The untold stories of World War II resurface now and again, reminding us of a time that left its mark upon countless lives, changing those of many Americans.
When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, thus plunging this country into World War II, America needed a battle cry. The World War I songs “Over There” and “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” sufficed for a bit, until the more appropriate “Let’s Remember Pearl Harbor” took its rightful place in our nation’s musical vernacular.
Throughout the four years that the war raged on, more songs associated with the conflict came forth from the music industry. Some were fighting songs fit for a country rallying behind our brave troops. “Let’s Remember Pearl Harbor,” “Goodbye Mama, I’m Off to Yokohama,” and “There’ll Be Smoke on the Waters” played on jukeboxes across the land. Then there were melancholy songs that evoked the feelings of the time, including “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “You Belong to Me,” and “Lilly Marlene.” Others still were heart-breaking melodies.
One such song was a Country Western tune. Titled “Put Me in Your Pocket,” it appealed to many men in the armed forces. It was a slice of life song, about two lovers saying goodbye as he goes off to war and the unhappy ending he faces upon his return.
During World War II, many soldiers carried religious medals, lucky charms, and photos of loved ones; these talismans sustained them as they dreamed of returning Stateside to renew their lives. After the war, Hollywood produced movies like “The Best Years of our Lives” to show the public the untold casualties of war, capping them off with happy but realistic endings.
Since then, America has been involved in many wars. Through the years, more songs have been written about war, the majority of them under significantly different circumstances than the two World Wars. Beginning in the 1960′s, our nation’s perspective of war was shifting and our music reflected that shift, particularly the music written by young artists not limited to The Beatles, The Guess Who, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. To a former soldier such as myself, these newer songs were full of raw emotion and were more universal than the songs that I remember. Yet, this younger music was less about personal relationships torn asunder by war than it was about changing political mores.
For me, that old Country Western tune “Put Me in Your Pocket” still prevails as a story that accompanied the armed forces into battle and reflected their destinies. Why don’t you give it a listen?
