The Music of World War II

    The federal government desired a song that boosted morale during a long, costly war. Various committees formed, but they failed to find one. Why? Civilians and soldiers alike didn't want a song that reminded them of the war. Military personnel experienced enough fighting and its accompanying horrors. They didn't need a song pointing out the glory of their endeavors. They wanted songs of romance, songs reminding them of the homes they had left behind.
    The first year of the war saw defeat after defeat as America struggled to find its war footing. Two songs did emerge featuring the American can-do spirit and upbeat outlooks. The first, "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition," was inspired by a Navy chaplain who passed shells to the gunners aboard a ship during the Pearl Harbor attack. What was fact and what was myth regarding Captain William A. Maguire's utterance (or was it Captain Howell M. Forgy?) didn't matter. The song was a bright light in the dark days of 1942.
    Later that year, "Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer," about a bomber crew returning to base with a badly damaged plane, enjoyed considerable success. The heroic crew stood for the nation, hitting the target at considerable cost but not giving up.
    Composers wrote plenty of songs with martial themes or encouraging bond sales, but listeners tuned them out and they seldom saw any success. Big name entertainers like Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, and Dinah Shore included bond songs in their repertoires, but audiences came to hear their latest hits.
    The Andrews Sisters scored perhaps their biggest hit with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (of Company B)." Despite a military theme, it boasted a catchy, rollicking beat, tongue twisting lyrics, and a lighthearted outlook that pushed thoughts of the draft and fighting to the background.
    1942 saw America fully involved in the war. Prolific songwriter Irving Berlin dusted off a song he'd composed in 1918 at the close of World War I. "God Bless America," sung by Kate Smith, became one of the most inspiring, and lasting, songs of World War II. Another song with lasting appeal was "White Christmas." Bing Crosby first sang Berlin's song on his Kraft Music Hall radio show on December 25, 1941, but it didn't take off until it came out in the movie Holiday Inn in 1942. Written in 1940 and not intended as a war song, the wistful longing of the singer for Christmas as he used to know it struck a cord with audiences home and away, and became an endearing Christmas standard.

    What people wanted, both home and abroad, were "slush" songs, sentimental tunes of girlfriends and wives, home and family. Many songs of 1942 and 1943 refer to the war only as the basis for loneliness and saying good-bye. Poignant songs like "I'll Be Seeing You," "Somebody's Thinking of You Tonight," and "I'll Walk Alone."
    The American-penned "(There'll Be Blue Birds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover" achieved hit status, sung by numerous vocalists including England's popular songbird Vera Lynn. The image of birds flying free again in peace touched a nerve, and it played throughout the war, despite the curious fact that bluebirds will not be flying over England, where they are not indigenous.
    Humorous songs found ready acceptance. Spike Jones and his band, the City Slickers, burst on the scene with "Der Fuehrer's Face," a satire on Hitler based on a 1942 Disney cartoon, Donald Duck in Nutzi Land. Johnny Mercer used humor and innuendo in his songs like "I'm Doing It for Defense" and "Ac-Cen-Tchu-Ate the Positive."
    British soldiers liked a song they heard the Germans broadcast to their troops. They asked for English lyrics, which the Germans inadvertently provided in their propaganda broadcasts. Marlene Dietrich, a German-born, naturalized American, established "Lili Marlene" as a wartime favorite among Americans.
    Irving Berlin's Broadway play This Is the Army, Mister Jones of 1942 proved so successful it toured Army bases until war's end. Songs included "Oh! How I hate to Get Up in the Morning" and "This Is the Army, Mister Jones." Al all-star cast was assembled for a movie version. Together, they raised millions for the war effort.
    June of 1942 saw the American Federation of Musicians order a strike that barred musicians from recording. For over a year, until the autumn of 1943, only the government-run program of V-Discs (V for victory) for servicemen was allowed to use instrumentation. A cappella songs proliferated. "Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer" came out at this time in several versions. The recording by the Song Spinners claimed the top spot. I have this recording, and I never noticed the lack of instruments until I learned of the strike.

V-Discs were for servicemen and women, and were not available on the homefront.

    Best Picture of 1943, Casablanca was one of the best movies to come out of World War II. It's song, "As Time Goes By," spent 41 weeks on the hit charts, the most popular version being Rudy Vallee's. It did not qualify for Best Song in the Academy Awards because it was written in 1931.
    No song emerged as the song of World War II, despite the efforts of government officials and various composers. Romantic songs won the people's choice.
    Do you have a favorite World War II song?