Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition - Kay Kyser

"Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" is an American patriotic song written by Frank Loesser and published as sheet music in 1942 by Famous Music Corp. The song was a response to the Attack on Pearl Harbor that marked United States involvement in World War II.

The song describes a chaplain ("sky pilot") being with some fighting men who are under attack from an enemy. He is asked to say a prayer for the men who were engaged in firing at the oncoming planes. The chaplain puts down his Bible, mans one of the ship's gun turrets and begins firing back, saying, "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition".

According to writer Jack S. McDowall, the famous phrase is generally credited to "a chaplain," said to be manning the guns of a ship under attack. "This was not true," says McDowell. For some time, long after Pearl Harbor, stories and reports surfaced about an incident involving this apocryphal "sky pilot", who was said to have uttered the words "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition".

The stories eventually made their way through the servicemen and back to the press. This, as McDowell noted, led some writers to erroneously identify other chaplains as author of the phrase. Nonetheless, the real chaplain, Howell Forgy, was aboard the USS New Orleans during the Japanese attack. He was a Lieutenant (j.g.) that Sunday morning in December, 1941.

An officer in charge of an ammunition line on the USS New Orleans during the attack said that, "I heard a voice behind me saying, 'Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.' I turned and saw Chaplain Forgy walking toward me, along the line of men. He was patting them on the back and making that remark to cheer and keep them going. I know it helped me a lot, too."

Another lieutenant said that thereafter, when the men heard the song, they would kid Chaplain Forgy about the role he played, encouraging him to set the record straight about who actually said what. According to the same officer the chaplain would decline, modestly claiming he felt, "... the episode should remain a legend, rather than be associated with any particular person." Author McDowell noted that reporters eventually were permitted to interview the men of the USS New Orleans involved in the "ammunition" story. Chaplain Forgy's superior officers set up a meeting with members of the press and at last, the real story of the song and the man who had inspired it was confirmed.

According to his obituary in The New York Times of August 8, 1974, the singer who introduced the song was Robert Rounseville.

In 1942, a recording by The Merry Macs reached number 8 on the Billboard chart. The 1943 version by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra reached number 1. A portion of the tune is sung while in the Superman cartoon "Jungle Drums" Hitler bows his head from news that Allied forces cut off a major assault of German U-boats. Loesser donated his royalties for sale of the song to the Navy Relief Society.

[philipmiller]

Kate Smith got it right back in '42 with the song "Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition."

[charlottegeier]

This song came to my memory in the night last night. I remember mother telling us about it when we were kids. She and dad used to sing it for us and I even remembered the tune. The timing is appropriate today!

[RadCenter]

A bit of contest: My father served on board the USS New Orleans and was present during the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. The significance of the phrase "pass the ammunition" was this: The New Orleans was in the repair bay undergoing maintenance when the harbor came under attack, so she was operating on power from the repair bay and her own power was shut off, making the machinery that normally loaded ammunition inoperable. The crew was forced to improvise by moving the extremely heavy ammo hand-over-hand into the gun bays. It was hot, exhausting work, and that's why Chaplain Forgy was on hand to offer encouragement.

[Zargak]

I don't know what's more impressive, the song or the information you've given about a single phrase.

[dancasey]

My father was on the New Orleans. If you can find Howell Forgy's book "Pass The Ammunition" read it, amazing piece of history.

[MajBunl]

Lyrics
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
And we'll all stay free
Praise the Lord and swing into position
Can't afford to be a politician
Praise the Lord, we're all between perdition
And the deep blue sea
Yes the sky pilot said it
Ya gotta give him credit
For a sonofagun of a gunner was he
Shouting Praise the Lord, we're on a mighty mission
All aboard, we ain't a-goin' fishin'
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
And we'll all stay free
Praise the Lord (Praise the Lord) and pass the ammunition
Praise the Lord (Praise the Lord) and pass the ammunition
Praise the Lord (Praise the Lord) and pass the ammunition
And we'll all stay free
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
And we'll all stay free

[cheryldahl]

Reading while listening to music: not possible

[half-slav]

Listening on the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

[FalconProduktions]

BTW my previous post that says we don't live in a democracy why don't you do a google search on the word Democracy and you might get an idea of why we don't live in one, our governmental system is a Representative Republic (Which is Roman)

[albundy]

this comes from a time when Hollywood and celebrities supported our troops and America. now you have people like Sean Penn and Michael Moore.

[edwardbroody]

The sleeping giant that was awakened according to Adm. Yamamoto. America in all its epic greatness exemplified by the heroes on D Day etc. The late Great USA....

[slippery]

Well ... one thing for sure ... it sure wasn't Kim Jong who said it !
Nice tune !

[Densaku]

@FalconProduktions In the period's context, wouldn't be a Nazi?....

[FalconProduktions]

are you trying to argue politics with me?

[FalconProduktions]

Thank you for trying to help my case but this is not a correct statement.

[TheDarkCrucible]

Anyone else here because of Battlefield V Firestorm?

[walterhenze]

A good read - Thomas Chittum "Civil War II." Carl Klang song- No King but Jesus. Pastor Pete Peters and Scriptures for America song, "The Battle of Megiddo."USA is the new jerUSAlem.

[FalconProduktions]

Anarchy is the opposite of Fascism/Monarchy

[sharkbooger]

We've always had the most stylish propaganda. Go USA!

[Yapostadodat]

Happy Memorial Day to all the G.I. Joes that never made it home.