|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: cnd Date: 19 Sep 23 - 06:02 PM Aha, clear as mud! ;) Thanks |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: cnd Date: 19 Sep 23 - 09:30 AM Jonathan, sorry for the dumb comment, but the meaning of "BEM" eludes me -- could you elaborate? Bless Em |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: cnd Date: 30 Aug 23 - 11:45 AM Here's the lyrics (no dots, unfortunately) to On The Ball, A Football Song -- By Louis B. Tisdale, via The Boys Own Paper, Vol. XX No. 992 (Jan. 15, 1898), p. 253 ON THE BALL (Louis B. Tisdale) In the days of old, with spirits bold, Have Britons fought like men; On tented field, they'd never yield, No foes could 'fright them then. And so, to-day, in sport and play, Our race is still the same: With valiant hearts they play their parts, When Football is the game. On the ball, on the ball, Play up, let her go: That's the plan, take the man, Shoot for all you know. Away with her, well shot, my boys, Make the leather roll— Now then, altogether lads, Hurrah! another goal! In frost and snow our faces glow, Our anxious hearts heat high; We struggle still, but win we will, At least we'll bravely try. We know no fear, for with a cheer Across the field we fly, Then back once more, as with a roar We shout the battle cry— On the ball, on the ball, Play up, let her go: That's the plan, take the man, Shoot for all you know. Away with her, well shot, my boys, Make the leather roll— Now then, altogether lads, Hurrah! another goal! Theee cheers, my boys, for all the joys Of Football, prince of games: No sport so fair, none can compare, No matter what their names. Then join with me in three times three, For our beloved game, For Football will, through good and ill, But add to England's fame. On the ball, on the ball, Play up, let her go: That's the plan, take the man, Shoot for all you know. Away with her, well shot, my boys, Make the leather roll— Now then, altogether lads, Hurrah! another goal! |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Steve Gardham Date: 20 Sep 23 - 07:37 AM He got the BEM for singing BEA:-) (That's British Empire Medal) |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Steve Gardham Date: 29 Aug 23 - 02:45 PM On the Ball text and recording is on the Norwich City website and neither bear any resemblance to 'Bless em all'. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Paul Burke Date: 19 Sep 23 - 06:04 AM According to my father (British army c1941-47), the "sons" referred to favouritism by corporals- perhaps the lowest rank to have any real power. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Paul Burke Date: 29 Aug 23 - 09:05 AM "The corporals and their sons - being older than the private soldiers, corporals were more likely to have married and have a young family." According to my Dad, it was a reference to favouritism. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 19 Sep 23 - 11:18 AM Right, Carter. I meant to type "BEA." "BEM, of course," is sf lingo for "Bug-Eyed Monster." |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 15 Sep 23 - 05:25 PM Two weeks earlier: "Bedfordshire Times and Independent" (Nov. 29, 1940), (George Formsby's?) recording advertised as: “Bless ‘em All: The Service Song.” |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 15 Sep 23 - 01:46 PM Quentin Reynolds, "A London Diary" (1941): "The [RAF] boys who fly the Lockheed Hudson bombers and dive bombers over Norway [in 1940] have a grand song almost one fifth of which can be printed. It is sung to the tune of an old English classic, ‘There’s a troop ship just leaving Bombay….’ It goes (allowing for changes): They say there’s a Hudson just leaving Norway Bound for old Scotland’s shore Heavily laden with terrified airmen Bound for the land they adore. There’s many a Heinkel around in the Skagerrak And many a Messerschmitt too You’ll get no promotion that side of the ocean, So cheer up, my lad, bless ‘em all. Bless ‘em all, bless ‘em all—the long and the short and the tall. Bless all the sergeants and W.O. 1s—their blessed daughters and their blessed sons - etc. "Low and I can’t sing as well as Beattie, but we can sing louder." Reynold's dates this journal passage "Oct. 1," which would be weeks earlier than the earliest newspaper mention of the pop song (Dec. 12, 1940) that I've found. FWIW. (Google Bard insisted that "BEM" was released on March 15, 1940, citing several websites, but when challenged confessed it had no idea of the precise date.) |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 30 Aug 23 - 05:15 PM Presumably Jimmy Hughes and/or Frank Lake had heard a descendant of Godfrey's song and either tinkered with or completely revised it. It would be interesting to know where they got it, what it was really like, and how well known it was before the end of 1940. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 30 Aug 23 - 01:49 PM The words to two commercial American rewrites are here: https://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/b/blessemall.html Cringeworthy by any standard. