"19" by Paul Hardcastle - May 11th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day

Lyrics:

In 1965 Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war but it wasn't
It was different in many ways, and so were those who 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
Ni-ni-ni 19

The shooting and fighting of the past two weeks continued today
25 miles west of Saigon
I wasn't really 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-ni-ni-ni 19
Ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni 19
Ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni 19

In Saigon a U.S. military spokesman said today
More than 700 enemy troops were killed last week
In that area
Through all of South Vietnam the enemy lost a total of 2689 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 19

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-Saigon, Saigon
S-S-S-S-S-S-S-Saigon

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

Vietnam, S-S-Saigon
Vietnam, S-S-Saigon
Vietnam, S-S-Saigon
Vietnam, S-S-Saigon

I wasn't really sure what was going on
I wasn't really sure what was going on