Songs of World War II

 

During World War II the government used propaganda posters to encourage Americans on the home front to do their part for the war effort. They wanted people to join the military, work harder at the jobs to produce more goods, conserve food, buy war bonds and stamps, and to participate fairly in the rationing program.

Many popular musicians and song writers of the time did the same thing. Much of the popular music written during World War II was meant to encourage and/or describe the war effort. Some examples are listed below,

Task:

  1. Listen to each of the examples below.

  2. Choose three of the songs. Either listen closely and transcribe the lyrics to each song, or find the lyrics in books or on the Internet.

  3. Type the lyrics for each song on a separate page.

  4. Below the lyrics for each song, write one or two paragraphs explaining the subject. What event(s) or issue(s) was each song about? What attitudes and behaviors was it trying to encourage?

Here's the examples. You will need headphones if you are listening to these in school!

  1. Any Bonds Today
  2. For the Flag, Home, and Family
  3. Let's Put the Axe to the Axis
  4. Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet
  5. Ration Blues
  6. Shh! Its a Military Secret
  7. Slip of the Lip Can Sink a Ship
  8. We Did It Before (And We Can Do It Again)

     

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