Praise the Words and Pass the Ammunition Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What kinds of birds would we like to see over "The White Cliffs of Dover"?

Answer: Bluebirds

The White Cliffs of Dover are cliffs that form part of the British coastline facing France. The cliff face reaches up to 351 feet. They are composed of chalk or calcium carbonate. The relentless bombing of England by the Germans and the aerial dog fights over the cliffs led to the composition of the song in 1941 by Walter Kent and Nat Burton. Vera Lynn's 1942 recording makes it a classic from that era.

"There'll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover
Tomorrow
Just you wait and see"

There'll be love and laughter
And peace ever after
Tomorrow
When the world is free".

2. When the world is being destroyed by the madness of atomic war at the conclusion of Stanley Kubrick's 1964 film "Dr. Strangelove", what sentimental World War Two song is sung?

Answer: We'll Meet Again

The war had just begun and young men were leaving their lovers and not knowing if they will ever see them again. Ross Parker and Hughie Charles composed it in 1939 and Vera Lynn had the classic recording that Kubrick used in "Dr. Strangelove" to express the irony of a world gone mad with atomic destruction.

The song inspired a film of the same name starring Vera Lynn in 1943. Such artists as The Byrds, The Turtles, Johnny Cash, and The Ink Spots reprised the song.

"We'll meet again,
Don't know where, don't know when,
But I know we'll meet again, some sunny day"

3. Frank Loesser, a prolific song writer, in January 1942 published a patriotic song based on a story he heard from the early days of World War Two. It combined faith and fighting spirit. What was that song?

Answer: Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition

The legend was that a chaplain was assisting in battle. There were a number of claims as to the origin of the phrase "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition", Chaplain Howell Forgy appeared on the game show "I've Got a Secret" in 1955 and he recalled in his own words:

"I was stationed aboard the USS New Orleans, and we were tied up at 1010 dock in Pearl Harbor when we attacked again. We were having a turbine lifted, and all of our electrical power wasn't on, and so when we went to lift the ammunition by the hoist, we had to form lines of men - form a bucket brigade - and we began to carry the ammunition up through the quarterdeck into the gurneys, and I stood there and directed some of the boys down the port side and some down the starboard side, and as they were getting a little tired, I just happened to say, 'Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition'. That's all there was to it."

Frank Loesser was one of the leading song writers of his day, often associated with the 'Tin Pan Alley' cadre of musicians and lyricists. His mega-hits on Broadway were "Guys and Dolls" and "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying".

4. World War Two effected everyone. Even Walt Disney got into the act. What was the name of the song and also the name of the cartoon that won the Oscar for Best Animation in 1943?

Answer: Der Fuehrer's Face

Spike Jones, a noted musical satirist of the era, made the first recording of "Der Fuehrer's Face" in 1942. Spike used rude noises for punctuation. Disney dispensed with those and instead used only the tuba for emphasis.

The cartoon had Donald Duck in a nightmare forced to work in a Nazi war plant. The song had a life of its own although its purpose was to sell war bonds and propaganda. Disney buried the film after the war and it was not released again until 2004.

"When der fuehrer says we is de master race
We heil(rude noise) heil(rude noise)
Right in der fueher's face! (rude noise)
Not to love der fuehrer is a great disgrace,
So we heil(rude noise) heil(rude noise)
Right in der fuehrer's face! (rude noise)"

5. Bing Crosby spent much of his time during World War Two entertaining troops through the USO. Which of these songs is considered Bing's signature song?

Answer: White Christmas

Lonely servicemen were particularly affected by holidays. When Bing came, he was always expected to sing "White Christmas" that brought to mind home, family, and the life they left behind.

Irving Berlin was known to like to work deep into the night. He called his secretary and said "Grab your pen and take down this song. I just wrote the best song I've ever written - heck, I just wrote the best song that anybody's ever written!".

Crosby first recorded it in May 1942. According to estimates the Crosby recordings have sold over 50,000,000 copies and it is regarded as the best selling single of all time.

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the tree tops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all
Your Christmases be white"

6. There were many World War Two songs about the girls back home's pledges of fidelity. One of these and representative was "I'll Walk Alone"(1944). Who was the popular singer who sang it in the movie and had a break through recording? (Hint: She used to ask us to see the USA)

Answer: Dinah Shore

"I'll Walk Alone" had the gift of music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Sammy Cahn, two talented songsmiths. Dinah Shore first sang it in the film "Follow the Boys"(1944) and followed that up with the record release.

"I'll walk alone because, to tell you the truth, I'll be lonely
I don't mind being lonely
When my heart tells me you are lonely, too

I'll walk alone, they'll ask me why and I'll tell them I'd rather
There are dreams I must gather
Dreams we fashioned the night you held me tight

I'll always be near you wherever you are each night
In every prayer
If you call I'll hear you, no matter how far
Just close your eyes and I'll be there."

