A World War Two song from 1942.
Words and music by Frank Loesser.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Down went the gunner, a bullet was his fate
Down went the gunner, and then the gunner’s mate
Up jumped the sky pilot, gave the boys a look
And manned the gun himself
As he laid aside The Book, shouting
Refrain
“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 sit around a-wishin’
Praise the Lord, we’re all between perdition
And the deep blue sea”
Yes, the sky pilot said it
You’ve got to give him credit
For a son-of-a-gun of a gunner was he
Shouting, “Praise the Lord
We’re on a mighty mission
All aboard! We’re not a-goin’ fishin’
Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition
And we’ll all stay free”
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: