Special Sub-Topic: Anatomy of a Song: "Sky Pilot" Click Here To Play: Anatomy of a Song: "Sky Pilot"

What is the "Sky Pilot"?

A military chaplain. There are numerous references in the song as to the occupation of the "Sky Pilot", including: "He blesses the boys as they stand in line" "He's there to help them all that he can To make them feel wanted he's a good holy man Sky pilot, sky pilot How high can you fly? You'll never, never, never reach the sky" "He mumbles a prayer and it ends with a smile" "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"

What smell pervades the air as the Sky Pilot addresses the soldiers?

Gun grease. "He blesses the boys as they stand in line The smell of gun grease and the bayonets they shine"

And as "the boys...stand in line", what "shine(s)"?

Their bayonets. "He blesses the boys as they stand in line The smell of gun grease and the bayonets they shine" I can think of nothing worse than preparing for a battle with the prospect of using a bayonet. Bullets somehow seem so much less 'personal'.

What words of encouragement does the Sky Pilot offer to the troops?

He tells them it's all right. "He smiles at the young soldiers Tells them it's all right He knows of their fear in the forthcoming fight" According to www.songfacts.com: "In the movie *M*A*S*H*, from which the TV series was based, Hawkeye and his friends refer to Major Frank Burns as a bible-toting 'Sky Pilot'".

Complete this lyric: "Soon there'll be blood and many will die ______ back home they will cry"

Mothers and fathers. "Soon there'll be blood and many will die Mothers and fathers back home they will cry" I am sure the rest would have shed a tear as well...

The Sky Pilot stays behind: "He mumbles a prayer and it ends with a smile The order is given They move down the line But he's still behind and he'll meditate" However, his meditation won't "ease the hate" and it also "won't stop the ______"?

Bleeding. "But he's still behind and he'll meditate But it won't stop the bleeding or ease the hate"

As the Sky Pilot lies down, what is it that he "hopes the men will find...in the words that he said"?

Courage. "He feels tired and he lays on his bed Hopes the men will find courage in the words that he said"

The Sky Pilot tells the troops: "You're ______ of God, you must understand The fate of your country is in your young hands"

Soldiers. "You're soldiers of God, you must understand The fate of your country is in your young hands" According to www.songfacts.com: "Burdon received an angry letter from the British government for his use of the pipe music. The tune he used was "All The Bluebonnet's Are Over The Border," which is a classic Scottish war piece...written during the Scottish Jacobite rising".

What kind of "stench" is mentioned as "(drifting) up to the skies"?

Death. "In the morning they return With tears in their eyes The stench of death drifts up to the skies"

Which of the Ten Commandments is sung about?

Thou shalt not kill. "A soldier so ill looks at the sky pilot Remembers the words Thou shalt not kill"