(MOGS) "Oh my name is Sammy Small..."

Once in a while, I have an overwhelming need for something extremely politically incorrect, of historical value, and embodies a quickly dying culture, and since Irish drinking songs seem to be in a pretty good state of health, I go looking for traditional Fighter Pilot Songs (and bomber and special operations pilot songs too).  Many have their origins in the RAF of WWI, bastardized versions of traditional pub and Royal Navy tunes, adapted, updated, chopped up and rewritten by Yankee Air Pirates. 

Squadron song books dating back to WWII, Korea, and Vietnam and even Desert Storm have been an important part of military aviator folklore for years and years.  Some outfits hold them more sacred than others, and many unit traditions are wrapped about these songs. The lyrics, well some of them rather violent, often scatalogical, arcane references to weapons, quirks of aircraft things that most people simply ain't gonna get, women, drinking, more women, lots more drinking, humor often extremely black and sardonic, and even solemn. Thought the subject matter is somewhat similar, these are not the same thing as "Jody" calls - marching or running cadences often associated with basic training, infantry, hell generally the Army and Marines.

For the discerning listener (who doesn't mind some rough language) I recommend Dick Jonas to get you started, and Dos Gringos for a more modern flare (generally speaking, audio files are NOT work safe)

This one goes out to the FACs  View this photo and the JBC View this photo

Comments

[canuckistani]

What's next, world's greatest polka tunes? Sorry Mogs but being a civvy I just don't get the whole miliary rah-rah song thing. I suppose its a way to build unit cohesion and comraderie but other than that understanding, its not my bag. Perhaps you could explain its appeal.

[MOGS]

Well, for me the appeal has always been the humor...that and getting to cuss while singing very loudly about various bodily functions. It's immature bawdy humor at its best with a kernel of truth at the core of it, some of it less than pleasant truth...

There's a line of a particular song, which up to that point had been rather naughty, which turns the tables on everyone else in the room "Oh, I love YOUR wife yes I do yes I do, I love her often..."

If you've ever met a guy who's gotten a "Dear John" letter while deployed or TDY, it's that painful, truthful humorous take on an unfortunate situation, which is sometimes the best way to deal with it. A combination of nervous laughter, immature potty humor, and a dose of "well thank god it wasn't me."

[VIKTOR]

It's hillarious, way better if you understand the jargon, like me