The ability to play and sing funny songs and really bring them off, like the ability to write funny poems or funny stories and really bring them off, is IMO under-appreciated. George Formby is clearly one of the masters. Special great funny couplet award for: "His medals break our hearts./He won them playing darts."
I came across this video about 5 years ago by accident. Since that time I have probably watched it perhaps 150 times. During my tour of duty in the Canadian Army I wrote and sang songs to the troops. And I thought I was good. But this song, by George Formby, is by far the most amazing military song I have ever heard.
I love this. The lyrics are funny enough for its time, but the whole melody and the chord structure together are just out standing and beautiful plus the ancient recording somehow makes it sound like its from an unreachable world.
the music and this scene is around 83 years old, but this is funny and makes me wanna sing :) though im only 22 years old, im a kinda fan of George Formby. We seriously need actors and musicians like him :)
In the film George is told that the Sgt Major has entered the room and heard him singing about his many faults-he immediately turns the song around and sings his praises-which greatly pleases him! I haven't heard it though for about sixty years or so!
George Formby brings back many fond and sad memories for many people worldwide. His wife made sure he was not leaving her for anyone trying to take advantage of his stardom.
Why aren't Geoge's films shown in comeplete. It appears that only small segments are shown of George singing. The full length of the films should be shown not just parts of the films.
Hi spotter09, this is from military wiki "Until the 1930s, these ranks were often known as Sergeant Major 1st and 2nd Class. In 1939, the RAF abolished the rank of WOII and retained WOI as simple Warrant Officer, which it remains to this day.". BUT the film was made 5 years or so after the change; maybe they wrote it before? (I commented on this very topic about 7 months ago!).
Whitewashing does wonders to paint over segregation, labor riots, interment/concentration camps and every other horrible thing that "the greatest generation" was apart of. That said I do love the music from the era among many other things.
@Benjamin Finny it is funny because they had a taste for comedy and now almost everyone uses crude comedy because they are to lazy to come up with anything good like this
Now there's a sergeant major Enjoys life while he can He proves to all the ladies He's a soldier and a man! He sticks out his chest Two pillows in his vest A bolster under His rotunda Our sergeant major! His medals break our hearts He won them playing darts! And while competing Who was cheating? Our sergeant major! He's far away the worst friend we've ever had When he's far away, well, we're mighty glad! In the canteen bar You know what sergeants are! When we've passed out Who's the last out? Our sergeant major! He's got a raucous voice His language isn't choice! In clink we'd shove him How we love him Our sergeant major! His weight about he'll throw The wicked so and so! Who'd even smother His own mother? Our sergeant major! He's far away the worst friend we've ever had When he's far away, well, we're mighty glad! Our bugler goes his rounds And when the bugle sounds For everlastin'! Who's he blastin'? Our sergeant major! Now he makes raw recruits Just tremble in their boots He calls 'em slackers! Who's gone crackers? Our sergeant major! His feet fill up the road Knock-kneed and pigeon-toed We'd sooner shoot him Than salute him Our sergeant major! He's far away the worst friend we've ever had When he's far away, well, we're mighty glad! The mascot goat we own Though big and fat has grown Wild and warlike It's far more like Our sergeant major!
Sergeant Major in the RAF? Never! The SNCO who came in was a Warrant Officer. What about the guy by George's right shoulder? Leading Aircrafsman - at his age? He must have been in trouble a lot!
1:00 The gentleman with the blonde has a "Sergeant's Flunky" look to him. I wish we could get these DVDs in America. I may have to get a region free player someday.
My Grandfather as DNA can proove-as Oscar was his son,and Oscar Angel was my biological father,made in 1955,as my Brothers Ola and Edmund saw this happening beetwen my mother and Oscar on the third floor.Honestly Thomas Kallmyr
![Christmas Truce of World War I -- Joyeux Noel [2005 film]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-cSrqRdlFeo/mqdefault.jpg)
The ability to play and sing funny songs and really bring them off, like the ability to write funny poems or funny stories and really bring them off, is IMO under-appreciated. George Formby is clearly one of the masters. Special great funny couplet award for: "His medals break our hearts./He won them playing darts."
I came across this video about 5 years ago by accident. Since that time I have probably watched it perhaps 150 times. During my tour of duty in the Canadian Army I wrote and sang songs to the troops. And I thought I was good. But this song, by George Formby, is by far the most amazing military song I have ever heard.
Later on he gets called before the senior officers and he plays another version complementing the Sergeant Major. I love this film.
@@stofferrussellWhat Film?
@@PaydolfLitler “It’s In The Air”
HE is a blast from the past and never forgot you were an amazing entertainer
I love this. The lyrics are funny enough for its time, but the whole melody and the chord structure together are just out standing and beautiful plus the ancient recording somehow makes it sound like its from an unreachable world.
Definitely need listen to back on the farm by him then if you like this one
Formby was a master of the ukelele. His strumming and chords were amazing.
Lyrically this is 100% punk rock
What a performer he was, impossible not to smile to his songs
the music and this scene is around 83 years old, but this is funny and makes me wanna sing :) though im only 22 years old, im a kinda fan of George Formby. We seriously need actors and musicians like him :)
The guy was literally the Justin Beiber during WW2 ,his wife was insanely jealous too ,massive star in britain
I hope you still love him 😂❤️
Pozdrav from Armenia and thank for the nice music Here is real war and this song make folk glad.
