Early tracks of note include the popular 'Rain Forest' and 'King Tut', both were big dance hits in the U.S.
Paul was also half of the pop-funk duo Kiss the Sky.
Paul has also remixed countless artists including 'D-Train', 'Third World', 'Barry White', 'Five Star' to name but a few!
Nineteen
Paul Hardcastle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but it wasn't.
It was different in many ways, and so were those that did the fighting.
In World War II the average age of the combat soldier was 26...
In Vietnam he was 19.
In inininininin Vietnam he was 19.
The shooting and fighting of the past two weeks continued today
25 miles north-west of Saigon.
(Vet's Voice)
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
Hundreds of Thousands of men who saw heavy combat in Vietnam were arrested
since discharge
Their arrest rate is almost twice that of non-veterans of the same age.
There are no accurate figures of how many of these men have been incarcerated.
But, a Veterans Administration study concludes that the greater of Vets
exposure to combat could more likely affect his chances of being arrested or
convicted.
This is one legacy of the Vietnam War
(Singing Girls)
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
War, War
Dededede-Destruction, wa-wa-War, wa-War, War
Dedededededede-Destruction
War, War
After World War II the Men came home together on troop ships, but the Vietnam
Vet often arrived home within 48 hours of jungle combat
Perhaps the most dramatic difference between World War II and VietNam was
coming home.. .none of them received a hero's welcome
None of them received a heroes welcome, none of them, none of them
Nenene Nenene None of them, none of them, none of them (etc...)
None of them received a hero's welcome
None of them received a hero's welcome
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
(Singing Girls)
Dedededededede-Destruction
Nininininininininin Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19
Nininininininininin Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19
Soldiers Voice)
When we came back it was different.. Everybody wants to know "How'd it
happenned to those guys over there
There's gotta be something wrong somewhere
We did what we had to do
There's gotta be something wrong somewhere
People wanted us to be ashamed of what it made us
Dad had no idea what he went to fight and he is now
All we want to do is come home
All we want to do is come home
What did we do it for
All we want to do is come home
Was it worth it
The song "Nineteen" by Paul Hardcastle is a commentary on the Vietnam War, particularly the young age of the soldiers who fought in it, and the lasting effects it had on them. The first verse sets the scene by contrasting the average age of soldiers in World War II with those in Vietnam, who were much younger. The chorus repeats the number nineteen, emphasizing its significance as a representation of the young age of the soldiers.
The song then continues with a TV announcer's voice announcing the latest fighting, followed by a veteran's voice expressing confusion about what was going on. The second verse repeats the emphasis on the young age of the soldiers, along with the fact that they were exposed to hostile fire almost every day. The third verse focuses on the lasting effects of the war, particularly the high rate of arrests among veterans and the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The song concludes with the singing girls repeating the word "destruction," emphasizing the devastation of the war, and a soldier's voice expressing frustration with the lack of understanding and appreciation for what they went through.
Overall, "Nineteen" is a powerful commentary on the Vietnam War, particularly the impact it had on young soldiers and the lasting effects it had on their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
In 1965 Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war, but it wasn't.
Vietnam War wasn't just another foreign war and different in many ways.
It was different in many ways, and so were those that did the fighting.
Those who fought in the Vietnam War were different and had their unique way of fighting.
In World War II the average age of the combat soldier was 26...
The average age of the combat soldier in World War II was 26.
In Vietnam he was 19.
The average age of the combat soldier in Vietnam was 19 years.
In inininininin Vietnam he was 19.
The average age of the combat soldier in Vietnam was 19 years.
(TV announcer's voice) The shooting and fighting of the past two weeks continued today 25 miles north-west of Saigon.
The announcer reports that fighting has continued near Saigon, Vietnam.
(Vet's Voice) I wasn't really sure what was going on
The veteran wasn't sure what was happening during the war.
Nininini Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19
Repetitive lyrics representing the idea of Vietnam combat soldier's average age.
In Vietnam the combat soldier typically served a twelve month tour of duty but was exposed to hostile fire almost every day.
Combat soldiers were exposed to hostile fire daily in Vietnam, even though they only served for 12 months.
Ninininininininininin 19 nininininninin 19
Repetitive lyrics representing the idea of Vietnam combat soldier's average age.
Hundreds of Thousands of men who saw heavy combat in Vietnam were arrested since discharge Their arrest rate is almost twice that of non-veterans of the same age. There are no accurate figures of how many of these men have been incarcerated. But, a Veterans Administration study concludes that the greater of Vets exposure to combat could more likely affect his chances of being arrested or convicted.
