This was a popular American patriotic song from World War II. The legend is that during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 7, 1941 on board one of the naval ships, the gunner and gunner’s mate were both killed-in-action. The “Sky Pilot”, military slang for chaplain, put down his Bible and manned the gun, shouting “Praise the Lord and pass the ammuniution.”
Like most legends, it is probably not accuate. The real story is as follows. Lieutenant Howell Forgy, chaplain aboard the USS New Orleans during the Japanese attack. The ship’s power was out, so the men had to form a bucket brigade to hoist the ammunition up to the guns. As encouragement for the men, the “sky pilot” uttered his immortal line, “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.”
The song was written by Frank Loesser and published in 1942.
Here’s a recording of Praise the Lord and Pass The Ammunition by Kay Kaiser.
A recording by singer Harry Kay with Joe Loss & His Orchestra.
TITLE: Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition
Words and Music by Frank Loesser
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
/ G - D7 - G D7 G D7 / / G - G7 - C - - - /
/ G Em A7 - D7 - - - /
{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
/ G - C - G C G - / D7 - - - Am7 F#dim7 G D7 /
/ G - C - G G7 C Cm / G - D7 - G - D7sus4 D7 /
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
Ya gotta give him credit
For a son of a gun of a gunner was he, shouting
/ D7 - - - / G B7 Em - / A7 A9 A7 - D7 C D7 - /
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
Down came the bombers, a-diving from the sky
Down came the bombers, but faith could never die
There stood the sky pilot, there among his men
The light was in his eye, as he shouted once again
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’ [OR 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 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
