting by naming the song I was only 19?

By Callum Marshall I was Only 19, the 1983 Redgum song about a soldier’s trauma during and after the Vietnam War, was commemorated on Tuesday by the Australian War Memorial with the handover of the guitar behind it.

What is the historical context of I was only 19?

The song unified Australia’s Vietnam Veterans and led to a national conversation about many soldiers who struggled after they returned. The song is not about conscription. Mick Storen was thinking about a career in the military. He applied, was accepted, and started training.

Who is John Schumann?

John H. Schumann is a Professor Emeritus of Applied Linguistics and former chair of the Department of Applied Linguistics and TESL at UCLA. His research includes language acquisition, the neurobiology of language, the neurobiology of learning, and language evolution.

Who sang I was only 19?

Redgum
I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)/Artists

Who wrote the song I was only nineteen?

John Schumann
I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)/Composers

Did Redgum enter war?

Redgum’s John Schumann was the right age to fight in Vietnam, but his number didn’t come up. He never forgot how close he came, and when those who did fight returned, he paid attention to their struggles.

Who is the lead singer of Redgum?

John Schumann
Occupation(s) Musician singer songwriter guitarist politician
Years active 1975–current
Labels ABC Music Larrikin CBS Epic Columbia Sony
Associated acts Redgum, John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew, Hugh McDonald

What is the meaning of the song I was only 19?

I was only 19, written by red gum, an Australian band is a song about the Vietnam War. It is an extremely moving song, as from what we gather from the title, the song is about a young lad who was only 19 when he first went off to fight in the war.

Is “I was only 19” based on a true story?

I Was Only 19 is a song released in 1983. The song is a second hand account, based on true events of the Vietnam War atrocities and the long lasting psychological effects on the veterans.

What is the message of the poem I was only 19?

STETS ANALYSIS: I WAS ONLY 19. SUBJECT. The poem is describing the experiences of a young Australian soldier; 19 years of age, and his conscription into the Army during the Vietnam War. THEMES. The underlying message that the poet is trying to communicate to the audience is that the experience of war is terrible.

What is the meaning of I was only 19 by Redgum?

Redgum – “I Was Only 19” I was only 19- Redgum Red gum ‘I was only 19‘ is a song sung from the point of view of a returned Vietnam war veteran. The song highlights the psychological effects of a traumatic war experience, and the futility of youth in the Vietnam War.