During
WWII we Americans kept our hopes and spirits high with the new songs that
blossomed during those dark years when we were losing the battle to Germany’s
Hitler and Japan’s Hirohito.
World
War II was the first conflict to take place in the age when almost ninety
percent of American households had radio. Never before had songs been so widely
available. Never before had the number of listeners been so high.

The song, They’re Either Too Young or Too Old
took a light-hearted look at the men left for the women on the home front while
our troops were away fighting the war.
Popular songs like Sentimental
Journey, I’ll Be Seeing You, Moonlight Serenade, and I’ll Be Home for Christmas, spoke of
women’s longings for loved ones overseas and the troops yearning to be home.
Those songs gave society’s blessing that it was okay to miss your man because
he fought for the good of all Americans. The many patriotic songs brought
smiles to faces and pride to the hearts of Americans on the home front and
abroad.
Some of the more popular was songs were:

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the Andrew Sisters – 1941
Kiss The Boys Goodbye by Frank Loesser 1941
There’ll Be Bluebirds Over The White
Cliffs of Dover by Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra. 1942
Be Careful It’s My Heart by Irving Berlin. 1942
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore by Duke Ellington & His
Orchestra
Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree With
Anyone Else But Me by Stept, Brown, and Tobias – 1942
GI Jive by Johnny Mercer
I Don’t Want To Walk Without You by Harry James & His Orchestra
1942
I’ll Be Seeing You by Bind Crosby
It’s Been A Long Long Time by Harry James
I’ll Get By As Long As I Have You by Harry James & His Orchestra
Praise The Lord and Pass The
Ammunition by Frank Loesser 1942
Every Time We Say Goodbye by Cole Porter - 1944
Every Time We Say Goodbye by Cole Porter - 1944
Americans held the same desires as their leaders, and the
government counted on popular music to reflect the same war aims that Franklin
Delano Roosevelt wanted. Everyone hoped for a quick victory over the Axis, and
the songs about a world after the war with the boys coming home met those
wishes.
This unity gave the USA enormous energy that allowed the nation
to accomplish far more, at less human cost, than the other major powers in the
war. So, during the dark years of the war where almost every citizen lost a
loved one, music kept spirits high.
Have you heard any of these WWII favorites? If so, which is your
favorite?
Leave a comment and one lucky winner will win my
WWII book, Angel With Steel Wings.
Buy any one or all seven of Anne’s book on http://www.Amazon.com.
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bestselling author of numerous books, including the WW II series, In the
President’s Service, says of ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS:
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Probably the ones I've actually remembered hearing are "Bugle Boys" and "Don't sit under the apple tree". There sure was a disparity between songs like "Bugle Boy" and the more melancholy songs. Perfectly summarizes the angst of sending your loved ones off to war.
ReplyDeletebcrug(at)myfairpoint(dot)net
Hi Connie,
DeleteYes, those days were all about disparity, disarray, and despair. Hard times. Good to see you here.
I love your post! So many wonderful songs! I'll Be Seeing You is a good one. Those song helped many people get through a very difficult time.
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
Yes, Melanie, those songs help people so much during those dark days. I love having people read my column each month. Thank you!
DeleteThank you for this fascinating post. I'll Be Home for Christmas gives one a sense of hope in a dark time.
ReplyDeletepsalm103and138 at gmail dot com
Yes it did. And today we sometimes hear that song and gain the same hope. Great song. Thanks for enjoying my post.
DeleteI am familiar with many of the songs you mentioned and some of them are very sad if your loved ones aren't with you. I loved to watch the old "canteen" movies to see the different movie stars and hear the songs they performed. The plot was always the similar: Movie stars, singers and celebrities gathering to help the war effort and cheer up the troops! Thanks for reminding me!!
ReplyDeleteConnie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot) com
Hi Connie, It's good to bring back old memories. I saw a number of those old movies as well. Great to have you visit with me.
DeleteGreat post. kamundsen44ATyahooDOTcom.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim, I try to have an interesting post on the 14th of each month. I hope you'll join me again.
DeleteI listen to WWII songs while I write, since I write WWII. My favorites are I'll Be Seeing You and Coming In On a Wing and a Prayer.
ReplyDeletetlw131 at gmail dot com
Hi Terri, You enjoy some of the same songs I do. I hope you have great success with your books. Nice to visit with you here!
DeleteOh, and Terri, I wrote WWII books long before editors accepted the 1940s as historicals. Back then WWII was a hard sell. Funny, how long it took for editors to accept WWII. Now I see books in the 1970s touted as historicals. But songs become historical far sooner. Did you know the songs of the 1980s are now classed as OLDIES? And it is difficult to find songs from the earlier eras. Rock N Roll is as extinct as The Big Band Sound and Swing.
DeleteI've heard of many of these songs, mostly from watching old movies and listening to jazz music from that time. I like "Be careful, it's my heart". Thanks for the interesting post!
ReplyDeleteLinda Hutchins
lindajhutchins@gmail.com
Hi Linda, Yes, I haven't heard that song mentioned on the radio or TV in a long time. Great song. I'm so glad you like my post. I hope you come back often and visit.
DeleteI've heard of most of the songs mentioned and have some cd's of songs from the '40's, including Big Band music. I love the WWII era and it stories, and would love to read 'Angel With Steel Wings'. Thanks for the interesting post and giveaway opportunity!!
ReplyDeletebonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you for visiting, Bonnie, I'm afraid I think so many of today's songs are mere noise and bad lyrics. I hope you read Angel, you will love the romance and the era. Your name is in the hat.
DeleteHello friends, thank you all for visiting! I pulled CARYL KANE'S name out of the hat. Caryl, I'll email you to find your address and then send you an autographed copy of Angel With Steel Wings. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited! Thank you so much!
Delete