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 30 Aug 23 - 01:14 PM Thanks, Carter! Unfortunately, it takes a good deal of tweaking to make the words scan to "Bless 'em All!" Another false trail. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 30 Aug 23 - 10:17 AM Interesting that the ranks deplored in the familiar version of the song - sergeants, WO1s, and corporals - are all army ranks. Likewise the reference to "swaddies." It's unlikely that Godfrey would have sung about army ranks in the RNAS in 1917. RAF versions mention "airmen." I'm unaware of any version that mentions RNAS or RN ranks. The point is that very little of Godfrey's original could have remained in the 1940 version - possibly no more than the tune and "[whatever] 'em all!" |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:12 PM That leaves Tisdale and Gilbert's song as the only remaining suspect. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 29 Aug 23 - 09:14 AM There's this, from Paul Simpson, "The Rough Guide to Cult Football" (2003): "The oldest known football song still used today is Norwich City's 'On the Ball, City,' written by Albert T. Smith, a City director, around 1890 as a music hall song." |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 29 Aug 23 - 08:52 AM "The Era" (London) (Nov. 10, 1894): "'On the Ball.' Stirring Football Song for Principal Boy, by Louis B. Tisdale and E. Ousely Gilbert." I haven't found any other references, much less the music. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 28 Aug 23 - 05:08 PM "The Sun" (Sydney) (June 14, 1942): "The only song widely sung by British soldiers on the march this war is 'Bless 'Em All,' to the tune of the football song of the nineties, 'On the Ball.'" |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Steve Gardham Date: 20 Sep 23 - 07:37 AM He got the BEM for singing BEA:-) (That's British Empire Medal) |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: cnd Date: 19 Sep 23 - 06:02 PM Aha, clear as mud! ;) Thanks |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 19 Sep 23 - 11:18 AM Right, Carter. I meant to type "BEA." "BEM, of course," is sf lingo for "Bug-Eyed Monster." |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: cnd Date: 19 Sep 23 - 09:30 AM Jonathan, sorry for the dumb comment, but the meaning of "BEM" eludes me -- could you elaborate? Bless Em |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Paul Burke Date: 19 Sep 23 - 06:04 AM According to my father (British army c1941-47), the "sons" referred to favouritism by corporals- perhaps the lowest rank to have any real power. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 15 Sep 23 - 05:25 PM Two weeks earlier: "Bedfordshire Times and Independent" (Nov. 29, 1940), (George Formsby's?) recording advertised as: “Bless ‘em All: The Service Song.” |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 15 Sep 23 - 01:46 PM Quentin Reynolds, "A London Diary" (1941): "The [RAF] boys who fly the Lockheed Hudson bombers and dive bombers over Norway [in 1940] have a grand song almost one fifth of which can be printed. It is sung to the tune of an old English classic, ‘There’s a troop ship just leaving Bombay….’ It goes (allowing for changes): They say there’s a Hudson just leaving Norway Bound for old Scotland’s shore Heavily laden with terrified airmen Bound for the land they adore. There’s many a Heinkel around in the Skagerrak And many a Messerschmitt too You’ll get no promotion that side of the ocean, So cheer up, my lad, bless ‘em all. Bless ‘em all, bless ‘em all—the long and the short and the tall. Bless all the sergeants and W.O. 1s—their blessed daughters and their blessed sons - etc. "Low and I can’t sing as well as Beattie, but we can sing louder." Reynold's dates this journal passage "Oct. 1," which would be weeks earlier than the earliest newspaper mention of the pop song (Dec. 12, 1940) that I've found. FWIW. (Google Bard insisted that "BEM" was released on March 15, 1940, citing several websites, but when challenged confessed it had no idea of the precise date.) |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 30 Aug 23 - 05:15 PM Presumably Jimmy Hughes and/or Frank Lake had heard a descendant of Godfrey's song and either tinkered with or completely revised it. It would be interesting to know where they got it, what it was really like, and how well known it was before the end of 1940. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 30 Aug 23 - 01:49 PM The words to two commercial American rewrites are here: https://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/b/blessemall.html Cringeworthy by any standard. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 30 Aug 23 - 01:14 PM Thanks, Carter! Unfortunately, it takes a good deal of tweaking to make the words scan to "Bless 'em All!" Another false trail. