Information about The U.s. Air Force (song)
"The U.S. Air Force" is the official song of the United States Air Force. It is informally known as "The Air Force Song," and is often informally referred to as "Off We Go", "Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder," or simply "Wild Blue Yonder."
In 1937, Army Air Corps second-in-command Hap Arnold persuaded his superior, Oscar Westover, that airmen needed a song reflecting their unique identity, and proposed a song competition with a prize to the winner. However, the Air Corps had no control over its budget, and could not give a prize. Liberty magazine stepped in, offering a purse of $1,000 to the winner.
Around 757 compositions were entered, and evaluated by a volunteer committee chaired by Mildred Yount, the wife of a senior Air Corps officer, and also featuring several distinguished musicians. The committee had until July 1939 to make a final choice. However, word eventually spread that the committee found no songs that satisfied them, despite the massive number of entries. Arnold, who took over command of the Air Corps in 1938 after Westover was killed in a plane crash, solicited direct inquiries from contestants, including Irving Berlin, but not even Berlin's creations proved satisfactory. Just before the deadline, Crawford entered his song, which proved to be a unanimous winner.
The song did not catch favor with everyone. At a dinner in September 1939, committee chair Yount played a recording of the song for Charles Lindbergh and asked his opinion of the song. He responded politely to Yount, but years later remarked in a diary, "I think it is mediocre at best. Neither the music nor the words appealed to me." Arnold did not share Lindbergh's opinion; he sought to fund publication of band and ensemble arrangements of the song for nationwide distribution. However, the Air Corps did not have enough money to widely publish the piece, so Crawford arranged a transfer of the song's copyright to New York music publisher Carl Fischer Inc., including a perpetual performance release in favor of the U.S. government. This means that unlike the other services, the Air Force does not own its own service song.
The full lyrics of the song are as follows:
Although not the Academy's official fight song, the first verse of the song is frequently played at United States Air Force Academy sporting events. The third verse of the song ("Here's a toast") is sung by itself as the Academy's alma mater after most sporting events. Most notably, it it is sung after games against rivals Army and Navy, when the teams combine to participate in the singing of both Academies' alma maters. The third verse is also traditionally sung by all Academy cadets and graduates to honor the passing of a fellow cadet or graduate.
They took the blue from the skies and a pretty girl's eyes
and a touch of Old Glory's hue,
And gave it to the men who proudly wear the U.S. Air Force blue.
The U.S. Air Force Blue!
Oh, they are men with a dream on America's team,
They're a rugged and ready crew.
And you can bet your boots the world looks up to U.S. Air Force Blue.
To U.S. Air Force Blue!
They know where they're goin', they've set their course,
the sky's no limit in the Air Force.
They took the blue from the skies and a pretty girl's eyes
and a touch of Old Glory's hue,
And gave it to the men who proudly wear the U.S. Air Force Blue.
And you can wear it too!
The U.S... Air Force... Blue!
By the 1990's, "U.S. Air Force Blue" had fallen into disfavor with some Air Force personnel, due to the potentially chauvenistic lyrics, and considering the high number of women serving in the USAF. The lyrics were changed at that time to eliminate the issue, or the song was played without the accompanying vocal line.
The Air Force Core values are: Integrity First Service Before Self Excellence In All We Do
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History
Originally, the song was known as the 'Army Air Corps Song.' The lyrics and music were written by Capt. Robert Crawford in 1939. The words "U.S. Air Force" have since replaced the original "Army Air Corps".In 1937, Army Air Corps second-in-command Hap Arnold persuaded his superior, Oscar Westover, that airmen needed a song reflecting their unique identity, and proposed a song competition with a prize to the winner. However, the Air Corps had no control over its budget, and could not give a prize. Liberty magazine stepped in, offering a purse of $1,000 to the winner.
Around 757 compositions were entered, and evaluated by a volunteer committee chaired by Mildred Yount, the wife of a senior Air Corps officer, and also featuring several distinguished musicians. The committee had until July 1939 to make a final choice. However, word eventually spread that the committee found no songs that satisfied them, despite the massive number of entries. Arnold, who took over command of the Air Corps in 1938 after Westover was killed in a plane crash, solicited direct inquiries from contestants, including Irving Berlin, but not even Berlin's creations proved satisfactory. Just before the deadline, Crawford entered his song, which proved to be a unanimous winner.
The song did not catch favor with everyone. At a dinner in September 1939, committee chair Yount played a recording of the song for Charles Lindbergh and asked his opinion of the song. He responded politely to Yount, but years later remarked in a diary, "I think it is mediocre at best. Neither the music nor the words appealed to me." Arnold did not share Lindbergh's opinion; he sought to fund publication of band and ensemble arrangements of the song for nationwide distribution. However, the Air Corps did not have enough money to widely publish the piece, so Crawford arranged a transfer of the song's copyright to New York music publisher Carl Fischer Inc., including a perpetual performance release in favor of the U.S. government. This means that unlike the other services, the Air Force does not own its own service song.
