Songs you'd hear at an RFC Mess Party...

greatwarpilot · 21 February 2005, 08:12 PM

A somewhat common image of an RFC Squadron on their downtime seems to include time spent in the mess singing along to a tune on the piano. Does anyone have any thoughts on particular pieces that would have been popular at the time or that were commonly heard in messes?

"Junior" · 22 February 2005, 02:31 AM

There were a huge number of songs sung, quite often to popular tunes but with "new" lyrics. Also in many cases each squadron had it's own particular squadron ditties.

In the simply splendid "No Parachute" by

Arthur Gould Lee, he mentions many of them and includes lyrics.

Can't remember them all right now but there was a classic one about some hamfisted Hun flying Halberstadts to the tune of "Sister Suzie's Sewing Shirts for Soldiers" and other things like "Another Little Drink won't Hurt Us". I can have a look in the book later and post some more for you later but you should really get the book as it's a must-have.

"Pi in the Sky", the history of 22 Squadron RFC, also has some songs in it.

Cheers,

Junior.

MattyBoy · 22 February 2005, 05:35 AM

What's 'Pi In The Sky' like Junior?
Worth buying in your opinion?
Cheers
Matt.

Scott · 22 February 2005, 07:56 AM

Quite the tongue twister (whether you'd been drinking or not).

Quote:

Sister Suzie's Sewing Shirts For Soldiers

by Bill Murray (1916)

Sister Suzie's sewing shirts for soldiers.
Such skill at sewing shirts our shy young sister Suzie shows.
Some soldiers write epistles,
Say they'd sooner sleep in thistles
Than the saucy, soft, short
Shirts for soldiers sister Suzie sews.

stephen · 22 February 2005, 08:10 AM

"Some Girl Has Got To Darn His Socks" is another popular song in RFC mess halls. The suggestion of checking A G Lee's "No Parachute" is a good one as well, since he mentions many of the more popular songs in it.

Also, try visiting http://www.earlyrecordings.com for a wonderful selection of WWI tunes, offered on CD but recorded from original Victrola players. The sound is absolutely authetic. You can read the Indy Squadron Dispatch's review of their products at http://www.sopwithmotorsports.com/in...ron/id103.html . Excellent stuff and well worth the very reasonable price.

greatwarpilot · 22 February 2005, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junior

In the simply splendid "No Parachute" by

Arthur Gould Lee, he mentions many of them and includes lyrics.

Thanks Junior. I'll try and get my hands on a copy. Do you know if he includes both the new lyrics and the title of the tune to which its sung?

"Junior" · 22 February 2005, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyBoy

What's 'Pi In The Sky' like Junior?
Worth buying in your opinion?
Cheers
Matt.

It's a good 'un! Can be tricky to hunt down. In terms of squadron histories it's not as good as

High in the Empty Blue but worth grabbing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by greatwarpilot

Thanks Junior. I'll try and get my hands on a copy. Do you know if he includes both the new lyrics and the title of the tune to which its sung?

Very often it does. Apart from that it's one of the very best memoirs for "putting you there" as it were. A real ripper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen

Also, try visiting http://www.earlyrecordings.com for a wonderful selection of WWI tunes, offered on CD but recorded from original Victrola players. The sound is absolutely authetic.

Thanks for the tip Stephen. Might have to splash out on that. Just the thing for the next "binge night"

"Junior" · 24 February 2005, 06:43 PM

Greatwarpilot,

Here's another classic for you and probably one of the most widely quoted (although it's seldom mentioned the tune to which this is sung/hollered)...

The Dying Airman (to the tune of The Tarpaulin Jacket)

The Young Aviator lay dying,
And as in the wreckage he lay,
To his comrades all gathered around him,
These last parting words did he say,

[Chorus]
Take the cylinder out of my kidney,
The connecting rod out of my brain, my brain,
From the small of my back take the camshaft,
And assemble the engine again.

Cheers,

Junior.

spacecrow · 24 February 2005, 07:01 PM

It would be nice to get the sheet music for these squadron songs and play them on the piano. The ones like "flying out in France" and take the cylinder out of my brain, or however it goes.

greatwarpilot · 24 February 2005, 08:02 PM

Thats exactly what I have in mind, and why I'm trying to get the name of a number of these tunes.

The below URL is for a website where you can download sheet music from the period, so if one knew the titles of the original songs these tunes were sung to they could get themselves the music.

http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/shee...-subjects.html