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: cnd Date: 30 Aug 23 - 11:45 AM Here's the lyrics (no dots, unfortunately) to On The Ball, A Football Song -- By Louis B. Tisdale, via The Boys Own Paper, Vol. XX No. 992 (Jan. 15, 1898), p. 253 ON THE BALL (Louis B. Tisdale) In the days of old, with spirits bold, Have Britons fought like men; On tented field, they'd never yield, No foes could 'fright them then. And so, to-day, in sport and play, Our race is still the same: With valiant hearts they play their parts, When Football is the game. On the ball, on the ball, Play up, let her go: That's the plan, take the man, Shoot for all you know. Away with her, well shot, my boys, Make the leather roll— Now then, altogether lads, Hurrah! another goal! In frost and snow our faces glow, Our anxious hearts heat high; We struggle still, but win we will, At least we'll bravely try. We know no fear, for with a cheer Across the field we fly, Then back once more, as with a roar We shout the battle cry— On the ball, on the ball, Play up, let her go: That's the plan, take the man, Shoot for all you know. Away with her, well shot, my boys, Make the leather roll— Now then, altogether lads, Hurrah! another goal! Theee cheers, my boys, for all the joys Of Football, prince of games: No sport so fair, none can compare, No matter what their names. Then join with me in three times three, For our beloved game, For Football will, through good and ill, But add to England's fame. On the ball, on the ball, Play up, let her go: That's the plan, take the man, Shoot for all you know. Away with her, well shot, my boys, Make the leather roll— Now then, altogether lads, Hurrah! another goal! |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 30 Aug 23 - 10:17 AM Interesting that the ranks deplored in the familiar version of the song - sergeants, WO1s, and corporals - are all army ranks. Likewise the reference to "swaddies." It's unlikely that Godfrey would have sung about army ranks in the RNAS in 1917. RAF versions mention "airmen." I'm unaware of any version that mentions RNAS or RN ranks. The point is that very little of Godfrey's original could have remained in the 1940 version - possibly no more than the tune and "[whatever] 'em all!" |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:12 PM That leaves Tisdale and Gilbert's song as the only remaining suspect. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Steve Gardham Date: 29 Aug 23 - 02:45 PM On the Ball text and recording is on the Norwich City website and neither bear any resemblance to 'Bless em all'. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 29 Aug 23 - 09:14 AM There's this, from Paul Simpson, "The Rough Guide to Cult Football" (2003): "The oldest known football song still used today is Norwich City's 'On the Ball, City,' written by Albert T. Smith, a City director, around 1890 as a music hall song." |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Paul Burke Date: 29 Aug 23 - 09:05 AM "The corporals and their sons - being older than the private soldiers, corporals were more likely to have married and have a young family." According to my Dad, it was a reference to favouritism. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 29 Aug 23 - 08:52 AM "The Era" (London) (Nov. 10, 1894): "'On the Ball.' Stirring Football Song for Principal Boy, by Louis B. Tisdale and E. Ousely Gilbert." I haven't found any other references, much less the music. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 28 Aug 23 - 05:08 PM "The Sun" (Sydney) (June 14, 1942): "The only song widely sung by British soldiers on the march this war is 'Bless 'Em All,' to the tune of the football song of the nineties, 'On the Ball.'" |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 07 Oct 16 - 09:16 AM Of course. But since there seems to be no identifiable trace of Godfrey's original, it's diverting to speculate about it. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 07 Oct 16 - 08:04 AM The version actually sung by soldiers is the relevant one, regardless of whether the written original or the stage version might have been different. Or rather, both versions are authentic, according to the context in which they were and are sung. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 07 Oct 16 - 07:34 AM A minor conjecture, but no one seems to have thought of it before: When Fred Godfrey wrote in 1941 that the he had written "Bless 'em All" in WW1, he added, "And, furthermore, it wasn't 'Bless.'" Since Godfrey says his (semi-official) RNAS vaudeville troupe performed the song for "hundreds of lads every evening," is it likely that their superiors would have allowed them to sing, night after night, anything stronger than "Damn" or "Blast"? In 1917-18 it was still illegal in Britain even to print the familiar "F-word." Which would have been added in the "folk" versions, sung in uncensored situations. I wonder if Godfrey's sense of propriety would have permitted him even to have alluded to the F-word in a letter to a general circulation newspaper in 1941 - particularly if he was suggesting he'd sung it out loud, on a stage, many times! (Note the resemblance between "blast" and "bless," which may have replaced it.) |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: MGM·Lion Date: 10 Jan 12 - 10:51 AM Something I seem to recall some of our training unit NCOs