Lyr Req: Blood on the Risers: 'Gory, gory, what...

Subject: Blood on the Risers
From: Wotcha
Date: 25 Nov 98 - 05:08 PM

Can it be that we don't have Blood on the Risers here? This is the Airborne Anthem (sung to the American Hymn of the Republic) ... Anyone got the words and any history of the song as adapted by Yank Airborne Troopers?

Subject: RE: Mudcat FAQ - Newcomer's Guide
From:
Date: 29 Jan 06 - 12:48 PM

I saw your lyrics for "Blood on the Risers" on another website which linked back to you. I graduated from Army Airborne School in 1967. Our "yearbook" contains the lyrics, but they differ slightly from yours. Here is how it goes in the Airborne yearbooks:

Blood on the Risers (Gory, Gory)
^^^
He was just a rookie trooper,
and he surely shook with fright
As he checked all his equipment,
And made sure his pack was tight
He had to sit and listen to those awful engines roar,
"You ain't gonna jump no more!"

"Is everybody happy ?" cried the sergeant, looking up,
Our hero feebly answered, "Yes!" and then they stood him up,
He leaped right out into the blast, his static line unhooked,
HE AINT' GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

CHORUS:
            
He counted long, he counted loud, he waited for the shock,
He felt the wind, he felt the clouds, he felt the awful drop,
He jerked his cord, the silk spilled out and wrapped around his legs.
HE AINT' GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

CHORUS

The risers wrapped around his neck, connectors cracked his dome
The lines were snarled and tied in knots, around his skinny bones,
The canopy became his shroud, he hurtled to the ground,
HE AINT' GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

CHORUS

The days he's lived and loved and laughed kept running through his mind,
He thought about the girl back home, the one he'd left behind,
He thought about the medics and wondered what they'd find,
HE AINT' GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

CHORUS

The ambulance was on the spot, the jeeps were running wild,
The medics jumped and screamed with glee,
They rolled their sleeves and smiled
For it had been a week or more since last a 'chute had failed.
HE AINT' GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

CHORUS

He hit the ground, the sound was "SPLAT," the blood went spurting high,
His comrades then were heard to say "A Helluva way to die!";
He lay there rolling 'round in the welter of his gore.
HE AINT' GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

CHORUS

There was blood upon the risers, there were brains upon the chute,
Intestines were a-dangling from his Paratrooper's boots,
They picked him, still in his 'Chute and poured him from his boots
HE AINT' GONNA JUMP NO MORE!

======= CHORUS ========

GORY, GORY, WHAT A HELLUVA WAY TO DIE,
GORY, GORY, WHAT A HELLUVA WAY TO DIE,
HE AIN'T GONNA JUMP NO MORE.
GORY, GORY, WHAT A HELLUVA WAY TO DIE,

Subject: RE: Blood on the Risers
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 02:34 AM

Thanks a lot for the song lyrics. I moved your post from the FAQ to here - it fits better here.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Blood on the Risers
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 03:26 AM

Known to British airborne too, but references to rigging lines, lift webs and D rings instead of risers etc.
Also the line
He jumped into the slip stream and he twisted 20 times,
instead of the static line unhooking.

Subject: RE: Blood on the Risers
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 07:58 AM

Inspiring! Nothing like gallows humor for encouraging trainees to try harder.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Blood on the Risers
From: Susan of DT
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 08:21 AM

In the DT since 1999

Subject: RE: Blood on the Risers
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 08:23 AM

Ex Airborne may appreciate this song.
The Parachutist

Subject: RE: Blood on the Risers
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 08:26 AM

Sorry, this song

Subject: RE: Blood on the Risers
From: Grab
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 09:58 AM

I've been singing it since age 7 in Cub Scouts. Except we always did "Glory Glory". There's also the variation:

Glory glory, what a helluva way to die
When you're hanging by your braces and you don't know how to fly...