Sky Pilot by the Animals! One of the greatest bands of all time. Eric Burdon!
Angie Cohen just posted a list of Christian songs that you can listen to if you wish.
Actually it’s not about Christianity. Or maybe it is. It is absolutely about the Vietnam War though! A sky pilot is not God as I thought. Instead the sky pilot is the name for the military chaplain. The song is about the military chaplain looking over wounded and possibly dying soldiers in Vietnam. However, as the military chaplain is also a Christian minister of God, the song could still be about Christianity.
If it’s a Christian song, it is one of the greatest Christian songs I have ever heard.
The footage is from the 173rd Airborne Regiment of the US Army, otherwise known as “The Herd.”
Following the lyrics, the bit of prose that follows is my attempt at literary writing, in case you were wondering. This is what I call flash fiction. I write some flash fiction things now and again. I have no idea if it’s any good, but some people love my stuff, especially females.
Good stuff, huh?
You’re welcome.
He blesses the boys as they stand in line
The smell of gun grease
And the bayonets they shine
He’s there to help them all that he can
To make them feel wanted – he’s a good holy man
Sky pilot [x2]
How high can you fly?
You’ll never, never, never reach the sky
He smiles at the young soldiers
Tells them it’s all right
He knows of their fear in the forthcoming fight
Soon there’ll be blood, and many will die
Mothers and fathers – back home they will cry
Sky pilot [x2]
How high can you fly?
You’ll never, never, never reach the sky
He mumbles a prayer, and it ends with a smile
The order is given
They move down the line
But he’ll stay behind, and he’ll meditate
But it won’t stop the bleeding or ease the hate
As the young men move out into the battle zone
He feels good, with God you’re never alone
He feels tired, and he lays on his bed
Hopes the men will find courage
In the words that he said
Sky pilot [x2]
How high can you fly?
You’ll never, never, never reach the sky
You’re soldiers of God, you must understand
The fate of your country is in your young hands
May God give you strength
Do your job real well
If it all was worth it
Only time it will tell
In the morning they return
With tears in their eyes
The stench of death drifts up to the skies
A soldier so ill looks at the sky pilot
Remembers the words
Thou shalt not kill
Sky pilot [x2]
How high can you fly?
You’ll never, never, never reach the sky
Sad Song
The rocket, if it was a rocket at all, raced across the sky towards the dawning hours away. The roar split the clouds. We thought the sky would fall down. In its wake, it was just the two of us, you and me, shuddering in the screeching silence, and don’t you know the the whole damn world can go to Hell. When it all comes crashing down, we will still be standing here, you and me, shivering amidst the ruins.
How high can we fly?
Sky pilot!
Alpha Unit
Robert A. Lindsay