Lyrics
Music sample:
| 15 second sample from the first verse of "The U.S. Air Force". | |
| Problems listening to the file? See media help | |
Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun hey!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one hell of a roar!*
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!
Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder,
Sent it high into the blue;
Hands of men blasted the world asunder;
How they lived God only knew! (God only knew then!)
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings, ever to soar!
With scouts before And bombers galore. Hey!
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!
Bridge: "A Toast to the Host"
Here's a toast to the host
Of those who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down they soared to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the U.S. Air Force!
Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true;
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder
Keep the nose out of the blue! (Out of the blue, boy!)
Flying men, guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more!
In echelon we carry on. Hey!
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!
- * - Some contemporary sheet music often contained a footnote advising the substitution of "terrible roar" for "hell of a roar", for radio performances, in accordance with public airwaves rules of the day. "Hell of a roar" is heard much more often nowadays, in the more relaxed modern standards of decorum. Other versions, since 1947, have replaced "Army Air Corps." with "U.S Air Force" to sound more updated.
Performance of the song
Most commonly only the first verse is performed, though in professional performances all four verses may be presented. The third verse ("Here's a toast...") has a different melody, and a more reverent mood than the rest of the song to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of the Air Force and the United States. This verse is sometimes performed independently of the other verses. It is sung by all the flights, in unison, at the beginning of the duty day at Air Force basic training.Although not the Academy's official fight song, the first verse of the song is frequently played at United States Air Force Academy sporting events. The third verse of the song ("Here's a toast") is sung by itself as the Academy's alma mater after most sporting events. Most notably, it it is sung after games against rivals Army and Navy, when the teams combine to participate in the singing of both Academies' alma maters. The third verse is also traditionally sung by all Academy cadets and graduates to honor the passing of a fellow cadet or graduate.
Trivia
Another, though unofficial song, surfaced in 1957. This unofficial song is titled "U.S.Air Force Blue." The song is released on a Department of Defense newsreel from 1957/12/09.They took the blue from the skies and a pretty girl's eyes
and a touch of Old Glory's hue,
And gave it to the men who proudly wear the U.S. Air Force blue.
The U.S. Air Force Blue!
Oh, they are men with a dream on America's team,
They're a rugged and ready crew.
And you can bet your boots the world looks up to U.S. Air Force Blue.
To U.S. Air Force Blue!
They know where they're goin', they've set their course,
the sky's no limit in the Air Force.
They took the blue from the skies and a pretty girl's eyes
and a touch of Old Glory's hue,
And gave it to the men who proudly wear the U.S. Air Force Blue.
And you can wear it too!
The U.S... Air Force... Blue!
- (The video can be found on Youtube, where some who viewed it commented that they grew up with the song during the Korean War and after the Vietnam War.)
By the 1990's, "U.S. Air Force Blue" had fallen into disfavor with some Air Force personnel, due to the potentially chauvenistic lyrics, and considering the high number of women serving in the USAF. The lyrics were changed at that time to eliminate the issue, or the song was played without the accompanying vocal line.
The Air Force Core values are: Integrity First Service Before Self Excellence In All We Do
References
See also
- Anchors Aweigh
- The Army Goes Rolling Along
- Eternal Father, Strong to Save
- Marines' hymn
- Semper Paratus (march)
- Royal Air Force March Past
United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. Previously part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947.
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19th century - 20th century - 21st century
1890s 1900s 1910s - 1920s - 1930s 1940s 1950s
1926 1927 1928 - 1929 - 1930 1931 1932
Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII
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1890s 1900s 1910s - 1920s - 1930s 1940s 1950s
1926 1927 1928 - 1929 - 1930 1931 1932
Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII
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Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold GCB (June 25, 1886 – January 15, 1950) was an aviation pioneer and Chief of the United States Army Air Corps (from 1938), Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Forces (from 1941 until 1945) and the first and only General of the Air Force (in 1949).
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Oscar Westover (July 23 1883 - September 21 1938) was a major general and chief of the United States Army Air Corps when he died.
He was born in Bay City, Michigan and enlisted in the Army when he was 18.
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He was born in Bay City, Michigan and enlisted in the Army when he was 18.
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19th century - 20th century - 21st century
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1935 1936 1937 - 1938 - 1939 1940 1941
Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII
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1900s 1910s 1920s - 1930s - 1940s 1950s 1960s
1935 1936 1937 - 1938 - 1939 1940 1941
Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII
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Irving Berlin (IPA: /ˈɜrvɪŋ ˈbɜrlɪn/) (May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was an American composer and lyricist, and one of the most prodigious American songwriters in history.
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Charles Augustus Lindbergh (4 February 1902 – 26 August 1974), known as "Lucky Lindy" and "The Lone Eagle," was an American pilot famous for the first solo, non-stop flight across the Atlantic, from Roosevelt Field, Long Island to Paris in 1927 in the "Spirit of St. Louis.
