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Bombers Bay Lyrics
The word went 'round
In no-dream town
They shut us up
And shutters down
The planes flew in
And laid the ground
We built upon
And spun around
God's one miracle
Lost in circles
On the march
Berlin to Bombers Bay
Traveling dark
On the road to Mandalay
Cannon fire came to call
Stood us up
And watched us fall
The way we were
And now outworn
Our costumes changed to uniforms
Black black days
Here to stay
On the march
Madrid to Bombers Bay
Traveling dark
On the road to Mandalay
Pack up your troubles and you'll all get by
Smile boys, that's the style
Pack up your troubles and you'll all get by
Smile
They give us hope
And teach us well
With magic moons
That cast a spell
And hypnotize
And draw us in
I believe
I'm believing
God's one miracle
Moves in circles
On the march
Berlin to Bombers Bay
Traveling dark
On the road to Mandalay
Black black days
Where the flying fishes play
In no-dream town
They shut us up
And shutters down
The planes flew in
And laid the ground
We built upon
And spun around
God's one miracle
Lost in circles
Berlin to Bombers Bay
Traveling dark
On the road to Mandalay
Stood us up
And watched us fall
The way we were
And now outworn
Our costumes changed to uniforms
Black black days
Here to stay
Madrid to Bombers Bay
Traveling dark
On the road to Mandalay
Smile boys, that's the style
Pack up your troubles and you'll all get by
Smile
And teach us well
With magic moons
That cast a spell
And hypnotize
And draw us in
I believe
I'm believing
God's one miracle
Moves in circles
Berlin to Bombers Bay
Traveling dark
On the road to Mandalay
Where the flying fishes play
Song Info
Submitted by
iceblink-luck On Dec 28, 2008
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Ian McCullough himself said that it's about beauty in the face of war, but also qualified that with, "I don't know what it's about."
There are some literary and historical call-outs: "Road to Mandalay" is present in the opening of a 1890 poem by Rudyard Kipling about the British occupation of and wars in Burma. "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag" is a 1915 British WWI marching song. "Bombers Bay" refers to the bomb bay of a plane; the UK had many bombing campaigns in World War Two, including one very unsuccessful one targeting Berlin. Madrid last saw action by British forces during the Peninsula Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars.
A consistent theme here is the heroism of the British troops in various wars from 1808 to 1945. It certainly is beautiful, in lyrics and melody. For whatever McCullough finds vague about it, there is a recurring fond celebration of British forces throughout the years.
Not sure of the meaning, but it's a happy sounding song with not so happy lyrics.
I think it's about the British experience in World War II. Berlin to Bomber's Bay (Bombay, India). Mandalay is in Burma, which was the scene of the British contribution to the Pacific War.
@Bulgaroktonos That seems basically right, although Madrid and "pack up your troubles" don't match WW2. It may be about the British experience in all the wars of the 20th century. It may be about some literary work of which I'm not aware about all those wars ~1915-1945.
@Bulgaroktonos That seems basically right, although Madrid and "pack up your troubles" don't match WW2. It may be about the British experience in all the wars of the 20th century. It may be about some literary work of which I'm not aware about all those wars ~1915-1945.