20 Morale Boosting Songs from World War 2

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War is a time when people feel angry, scared, and, in some cases, thankful. It is a time that most people need encouragement. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when people can be influenced easily by people in power.

During World War 2, music was used to lift spirits, but at the same time, it was used as propaganda.

Songs were written and sung with gusto that had little basis in reality. The chances of hanging out the washing on the 390-mile long concrete defensive network of bunkers, tunnels, trenches, and tank traps known as the Siegfried Line was minimal.

Here are twenty songs that defined the second world war for all the countries involved.

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1. We’ll Meet Again

This song was released in 1939 by British singer: Vera Lynn. It would be played along with radio broadcasts after bombing raids to boost morale. The song was meaningful to soldiers and their families who were apart, giving hope that there would once again be a “sunny day” as the lyrics say.

2. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

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Performed by The Andrews Sisters, this jump blues song is about a prominent trumpet player being drafted into the U.S Army who is forced to only play the wake-up call. He is downtrodden until more musicians are called up. Together, the musicians entertain the rest of the recruits.

3. Horst Wessel Song

The Horst Wessel Song was the Nazi Party anthem; eventually, it became the co-national anthem of Germany during World War 2. The song is about uniting Germany and calling soldiers to fight. It speaks of Hitler’s far-spreading success, as his “banners fly over all streets”. This is an example of music being used as propaganda.

4. Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye

First sung by Gracie Fields, this song was used in a 1939 film released before the outbreak of World War 2. It became popular during the war due to the lyrics that are relevant to how soldiers would go off to war.

5. In the mood

In The Mood was released in 1944 by Glenn Miller Orchestra, an American swing jazz band. More famously known as an instrumental song, In The Mood is about two people that go out on a date and end up dancing. Although it has no direct correlation to the war, the upbeat melody had a positive influence by lifting the overall mood of its listeners.

6. Don’t Let’s Be Beastly to the Germans

This satirical song by Noel Coward was loved by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. However, not everyone shared his taste; BBC ended up banning the song. The lyrics attempt to make the British seem humble but are insulting the Germans and often compare them to “swine” or “rats”.

7. Run, Rabbit Run

The British comedians, Flanagan and Allen, wrote this song before Britain declared war on Germany. A month after this song was released, Germany made an airstrike on Britain but missed its target. As a result, a parody was created, replacing the word “Rabbit” with “Adolf”, which served as propaganda.

8. Everything Stops for Tea

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Everyone knows that the British love their tea. Sadly, during the war, there was a ration on tea. The Ministry of Food used this in the 1940 exhibition about tea rationing. As a result of these rations, workers demanded more frequent tea breaks after the war.

9. Katusha

The Soviet Union developed an artillery rocket launcher made up of an array mounted on a truck. They named it Katusha after a song about a young girl who lost the one she loved in war.

10. Stalin Wasn’t Stallin’

Willie Johnson wrote this song in 1943 and was recorded by the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet, a gospel acapella group. The song praises Stalin’s prompt effort to stand against Hitler’s invasion of Russia.

11. Goodnight, Sweetheart

Although this song is not directly related to World War 2, it was a popular song during the war. The lyrics express the songwriter’s longing to be with his love. The words could have had a significant meaning to soldiers who were away from their loved ones.

12. We’re Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line

Captain in the British Expeditionary Force, Jimmy Kennedy, wrote this song during the early stages of World War 2. The song was used as a morale-booster, especially during the Battle of France.

13. As Time Goes By

“As Time Goes By” is a jazz song written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931 from the film “Casablanca”. The song is a personal favourite of the two main characters who fall in love. As the war was raging in Europe, the song reminded many of happier times.

14. Panzerlied

“Panzerlied” translated into Tank Song, was an armed force song sung when the Nazi military marched. It was intended to inspire the soldiers. “With engines a-thundering”, a line from the song, is a metaphor for the tanks.

15. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

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The song was written in the then-small French fishing village shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. It is a sentimental love song about the first meeting of two lovers in Berkeley Square, London. German bombs fell on Berkeley Square shortly after the release of the song.

16. Kiss me Goodnight, Sergeant Major

This is a soldier’s song written in 1939. This song has many interpretations, but the most unanimous one is that the British Navy would have women aboard the ship for some feminine company. The men that were on night watch duty would ask the women to show them a leg; hence the line “Show a leg!”.

17. I Did What I Could with My Gasmask

Poisonous gases could have been used during WW2, and a gas mask was the difference between life and death. Comedy singer George Formby decided to use it for some fun. In his song, he produces a list of alternative uses of the gas mask, including milking cows and using it as emergency underwear.

18. Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition

This American patriotic song by Frank Loesser was published in 1942. The song describes a pilot that is under attack by an enemy. He is asked to pray by his comrades fighting with him. He then puts down his Bible and begins to fire back at the enemy saying: “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition”.

19. Bella Ciao

This Italian phrase means “Goodbye beautiful”. Bella Ciao was a folk protest song. The anthem has an anti-fascist origin against the Republic of Salò, a puppet state of Nazi Germany in northern Italy.

19. Le Chant des Partisans

“Chant des Partisans” was the most popular song of the French Resistance during World War II. The piece was written in London in 1943 after Anna Marly heard a Russian song that inspired her to write this Parisian song.

20. There’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover

This popular song was written in 1942 about the Battle of Britain between the RAF and the German Luftwaffe. The lyrics speak about a time when the war would be over, and peace would fill the land again.

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20 Morale Boosting Songs from World War 2

1. We’ll Meet Again

2. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

3. Horst Wessel Song

4. Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye

5. In the mood

6. Don’t Let’s Be Beastly to the Germans

7. Run, Rabbit Run

8. Everything Stops for Tea

9. Katusha

10. Stalin Wasn’t Stallin’

11. Goodnight, Sweetheart

12. We’re Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line

13. As Time Goes By

14. Panzerlied

15. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

16. Kiss me Goodnight, Sergeant Major

17. I Did What I Could with My Gasmask

18. Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition

19. Bella Ciao

19. Le Chant des Partisans

20. There’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover

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1. We’ll Meet Again

2. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

3. Horst Wessel Song

4. Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye

5. In the mood

6. Don’t Let’s Be Beastly to the Germans

7. Run, Rabbit Run

8. Everything Stops for Tea

9. Katusha

10. Stalin Wasn’t Stallin’

11. Goodnight, Sweetheart

12. We’re Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line

13. As Time Goes By

14. Panzerlied

15. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

16. Kiss me Goodnight, Sergeant Major

17. I Did What I Could with My Gasmask

18. Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition

19. Bella Ciao

19. Le Chant des Partisans

20. There’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover

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