Lyrics 19 - Paul Hardcastle

In 1965 Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war but it wasn't
It was different in many ways, as so were tose that did the fighting
In World War II the average age of the combat soldier was 26
In Vietnam he was 19
In-in-in Vietnam he was 19
In-in-in Vietnam he was 19
In-in-in Vietnam he was 19
In-in-in Vietnam he was 19

The shooting and fighting of the past two weeks continued today
25 miles west of Saigon
I really wasn't sure what was going on

Ni-ni-ni 19, 19, ni-19 19

In Vietnam the combat soldier typically served
A twelve month tour of duty
But was exposed to hostile fire almost everyday
Ni-ni-ni 19, Ni-ni-ni 19
Ni-ni-ni 19, Ni-ni-ni 19

In Saigon, a US miltary spokesman
Said today, more than 720 troops
Were killed last week in
That sensitive border area
In all of South Vietnam
The enemy lost a total of
2,689 soldiers

All those who remember the war
They won't forget what they've seen
Destruction of men in their prime
Whose average age was nineteen

De-de-destruction
De-de-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 hero's welcome

Saigon, Saigon
S-s-s-s-s-Saigon
S-s-s-s-s-Saigon
Nineteen, s-s-s-s-Saigon
N-n-n-n-n-ninteen
N-n-n-n-n-ninteen
N-n-n-n-n-ninteen
N-n-n-n-n-ninteen

Vietnam, S-s-saigon
Vietnam, S-s-saigon
Vietnam, S-s-saigon
Vietnam, S-s-saigon