saying during my early Nat Service days, Rob ~~ but perhaps my memory of what happened in Jan-Feb 1951 might just have been conflated and confused with the words of the song! ~M~ |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Rob Naylor Date: 10 Jan 12 - 08:27 AM MtheGM, Hmm, I'd be surprised if Junior NCOs ever referred to their charges as "my sons". "Lads", yes, when being extra nice, "you 'orrible shower of bastards", yes, "you miserable wankers" yes, "my sons"...unlikely! I was "beasted" around the Common last night by a PTI who on at least 3 occasions informed us that his 4 year old son could do it better than that. And in "We Joined The Navy" the officer cadets can't wait to meet the little daughter of Chief Gunner Mr Froud, since she was obviously such a physical and mental prodigy. And my grandad's war diary makes several mentions of corporals having very talented children. In my mind there's little doubt that this tendency is what the song refers to. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Lighter Date: 29 Dec 11 - 05:22 PM Both Rob's and MtheGM's explanations sound plausible. Whoever wrote the line would thus seem to have had some recruit experience and have beem writing specifically for a forces audience. Few others would have been likely to recognize either allusion. Perhaps the line - and the entire chorus except for "Bless" - was Godfrey's, and most or all of the remaining Prowse lyrics were added in 1940 to make an extended song of what had been previously just a rowdy chorus in the public domain. But I'm just thinking out loud. Since my last posting in 2008, I've been watching for additional pre-1940 "Bless 'em All" information and have searched additional databases. Have found nothing new whatsoever. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: MGM·Lion Date: 29 Dec 11 - 04:19 AM I still think, as mentioned in an earlier post, that the likeliest ref is to NCOs addressing the ranks in some such terms as "Come on, my sons; let's be having you". ~M~ |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Rob Naylor Date: 29 Dec 11 - 03:52 AM Lighter: That line about "their blinkin' sons" has always struck me as odd. Why should "corporals" be associated with "their...sons"? If Guest Brian Hermann is correct, that it was a topical reference, those lines at least could not go back to World War I. Rumncoke: The corporals and their sons - being older than the private soldiers, corporals were more likely to have married and have a young family. Photos of the sprogs would be sent in letters, and proudly shown off to a totally disinterested but captive audience. I think the reference to corporals' sons is far more likely to be due to the common junior NCO habit of telling their charges "my X year old son could do it better than that". This appears to be independent of any topical reference. My grandad certainly mentions it in his 1917 war diaries, John Winton mentions it in "We Joined The Navy" (1950s) and one of my current British Military Fitness instructors, a serving Marine PTI, constantly exhorts us to greater efforts by comparing our peformance unfavourably with that of his 4 year old! |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Rumncoke Date: 10 Jul 11 - 07:09 PM The corporals and their sons - being older than the private soldiers, corporals were more likely to have married and have a young family. Photos of the sprogs would be sent in letters, and proudly shown off to a totally disinterested but captive audience. Anne Croucher |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: GUEST,ROY SULLIVAN Date: 09 Jul 11 - 07:28 PM LEE I believe that we are family. I am struggling with the tree and would very much to make contact. If this is the right Freddie and I can believe that there was no other in Burma and filmed in The World at War series 1974. Freddie had a sister Olive born December 1923 the dau of Henry Tomkins and May A l.I am Olives son..which would make us some sort of cousin I guess.Please contact me diverdan49@dodo.com.au or sunrise@email.com ROY |
|
Subject: Lyr Add: BLESS 'EM ALL (from Navy Song Book) From: Jim Dixon Date: 25 Mar 11 - 06:56 PM From Navy Song Book page 27: [This is an odd book. No editor's or publisher's name seems to be printed in it (so far as what is viewable through Google Books) and no publication date or copyright statement for the book as a whole, although individual songs have dates and copyright statements. Nevertheless, Google Books, in its cataloguing data, gives "by Barry Leonard, Diane Publishing, 1958." It also labels it "reprint." No information is given about the original publisher or date.] BLESS 'EM ALL (1940) Words and music by Jimmy Hughes, Frank Lake and Al Stillman. 