Song Book

Boom · 7 January 2002, 11:08 AM

On last trip to Jolly Olde found a little treasure in the ImpWar Museum shop. A book of "Soldiers Song's of The First World War" titled WHEN THIS BLOODY WAR IS OVER collected by Max Arthur.

One section is Songs of the RFC. Lots of fun. Some of our Brit members may be familiar with the tunes cited.

Sample called:
What did you want to have a Crash Like That For?

A popular Royal Flying Corps song; the original song was from the 1916 revue 'A Better 'Ole' based on the war artist Bruce Bairnsfather's famous character, Old Bill.

What did you want to have a crash like that for?
It's the sixth you've had today.
It makes you sad, it makes me mad,
It's lucky it was an Avro, not a brand new Spad.
What did you want to have a crash like that for?
You'd better clear the wreckage all away,
But never mind, you'll go up again tonight
With umpteen bombs all loaded with dynamite,
And if you have another crash like that one,
It's the LAST you'll have today.

cheers, Boom

Vigilant · 7 January 2002, 11:37 AM

Sounds like Harry 'Only meee!' Enfield

I keep wanting to put the tune of 'Any Old Iron' to it, but it doesn't work unless you say some lines very fast. Anybody else got inspiration?

Vig.

PS - Boom, so come on, what was your fave exhibit at the IWM? Mine begins in Sopwith and ends in Camel 8)

7 January 2002, 06:31 PM

Try the tune of "What do you want to make those eyes at me for?" by Emiel Ford.
"What do you etc..
if they don't mean what they say
They make me sad, they make glad
They make me want a lot of things that I've never had..
What do..etc" circa late 50's, but clearly from the period.
See, there is even a music section in Forum.!

Boom · 8 January 2002, 01:33 PM

Knew you chaps would have the tunes. The book does have them when known. Rightie-o, "What do you Want to Make Those Eyes at Me for?"

Vig, (my old airplane, RA5C),
favorite? Hard to say. Only learned this visit - not my first - that the suspended Camel is a 2F1, ie, Naval (my old service). Camel and Navy is hard to beat.

However, on a previous trip, visited the medical section to research for Duel Over Douai (where else do you find women on the Western Front?) Autobio of Elsie Knocker (no, I didn't make that up) open to a sketch of her in1918. Inspirational. Heck, here's a sneak preview of DoD (sure Youthly and Barrett won't mind.):

cheers, Boom

A nurse stood with her back toward him. The flared tan trench coat and over the calf leather boots might have belonged to any officer, but he knew it was a nurse from the starched white wimple she wore over her hair. The wimple wrapped smoothly across her forehead, was snugged in the back and the rest of the cloth hung free to her shoulders giving a nun like appearance.
The nursing sister turned as she followed the first stretcher into the hospital tent. It was Lynn. Woodall-Powell was surprised. All the previous times he had seen her in uniform it was the standard ankle length dress with long sleeves in grey with a full length wrap-around white apron. That outfit was modest and feminine. This was so different. He thought of pilots in the squadron having photographs taken leaning on wing or prop. Her trench coat was open, but cinched at her waist with the cloth belt. Her tan shirt was buttoned to the neck and had tab collars. A tan colored apron covered the shirt front and reached down like a skirt - a short skirt. Its hem was well above her knees. Under the apron, she was wearing pants. He guessed they were riding breeches from the laces at the side of her knee. The puttee upper part of her boots had zig-zag laces on the shins. Two colored ribbons were on the left side of her chest. Woodall-Powell was intrigued; Lynn in pants. And the ribbons. She had been awarded medals. For what? Why hadn’t she told him?

Barrett · 8 January 2002, 01:52 PM

Boom: I'm all in favor of pre-publishing PR, even if the book isn't finished yet. But wimple? To paraphrase Sean Connery in "The Wind and the Lion" (the greatest achievement in the history of american cinema), "Wimple? Wimple? I do not know this word."
Elsie Knocker probably would take Candy Bergen's line: "You will."
BTW: I hope you can make the reception next month. The Fosses have already confirmed.

9 January 2002, 02:55 AM

Barrett: You don't know from wimples? Ghood ghod, man. And you call yourself a writer?

(So how'd she get the medals? When do we -- or some of us, at any rate, hint hint -- get to see "Duel"?)

Be grateful I didn't make some smart-ass comment about Barretts of Wimple Street...

Boom · 9 January 2002, 10:59 AM

"Barretts of Wimple Street"... gotta love it. (one time I wish I knew how to insert smiley faces)

How Lynne (modeled after Elsie) got her medals is a major development and simply sending the section without all that precedes misses its impact. Afraid you and the reading puiblic will have to wait. Put some pressure on Barrett.

cheers, Boom

Barrett · 9 January 2002, 01:37 PM

(Furiously pointing offstage) "And Puresome...."

9 January 2002, 04:12 PM

Gentlemen... ahem, GENTLEMEN!!!... A call to order, please...
Boom,
You might also enjoy the soundtrack from Richard Attenborough's OH! WHAT A LOVELY WAR!... the rendition of "And When They Ask Us" (to the tune of Jerome Kern's "They Didn't Believe Me") still gives me shivers (when I first heard it, as a teen, it brought me to tears...).
HuB,
Capt. Lewis

Boom · 10 January 2002, 08:26 AM

Cap'n Lewis,

didn't think of the soundtrack. The song book's preface reminded me of Oh,What a Lovely War and decidied it would be useful. Checked my favorite movie site (iMDB.com) and learned the flik has a fantastic cast, but that it is not available. I'll look for just the soundtrack.

cheers, Boom