Dinah Shore also sang, in the ads, "See the USA in your Chevrolet".

7. Arguably the finest swing band of all time brought to the war several primarily instrumental classics. The kind that made you want to get up and dance. There was "In the Mood" (1939) "Tuxedo Junction" (1940), "Pennsylvania 6-5000" (1940) and "String of Pearls" (1941). The leader of this band was given a military commission to bring his music to the troops. Who was this renowned swing master?

Answer: Glenn Miller

Miller joined the army and was assigned to incorporating music into the morale programs for the men. He eventually was allowed to form the 50 piece Air Force Band. There was opposition to his updating military marches and melding with popular music. Overseas his plane was lost and never found. This moved him from a talented musician to legend.

The music and orchestrations that he left behind were in 1956 the base for The Glenn Miller Orchestra. This group has toured since then to rave reviews.

8. All was not about the war. Popular music continued to be for those in the military and those who were not. Big Bands were headliners but so were small singing groups. What group was famous for these songs: "Lazy River", "Jeepers Creepers", "Caravan", and "Paper Doll"?

Answer: Mills Brothers

The Mills Brothers were active from 1928 to 1982. They were a quartet, three singers and a guitar player. They seldom recorded any other way. Often what may sound like an instrument was really one of the brothers doing a voice impression.

Their most successful song was "Paper Doll" that sold six million copies and was an after thought to fill out the 'B' side of a recording and for twelve weeks topped the charts in 1942. The song speaks of loneliness and desperation.

"I'm gonna buy a Paper Doll that I can call my own
A doll that other fellows cannot steal
And then the flirty, flirty guys with their flirty, flirty eyes
Will have to flirt with dollies that are real

When I come home at night she will be waiting
She'll be the truest doll in all this world
I'd rather have a Paper Doll to call my own
Than have a fickle-minded real live girl".

9. It is hard to select a band from that era of World War Two. This band had great popular appeal and not only had infectious dance music, outstanding vocals, and a flare for comedy but was an eagerly waited weekly radio show. Kay Kyser's band had hits with "Jingle, Jangle, Jingle", "Three Little Fishes", and "Old Buttermilk Sky". The band had eleven hit records. Kay even added a quiz show to this act. It was called Kay Kysers's ------- -- ------- ---------. Fill in the blank.

Answer: Kollege of Musical Knowledge

Kay would switch to straight man when one of his musicians, cornetist Merwyn Bogue (AKA Ish Kabibble), took the spotlight. Ish had a following of his own. Kay was also renowned for his catch phrases. During the quiz he would frequently confuse the contestant by saying such things as "You're right, that's wrong!" Or visa versa. He greeted the audience with a cheery "Evenin' folks, how y'all?"; he introduced the next number by "C'mon, chillun! Le's dance!"

Kay Kyser also had a film career. In his twelve appearances, he played himself in ten. Most of these also included the band. Ginny Simms and Georgia Carroll were singers as were Harry Babbit and Mike Douglas (who later became a popular talk show host).

10. Three sisters from Mound, Minnesota were in many ways the face and sound of World War Two music. They had a gift for instant harmony and were a hit with fans. Sometimes by themselves or with other artists they had hits with ""Bei Mir Bist Du Sch�n" (1938) (To Me, You Are Beautiful), "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar" (1940), "Pistol Packin' Mama" (1943), and "Rum and Coca Cola" ((1945). Who were these harmonious sisters?

Answer: The Andrews Sisters

In those days everyone knew the Andrews Sisters by name--Maxene, LaVerne, and Patty, just like later fans knew the Beatles. Patty had the stronger voice but the harmony of her sisters perfected their sound.

All was not well under the surface. The sisters had disputes over their parents' estate and over money. Patty wanted a solo career. For a while Maxene and LaVerne toured as the Andrews Sisters.

At one point the sisters got in hot water when their hit song "Rum and Coca Cola" was banned from radio play as it referenced a brand name product, glamourized drunkenness and prostitution, embarrassed fighting men and was disrespectful of women. However, the bad press led to it being one of their best selling recordings. Apparently, on a busy recording day, they had little time to digest the lyrics and their implications.

"Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar.

Since the Yankee come to Trinidad
They got the young girls all goin' mad
Young girls say they treat 'em nice
Make Trinidad like paradise"

The song was sung calypso style. Legend has it that Morey Amsterdam ("Dick Van Dyke Show") wrote the lyrics and these were censored before the version the Andrews Sisters sang. Among the lines deleted were: "saw that the Yankees treat them nice / and they give them a better price." and "the bride run away with a soldier lad / and the stupid husband went staring mad".

Source: Author Rehaberpro

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The music of World War Two dealt with nostalgia for home, lover's fidelity, patriotism, and outright propaganda. This should be cinch for those of a certain age.

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