Aside from the song Bridge over river Kwai, can you name a war song or military song that made the charts?

Question

Service songs like anchors awiegh, and From the halls of montezuma, don't count?

Because of the stars on the question and the number and variety of answers I will let the voters deside this one. I lose 3 points but would rather have a vote for best answer here.

Answer 1

"The Trooper" Iron Maiden
It must have made some chart, somewhere.

Answer 2

Dog Faced Soldier and Green Fields Of France come to mind.

So do Dreaming of A White Christmas and I'll Be Home For Christmas.

It's A Long Way To Tipperary and Pack Up Your Troubles would work, but Off We Go Into The Wild Blue Yonder ended up becoming a service anthem.

And don't forget that huge hit, the Battle Hymn Of The Republic.

There was another one too, Yankee Doodle.

All wars spawn hit music -- if folks are willing to die for a cause, the are willing to sing about it.

Thumbs Down? What? Am I dated? You do know that 'the charts' have existed for a very long time, right? It isn't something that MTV invented in the last decade...Because the questioner mentioned the Bridge Over River Kwai I rather assumed that 50+ year old songs on the charts were OK.

Answer 3

'Over There;'
'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B;'
'Mademoiselle From Armentieres (Parlez-vous);'
'Pack Up Your Troubles In An Old Kit Bag (And Smile, Smile, Smile;)'

those are WW1 and WW2 songs; there were plenty more, I'm sure, but that was before my time.

'Country Joe MacDonald and The Fish' had the "Fixin' To Die Rag" about Vietnam which included the lines "...be the first one on your block to have your boy come home in a box. And it's 1-2-3, what are we fighting for? I don't give a damn, Next stop is Vi-et-nam..."

Answer 4

There was a song about the Green Berets back in the late 60s early 70s. Can't remember the title but it made the charts for a while.

Answer 5

Out of the ashes of the American Civil War, when it finally concluded (there had in its years of conflict) arose some of the finest battle and marching songs that still permeate the USA's Various States and Old Regiments (of that time) that today are proudly sung in unison by the combined States of the USA. A lasting memory to a bitter conflict - and the emergence of a great nation - as it stands today.

North and South now united. Those great historical songs say it all!

Answer 6

Not sure if these count, but here goes,

From "Saving Private Ryan" Hymn to the Fallen
From "The Great Escape" the March
From "M.A.S.H." Suicide is Painless
Most were on the charts, but not pop songs. All were nominated for Best Motion Picture Soundtrack. And all continue to be used in radio/television advertising as patriotic background music.

Answer 7

During the Vietnam War there were many -anti- war songs that made the charts.

During WWII there were lots of war songs. One of my favorites was 'Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition'. Also 'So Long, Mama, I'm off to Yokohama'. (Now that I think of it, most of the pro-war songs from WWII were novelty numbers! 8^P ). There was a British song that was very popular over here, 'There'll be Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover'. Great song!

During WWI there were also a lot of good songs. Over There, for instance. The World Wars were much more popular.

But also WWI gave us a great anti-war song, 'I Didn't Raise My Boy to be a Soldier'.

Answer 8

I think Sink the Bismark was on the charts by Johnny Horton. Great song by the way.

Answer 9

"Buffalo Soldier" by Jimmy Cliff, tribute to Colored Soldiers in the U.S. Cavalry in the 1800's serving in the west against the Native American peoples.

P.S. The Bridge over the River Kawi Song is in fact a tune called "Colonel Boggie"!!

Answer 10

We'll meet again, White cliff's of Dover, It's a long way to Tipperary, Lily Marlene (which was popular on both sides). Just a few off the top of my head.

Answer 11

God Bless America (by Irving Berlin 1918) was a hit in 2001

American Classic, Yankee Doodle Dandy__tops the charts.