Great anti-war song by Eric Burdon and the Animals; Sky Pilot is one of my all-time favorites. I cannot listen to it without shedding tears.'Haunting' does not do it justice.
'Sky Pilot' is a military chaplain.
I think about a guy named Jerry every once in a while. I used to host a midnight - 2 AM radio show in 1969-70, playing whatever I wanted. A guy named Jerry started calling me about 1 AM each week, requesting the long version of the song. We would usually chat for a minute. Each week the chats grew longer, then after about eight weeks, Jerry closed our chat with, 'Well, this'll be my last call. I'm shipping out next week. Really enjoyed our chats, and thanks for the music.'
I knew what he meant: he was going to fight in the Vietnam War. When I asked what he'd be doing, he paused for a few seconds, then replied, 'Combat helicopter pilot,'and hung up.
I shuddered when I heard those three words and just sat there with the receiver in my hand. In the Vietnam War, combat helicopter pilots had a very short lifespan. About 12,000 choppers were used, and over 5,000 were destroyed. Aboiut 5,000 crewmen were killed.
I never heard from Jerry again.
This is the long version (7:27) - the only one to listen to.
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.....Sky Pilot
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.....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
The order is given
They move down the line
But he's still 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.....Sky Pilot
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.....Sky Pilot
How high can you fly
You never, never, never reach the sky
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