The Lyrics
A long, long time ago...
Many still remember
How our world was before World War II
Life was innocent as a dance,
No complicated circumstance
December seventh changed all that, it's true
The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
And army camps replaced grape arbors
Onward marched the Germans
Our fact'ries built more Shermans
Young men enlisted far and wide
Many a groom had to leave his bride
Each city, town, and countryside
Was filled with country pride..
It was..
Bye, bye, brave American Guy
Go and lead 'em into freedom,
Keep our flags flyin' high..
We held back tears, tho' there were reasons to cry
For we knew a lot of good men would die,
Knew a lot of good men would die
Home folks kept the faith and heart
Held jobs in war plants and did their part
Read the bible every day,
And sacrificed for the cause of right
Conserving was a way to fight,
Said prayers for loved ones who were far away
Had metal scrap drives, and food rationing
Saving gas became an all out thing
Amer'ca showed it's best,
We learned how to get by with less
Patriotism muliplied by ten
Folks stickin' together's how it was back then
Helped a neighbor, lights out by ten
The time for country pride..
Deep sacrificin'..
Said, bye, bye, brave American Guy
Go and lead 'em into freedom
Keep our flags flyin' high..
Held back the tears, 'tho there were reasons to cry
We all knew a lot of good men would die,
Knew a lot of good men would die..
Churchill vowed England there'll always be
Fought 'em in air, on land, and at sea,
Stood tall and tough against the blitz..
Though the Nazi rockets blew buildings down
In the British cities, London town,
The gutsy Brits would never call it quits..
Allies, fought in Italy, fought in France
Newsreels would carry Hitler's rants
And Patton gave some knocks,
To Rommel, Desert Fox..
Iwo Jima' in Pacific zone,
A bloody battle, made our own
Air force had many missions flown
Soon odds were on our side..
Many cheered us
G.I.'s, brave American Guys
Here to lead us into freedom,
Keep our flags flyin' high..
We'll hold our tears, tho' there are reasons to cry
There's no doubt a lot of good men will die,
Know a lot of good men will die..
Faced the winter and the summer swelter
And many huddled in air raid shelters,
Bombs and bullets were coming fast,
But courageous souls pushed on
At midnight, and in the dawn,
Piper paid, and every right die would be cast
On destroyers, giant deck guns boomed,
The shells were aimed for an axis doom
Strong, stayed our gallant force,
And they were on a winning course
Large invasion was at Normandy
Allies launched thousands from the sea
It would make D Day history
June 6th, when many died..
They stood at hell's door..
Shots rang, shells exploded the sky
Blood was running from the gunning,
Planes were falling from high
No time for tears, or any fears they might die
Just pushed onward, brave American guy
Pushed onward, brave American guy..
After one more year of hunt and kill,
The guns in Europe would be still
In April, nineteen-forty-five
They died together, Hitler, Eva Braun..
From suicide, they both were gone
Came surrender, from the Germans, who survived
Also, April, FDR would die
Of stroke, his fam'ly by his side,
Tough Harry Truman then, sat in
A partial peace, but still a half-burned wick
There was still war in the Pacif-ic
Harry knew just what he had to do to win
With Churchill, Stalin, met at Pottsdam,
Manhattan project fit their plan
A weapon born in hell,
But could save lives as well,
A tough decision for a man to make
Responsiblity to take
More destruction than a thousand quakes
That day so many died
Dropped the A bomb...
Planes flew, bombs released from the sky
Hiroshima, Nagasaki,
Mushroom clouds blossomed high
Destruction ran..'cross the isle of Japan
The horror to make war say goodbye..
Horror to make war say goodbye..
Japan surrendered, peace was here,
In America, the people cheered
On August fourteenth, VJ Day
Around the world, the news was heard
Terr'ble war is over, came the word
In peace, we celebrated, children played
In New York ticker tape would flow
Float to the street, while vict'ry signs would show
Kisses exchanged, love spoken
From L.A. to Hoboken..
Troops returned to their home coast,
Back home to families they loved the most
Planted seeds for Baby Boomer boast,
And grieved for those who died
Won't forgot when..
Said bye, bye, brave American Guy
Left to lead us into freedom
Kept our flags in the sky..
We held our tears, 'tho' there were reasons to cry
For we knew a lot of good men would die,
Knew a lot of good men...would...die..