Lyr Add: Teterboro Tower

21 Apr 00 - 07:38 AM (#215510)
Subject: Lyr Add: TETERBORO TOWER (Oscar Brand/Jac Holzman)
From: Walter Corey

This was mentioned in Gooney Bird thread so I thought I'd post it. The ABC was done by hand and I have no way to check it so would appreciate it if someone could try it out & see if it sounds OK

TETERBORO TOWER - by Oscar Brand & Jac Holzman

Teterboro Tower this is Piper 2-0-2
I'm turning on my downwind leg, My fabric's come unglued
The stick is burbling in my hand, I think I feel a stall
& a bug's caught in my Pilot, my gauges don't read at all

Now listen Piper 2-0-2, this is Teterboro Tower
I cannot raise the crash crew cause it is their coffee hour
& you're not cleared in the pattern, don't try a landing yet
Just circle for departure while I mooch a cigarette

Help Teterboro Tower, this is Piper 2-0-2
I'm sweating out this landing, I don't know what to do
My superhomer's on the blink, & your voice is fading fast
Please clear my on my final, or this flight may be my last

Now listen Piper 2-0-2, This is Teterboro Tower
I'd like to help you buddy, but I just don't have the power
The F.A.A's your only hope, so if you've time to spare
Just file a form in triplicate & sign the questionaire

Teterboro Tower, this is Piper 2-0-2
I'm in Secaucus Hospital & I owe it all to you
I'm sorry that I cracked her up & messed your pretty field
We'll try it once around again if ever I get healed
^^
X:1
T:Teterboro Tower
K:G
M:2/4
L:1/4
Q:brightly
"G"D D G A|B d B B|B B A G|"C"C3 E|"D7" D D F A|c A A G|F G G E|D3 E|
"G"D D G A|B d d B| B B A G|"C"C3 E/E/|"D7"D D F A|c A2 F| D/D/ D E F|"G"G3 Z|||

From Folk Songs for Fun -by Oscar Brand - Hollis Music - 1961

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21 Apr 00 - 09:38 AM (#215546)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Teterboro Tower
From: GUEST,EJ

Thanks very much, Walter. I once had a copy of that book, but it disappeared many years ago. The melody, as I recall, is very similar to "Wabash Cannonball".

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21 Apr 00 - 02:42 PM (#215670)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Teterboro Tower
From: GUEST,Beadie

Some slightly more militant lyrics are available (also on an Oscar Brand LP, as I recall) under the title "Itazuke Tower." The primary difference is that this version is geared to post-WWII Japan and invloves an Air Force P-51 Mustang.

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21 Apr 00 - 03:30 PM (#215695)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Teterboro Tower
From: The Beanster

Love that Teterboro lyric! I'm sending it to my pilot friend with whom I've flown in and out of Teterboro a zillion times! lol And in defense of the Tower, they really do a wonderful job.

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21 Apr 00 - 09:12 PM (#215863)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Teterboro Tower
From: dick greenhaus

In addition to Itazuke Tower (Korea) there's a fine Vietnam War version called Green Beret and Friendly FAC. Both in DigiTrad.

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21 Apr 00 - 10:38 PM (#215902)
Subject: Lyr Add: HELLO, CAM RANH TOWER
From: raredance

Here's another one in the same tradition from Viet Nam. ^^ HELLO, CAM RANH TOWER (tune: Washbash Cannonball)

"Hello, Cam Ranh Tower, this is Hammer 41;
My BLC light's glowing, I've just lost PC-1,
The engine's running roughly, the EGT is high,
Please clear me for a straight-in, this bird's about to die!"

"Hammer 41, this is Cam Ranh tower here;
We'd like to let you in right now, but a senator is near;
He's here to please constituents, his plane is close at hand,
So please diver to Tuy Hoa, we can't clear you to land."

"Hello, Cam Ranh tower, this is Hammer 41;
I'm turning into final, hydraulic pressure's gone,
The generator's off the line, the RPM just fell,
Please send the senator around and tell him 'War is hell.'"

"Hammer 41, this is Cam Ranh Tower again;
You'll have to keep on circling, regardless of your plan;
I'm sorry 'bout your problem, but you will have to yield,
We must give priority to Senator Mansfield."

"Now listen Cam Ranh Tower, I'll lay ot pm the line,
The situation's fuckin' tense, we're running out of time;
My fuel low level light is on, this bird's about to quit,
So tell that goddamn senator he doesn't count for shit!"

"Hammer 41, OSY to channel four;
You'll have to clear with Air Patch, I can't do any more."
"Roger, Cam Ranh Tower, I'm switching channels now,
I'm sure Air Patch will clear me to land this bird, somehow."

Air Patch, Air Patch, Air Patch, this is Hammer 41;
The tower made me check with you to see what could be done,
I know you'll understand my plight, I've confidence in you,
So clear me ont final, send the senator on through."

"Sorry 'bout that, 41, your story breaks our heart;
If this had happened yesterday we could have done our part;
You will divert to Tuy Hoa, consider this a must,
For Senator Mike Mansfield would dislike all this fuss."

"Roger, roger, Air Patch, I get your message clear;
Situation understood, the VIPs too near;
We'll nurse this bird to Tuy Hoa, on this you can depend,
We'll keep this airplane flying, until the very end.

"Mayday! Mayday! Crown, this is Hammer 41;
OUr fate is up to you boys, now, the home drome let us down;
We can't make it to Tuy Hoa, we'll have to punch out here,
So please alert the Jolly Greens, we hope that help is near!"

BEEP
BEEP
BEEP
BEEP
BEEP
BEEP

Some explanations: Senator Mike Mansfield (D-WY) was the senate majority leader and an outspoken critic of US policies. Cam Ranh was a big airbase along the coast, Tuy Hoa was about 70 miles to the north. BLC - Boundary layer control, light on indicates air flow directed over wings from engine at slow speeds is getting too hot for safe flight. PC-1 primary hydraulic control system. EGT - exhaust gas temperature. Hammer 41- a specific aircraft identifier for radio communication. Air Patch - an air to ground radio relay system for voice communication. Crown - A C-130 plane in the air that directs search and rescue missions to rescue fliers that go down. Jolly Green - A Sikorsky HH-3E large helicopter, used to pick up downed fliers.

from: "Singing The Vietnam Blues, Songs of the Air Force in Southeast Asia" by Joseph F Tuso (1990, Texas A&M University Press)

rich r

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29 Oct 03 - 02:43 PM (#1043976)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Teterboro Tower
From: GUEST,Lighter

The U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, now officially credits the lyrics of the original song, "Air Force 801" to the late Lt. William F. McCrystal (1924-2002) of the 80th Fighter Squadron, Itazuke AFB, Japan, in late 1948. You can view the original lyrics (virtually identical to those in DT) at http://www.mindspring.com/~jabirdone/headhunters/images/words%20to%20
Itazuke.jpg.

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29 Oct 03 - 04:46 PM (#1044057)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Teterboro Tower
From: NH Dave

For those interested in some of the songs of the Viet Nam War, check out Lydia Fish's work on General Landsdale and the lyrics he collected.

http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/fishlm/folksongs/lansdale.pdf
Dave

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