Before there was Elvis, the Beatles, or Bob Hope there was the greatest music hall comedian in the world. His name was George Formby from the British Isles. In WW 2 he boosted the morale of the British, Canadian and American GIs with his naughty humor and especially his rendition of BLESS EM ALL. On a personal note I remember quite well after a couple of beers belting out our special version and aimed at the high brass "XXXX EM ALL. I was only 17 at that time so I am sure you will pardon me.


Now I am hoping we can get a new version by some country or pop singer and dedicate to a new generation of warriors the British and American soldiers in Iraq and the Canadians in Afghanistan . It would also be a great fundraiser for my MEMORIAL GARDEN PROJECT.

BLESS EM ALL
(Hit song of WW 2)

(SPECIAL LYRICS NORM PRINGLE)
BMI CCMA CMA

THEY SAY THERE'S AN AIRSHIP
JUST LEAVING NEW YORK
BOUND FOR THE PERSIAN GULF
HEAVENLY LADEN, WITH SOLDIERS GALORE
FLYING THE FLAG THEY ADORE
THERE'S MANY A GAL
AND HER NAME COULD BE SAL
SHINING UP BUTTONS SO BRIGHT
YOU'LL GET NO PROMOTION
THIS SIDE OF THE OCEAN
SO CHEER UP MY FRIENDS
BLESS EM ALL

Talk ALL TOGETHER NOW with male and female singers
(chorus)

BLESS EM BLESS EM ALL
THE LONG AND THE
SHORT AND THE TALL
BLESS ALL THE SERGEANTS
THE SOUR PUSSED ONES
BLESS ALL THE CORPORALS
AND THE GALS WITH THE BUNS
AND WERE SAYING
GOOD BYE TO THEM ALL
AS UP TO THE CASTLE WE CRAWL
THERE’S SAND IN MY EYEBALLS
BUT THE ARMY HAS CUTE DOLLS
SO CHEER UP MY FRIENDS BLESS EM ALL

THEY SAY THAT IN IRAQ ( or Baghdad) YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT TIME WE'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE
FIVE IN THE MORNING
WE FALL OFF OUR BUNKS
TO SCRUB OUT THE CASTLE ROOM FLOOR
A PRIVATE HAS REALLY NO PRIVACY NOW
WE'RE ALL BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL
WE'RE STUCK HERE IN BAGHDAD THE HUMMERS A BUMMER
SO CHEER UP MY FRIENDS BLESS THEM ALL

(CHORUS REPEAT FROM ABOVE)

BLESS ALL THE BLONDIES
AND ALL THE BRUNETTES
AN AIRMAN IS HAPPY
WHATEVER EVER HE GETS
SO WE'RE GIVING THE EYE TO THEM ALL
BLESS THE MARINES ON THE CRAWL
IF IT'S MARGIE OR MILLIE
OR EVEN BIG WILLIE
(slow down)
WHEN YOU'RE IN CAMP
BLESS EM ALL

(Chorus repeat): English accent ALL TOGETHER

Thank you,
Norm Pringle
crashnorm@aol.com