1. Bless 'em all! Bless 'em all, The long and the short and the tall. Bless ev'ry blondie and ev'ry brunette. Some we remember and some we forget, But we're giving our eye to them all, The ones that appeal or appall. We stall and we tarry while they want to marry, But nevertheless, bless 'em all! 2. Bless 'em all! Bless 'em all, The long and the short and the tall. Bless all the blondies and all the brunettes. Each lad is happy to take what he gets, 'Cause we're giving the eye to them all, The ones that attract or appall: Maud, Maggie or Susie, you can't be too choosey. When you are in camp, bless 'em all! 3. Bless 'em all! Bless 'em all! Bless every last living doll. Bless all the redheads, each blonde and brunette. With all those curves, who looks at hair yet? So we're giving the eye to them all, Wherever duty may call. No port can be gruesome, with boy and girl twosome. Now hear this, you lads: bless 'em all! 4. Bless 'em all! Bless 'em all, In any service at all. Bless all the Wacs, every Spar and each Wave. We love the Marines—the kind who don't shave. A lieutenant that we love to date Is very affectionate. She's stacked oh so neatly. She smiles oh so sweetly. Full steam ahead! Bless 'em all! 5. Bless 'em all! Bless 'em all, The long and the short and the tall. Bless all the admirals in the U.S. Navy. They don't care if we ever get back. So we're waving goodbye to them all As back to our foxholes we crawl. There'll be no promotions this side of the ocean, So cheer up, my lads. Bless 'em all! 6. Bless 'em all! Bless 'em all, The long and the short and the tall. Bless the instructors who teach us to dive. Bless all our stars that we still are alive For if ever the engine should stall, We're in for a heck of a fall. No ice-cream and cookies for flat-footed rookies, So cheer up, my lads. Bless 'em all! 7. Bless 'em all! Bless 'em all, The long and the short and the tall. Bless all the posters with beautiful scenes We were to see if we joined the Marines. Well, we've seen no scen'ry at all, Except what they scrawl on the wall. No ice-cream and cookies for flat-footed rookies, So cheer up, my lads. Bless 'em all! [CODA] Nobody knows what a sap you've been, So cheer up, my lads. Bless 'em all! (Bless 'em all!) Copyright 1941 by Sam Fox Publishing Co., Incorporated, Used by permission. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All From: Joe_F Date: 25 Mar 11 - 03:34 PM Unsurprisingly, that is almost identical to Ewan MacColl's version. |
|
Subject: Lyr Add: BLESS 'EM ALL (from George Formby) From: Jim Dixon Date: 25 Mar 11 - 12:17 PM You can hear George Formby's version at YouTube: (Actually, YouTube has several copies, but I think the audio is identical on all of them, varying somewhat in sound fidelity.) BLESS 'EM ALL As sung by George Formby, 1940. They say there's a troop ship just leavin' Bombay Bound for Old Blighty's shore, Heavily laden with time-expired men, Bound for the land they adore. There's many an airman just finishin' 'is time. There's many a twerp signin' on. You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean, So cheer up, my lads. Bless 'em all. CHORUS: Bless 'em all. Bless 'em all, The long an' the short an' the tall. Bless all the sergeants an' W-O-ones. Bless all the corp'rals an' their blinkin' sons, 'Cause we're sayin' goodbye to them all As back to their village they crawl. You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean, So cheer up, my lads. Bless 'em all. They say if you work 'ard you'll get better pay. We've 'eard all that before. Clean up your buttons an' polish your boots, Scrub out the barrack-room floor. There's many a rookie 'as taken it in Hook, line, an' sinker an' all. You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean, So cheer up, my lads. Bless 'em all. CHORUS Now they say that the sergeant's a very nice chap. Oh, what a tale to tell! Ask 'im for leave on a Saturday night, He'll pay your fare 'ome as well. There's many an airman 'as blighted 'is life Through writin' rude words on the wall. You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean, So cheer up, my lads. Bless 'em all. CHORUS Nobody knows what a twerp you 'ave been, So cheer up, my lads. Bless 'em all. |
|
Subject: Lyr Add: BLESS 'EM ALL (from Gracie Fields) From: Jim Dixon Date: 25 Mar 11 - 11:38 AM You can hear Gracie's version at YouTube: BLESS 'EM ALL As sung by Gracie Fields, 1942 Bless 'em all. Bless 'em all, The long and the short and the tall. Bless all the sergeants, the sourpuss ones. Bless all the corporals and their dopey sons. 'Cause we're saying goodbye to them all As back to the barracks they crawl. No ice cream an' cookies or flat-footed rookies, So cheer up, my lads. Bless 'em all. They say that in camp you can have a swell time. A wee birdie told before. Five in the morning we're kicked out of bed To scrub up the barrack-room floor. A private has really no privacy now. We're all behind the eight-ball. We'll get no promotion this side of the ocean So cheer up, my lads. Bless 'em all. Bless 'em all. Bless 'em all, The guys who have answered the call. The best bunch of seamen that you've ever seen, The men who are manning our merchant marine. Yes, we owe a big debt to them all, For the troops and munitions they haul Are showing Herr Hitler his chances get littler Each time they put out. Bless 'em all. Ev'ryone knows what a job they've done. The whole blinking lot, bless 'em all. [George Formby also recorded some version.] |
| Share Thread: |