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Not to be confused with copywriting.
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United States Air Force Academy (USAFA or Air Force),[1] located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers for the United States Air Force.
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Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother". It was used in ancient Rome as a title for the mother goddess, and in Medieval Christianity for the Virgin Mary.
This term is taken from the motto ("Alma Mater Studiorum") of the oldest European continually operating
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This term is taken from the motto ("Alma Mater Studiorum") of the oldest European continually operating
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United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, West Point or, for collegiate athletic purposes, Army) is a United States Army post and service academy. West Point was first a military post that was briefly under the command of Benedict Arnold[1].
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United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution in Annapolis, Maryland for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Academy often is referred to simply as "Annapolis
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Total dead: ~314,000
Total wounded: ~1,490,000 North Vietnam and NLF
dead and missing: ~1,100,000 [1] [2] [3] [4]
wounded: ~600,000+ [5]
People's Republic of China
dead: 1,446
wounded: 4,200
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Total wounded: ~1,490,000 North Vietnam and NLF
dead and missing: ~1,100,000 [1] [2] [3] [4]
wounded: ~600,000+ [5]
People's Republic of China
dead: 1,446
wounded: 4,200
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Anchors Aweigh" is the song of the United States Navy, composed in 1906 by Charles A. Zimmerman with lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles. Zimmerman was at the time a Lieutenant, and had been bandmaster of the United States Naval Academy Band since 1887.
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"The Army Goes Rolling Along" is the official song of the U.S. Army[1] and is typically called "The Army Song."
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The Caisson Song
The song is based on the "Caisson Song" written by field artillery First Lieutenant (later Brigadier General) Edmund L...... Click the link for more information.
"Eternal Father, Strong to Save", is a hymn often associated with the Royal Navy or the United States Navy. Accordingly, it is often known as the Royal Navy Hymn or the United States Navy Hymn (or just The Navy Hymn
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The Marines' Hymn is the official hymn of the United States Marine Corps. It is the oldest official song in the U.S. Armed Forces.[1] The song has an obscure origin—the words date from the 19th century, but no one knows the author.
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Semper Paratus (Latin for "Always prepared") is the official slogan of the United States Coast Guard. A march by that name is also the official march of the Coast Guard.
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The "Royal Air Force March Past" is the official march of the Royal Air Force (RAF).
The original score was completed by Sir Henry Walford Davies in 1918 for the new RAF; it combined the rhythm of the bugle call of the Royal Flying Corps with that of the Royal Naval Air
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The original score was completed by Sir Henry Walford Davies in 1918 for the new RAF; it combined the rhythm of the bugle call of the Royal Flying Corps with that of the Royal Naval Air
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American patriotic music owes its origins to four main wars — the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the American Civil War, and the Spanish American War. During the period prior to American independence, much of America's patriotic music was aligned with the political
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Published 1895 (poem)
Writer(s) Katharine Lee Bates
Composer(s) Samuel A. Ward
Audio sample
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"America the Beautiful" is an American patriotic song.
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Writer(s) Katharine Lee Bates
Composer(s) Samuel A. Ward
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"America the Beautiful" is an American patriotic song.
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Released 1966
Genre Ballad, Patriotic
Label RCA Victor
Writer(s) Robin Moore and Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler
"Ballad of the Green Berets" is a patriotic song in the ballad style about the Green Berets, an elite special force in the U.S. Army.
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Genre Ballad, Patriotic
Label RCA Victor
Writer(s) Robin Moore and Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler
"Ballad of the Green Berets" is a patriotic song in the ballad style about the Green Berets, an elite special force in the U.S. Army.
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Battle Cry of Freedom is a song written in 1862 by American composer George F. Root (1825–1895) during the American Civil War. A patriotic song advocating the cause of the Union, it became so popular that composer H. L. Schreiner and lyricist W. H.
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"The Battle Hymn of the Republic" is an American patriotic anthem, written by Julia Ward Howe in December 1861, that was made popular during the American Civil War.
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The tune was written, around 1855, by South Carolinian William Steffe...... Click the link for more information.
"Blood on the Risers" is an American paratrooper song from World War II. It is sung by the United States 82nd Airborne Division, the 173rd Airborne Brigade and the United States 101st Airborne Division.
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"Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" is a United States patriotic song which was popular in the 19th and early 20th century. It was used on occasion as an unofficial national anthem in competition with "Hail, Columbia" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" until the latter's formal adoption
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"Dixie", also known as "I Wish I Was in Dixie", "Dixie's Land" and other titles, is a popular American song. It is one of the most distinctively American musical products of the 19th century,[1]
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"Eternal Father, Strong to Save", is a hymn often associated with the Royal Navy or the United States Navy. Accordingly, it is often known as the Royal Navy Hymn or the United States Navy Hymn (or just The Navy Hymn
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