A significant number of Vietnam combat veterans have been arrested since discharge, and their arrest rate is higher than non-veterans. Combat exposure might have affected their likelihood of being arrested or convicted.
This is one legacy of the Vietnam War
Veterans' arrest is a legacy of the Vietnam War.
(Singing Girls) 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 War, War Dededede-Destruction, wa-wa-War, wa-War, War Dedededededede-Destruction War, War
The song refers to the destruction wrought by the war and the impact of the war on soldiers' lives and families.
After World War II the Men came home together on troop ships, but the Vietnam Vet often arrived home within 48 hours of jungle combat Perhaps the most dramatic difference between World War II and VietNam was coming home.. .none of them received a hero's welcome None of them received a heroes welcome, none of them, none of them Nenene Nenene None of them, none of them, none of them (etc...) None of them received a hero's welcome None of them received a hero's welcome
Vietnam veterans received no hero's welcome, and many returned home immediately after combat instead of being on troop ships like in World War II.
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
Psychiatrists concluded that half of the combat veterans suffered from PTSD, leading to alienation, rage, guilt, and suicidal thoughts. After ten years, thousands of veterans were still fighting the war.
(Singing Girls) Dedededededede-Destruction
The song refers to the destruction wrought by the war and the impact of the war on soldiers' lives and families.
Nininininininininin Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19
Repetitive lyrics representing the idea of Vietnam combat soldier's average age.
Soldiers' Voice) When we came back it was different.. Everybody wants to know "How'd it happenned to those guys over there There's gotta be something wrong somewhere We did what we had to do There's gotta be something wrong somewhere People wanted us to be ashamed of what it made us Dad had no idea what he went to fight and he is now All we want to do is come home All we want to do is come home What did we do it for All we want to do is come home Was it worth it
The veteran speaks of the trauma and shame that followed them after the war, the public's attitude towards the war can be perplexing, and veterans question if it was worth fighting the war.
Contributed by Alexander O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ianedmonds9191
This song dropped when I was 11 and still in primary school in Scotland.
After the Falklands war the UK had a period of glorification of the special forces. SAS, Paras, Commandos etc and rightly so.
This song which was entirely new and very interesting to all my friends on account of the first use of a sampler really made everyone that heard it and digested it's message very conflicted about the glorious heroes we'd been celebrating.
Now maybe they were victims.
I'm sure my young mind never crystalised these thoughts but I do remember a certain cognitive dissonance at liking this song and getting it's message and also feeling like the falklands war was a glorious win for the UK.
War is foul and the evidence of a complete lack of competence of both sides politicians and diplomats.
There should be a standing rule that if a war breaks out all governments and Diplomatic core are sacked and replaced. The one thing they are there to do is to stop wars.
Realistically there has to be an exception for defending ourselves or allies against an unjust invasion but it's hard line to draw.
I have no hard lines to draw.
Oh well.
Luv and Peace.
@dn2610
How ironic when this song first came out, it was 1985, and I was 19 year's old, I had a older brother who died in Vietnam in 1968, he was also 19 year's old. Miss him very much.
@mayaralzreine5763
It's sad😔
@mamadukebrooks9537
Thanks for sharing - wow
I was 19 too! Soon to be 20.
@krandom9283
First heard this in a carpark playing on a friend's car stereo in early 1985 in Norfolk, UK, I was 19
still remember the exact moment I heard it 35 year's later.
@suededogs9670
I am sorry for your loss . It hurts , however long its been , dosent it ? I heard this track today on the radio . It came out when I was 14. As kids , you dont really know what the Vietnam war was about . We just loved the tune . I think we were all shocked to know how young those boys were when they were drafted in. Hearing it today just made me cry , 35 years on , with all the pain of the world right now.
@leighleverrier6014
So sad for you and your family
@LadyTinaMarie1
Much love to my Daddy. A Vietnam vet from 1965 - 1967. Thank the Lord he's still with us. Love you, Daddy!
@soggydoggy671
Very happy your Dad is still with you, I hope he doesn't carry too many of the scars of that conflict. I was born in '67, and the Vietnam War is a special interest of mine. May you have many more happy years with your Dad...
@LadyTinaMarie1
@@soggydoggy671 So very sweet. Thank you. 😀
@osimanmabhachi5047
🙏🙏🙏 greetings from South Africa....grew up in Zimbabwe....we learnt about the Vietnam War in school