In the film George is told that the Sgt Major has entered the room and heard him singing about his many faults-he immediately turns the song around and sings his praises-which greatly pleases him!
I haven't heard it though for about sixty years or so!
I am learning this one now, on my banjolele and it ain't that easy - he makes it look effortless.
That formby split strum is tough!
amazing banjo playing George. great sense of humour. Thanks so very much for posting. Bruce
Whenever i feel depressed, despondent I listen to George Formby
Aww, poor Sargent major! He was enjoying it at the start!
also he did actually go to the fronts and sing and do some performances and play on the radios :) hes such a amazing person :)
I'll bet even the Sergeant Majors applauded.
Grew up with George Formby films on the telly. Happy days!
About 36 years of age in 1940. Love it!!!
George Formby brings back many fond and sad memories for many people worldwide. His wife made sure he was not leaving her for anyone trying to take advantage of his stardom.
I love this song I watch the film its in the air at least once a week
Thanks for sharing this!!! I Love George Formby ❤❤❤❤
As it has been since organized armies have been around sergeants have the uncanny ability to show up at just the right time.
The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona brought me here. They play a clip from this film in the England wing in the Europe gallery.
ya me too
Nobody plays the ukulele better than George.
thats the banjo
@@paperbackwriter...Nope. Ukulele. He was famous for it. A banjo is bigger.
@@Mattwbw oh my bad it looks like a banjo to me haha
I looove this.
fantastic. great song , and great performer .
Why aren't Geoge's films shown in comeplete. It appears that only small segments are shown of George singing. The full length of the films should be shown not just parts of the films.
'Brilliant' I learning to play this on my Uke . Its quite easy and fun.
my, friends from Germany !! like this,!!!
Hi spotter09, this is from military wiki "Until the 1930s, these ranks were often known as Sergeant Major 1st and 2nd Class. In 1939, the RAF abolished the rank of WOII and retained WOI as simple Warrant Officer, which it remains to this day.". BUT the film was made 5 years or so after the change; maybe they wrote it before? (I commented on this very topic about 7 months ago!).
I thought It's In The Air was made in 1938.
my friends in Germany loves this !!!
Genius.
George Formby JR-was the Mostest Performer in England during 2ndWW...
why cant 2019 be like this generation , so classy and pure
"We need another war to thin out their ranks a bit"
Whitewashing does wonders to paint over segregation, labor riots, interment/concentration camps and every other horrible thing that "the greatest generation" was apart of.
That said I do love the music from the era among many other things.
Too true
one of the best god bless
I've got a CD of this and I love this song
absolute amazing loving this song when i first seen it on world at war series
I liked , from a kid 70s, , born 1968,,! from my late gran when I was kid see on tv, , 70s
I am a kid of 2000s and I love it
@@dancedance8534 God Bless,!
Look at the guy beside George formby at 0:42 laughing
I liv his music and his films
@Benjamin Finny it is funny because they had a taste for comedy and now almost everyone uses crude comedy because they are to lazy to come up with anything good like this
den spelle nonstop jensen engen i melle
This is a man that loves his Article 15s.
Ohhhh yeah.........he will be peeling potatoes for a long time. lol!
Or scrubbing out toilets with a toothbrush........!
***** Ffs. Your comment is so fucking dense but so fucking relevant LOL thumbs up from me :3
The movie is "It's in the air". & I'm afraid I can't answer you on the parashoot question :>
Happy song!
18 Sergeant-Majors disliked this!
+eisemanrenyardjake now 21
Now 30.
One of those was BSM Williams
Bet this dude could shred on electric
Now there's a sergeant major
Enjoys life while he can
He proves to all the ladies
He's a soldier and a man!
He sticks out his chest
Two pillows in his vest
A bolster under
His rotunda
Our sergeant major!
His medals break our hearts
He won them playing darts!
And while competing
Who was cheating?
Our sergeant major!
He's far away the worst friend we've ever had
When he's far away, well, we're mighty glad!
In the canteen bar
You know what sergeants are!
When we've passed out
Who's the last out?
Our sergeant major!
He's got a raucous voice
His language isn't choice!
In clink we'd shove him
How we love him
Our sergeant major!
His weight about he'll throw
The wicked so and so!
Who'd even smother
His own mother?
Our sergeant major!
He's far away the worst friend we've ever had
When he's far away, well, we're mighty glad!
Our bugler goes his rounds
And when the bugle sounds
For everlastin'!
Who's he blastin'?
Our sergeant major!
Now he makes raw recruits
Just tremble in their boots
He calls 'em slackers!
Who's gone crackers?
Our sergeant major!
His feet fill up the road
Knock-kneed and pigeon-toed
We'd sooner shoot him
Than salute him
Our sergeant major!
He's far away the worst friend we've ever had
When he's far away, well, we're mighty glad!
The mascot goat we own
Though big and fat has grown
Wild and warlike
It's far more like
Our sergeant major!
ha love it
He is best song is definitely When I'm Cleaning Windows. Maybe because it was the first of his I heard!
good song
I like the officer behind him that only smiles to please the blonde gal...
@FinalFreek He's wearing the Uniform of the Royal Air Force.
Hang about...
2:07
Am I potty, or is that Frank Thornton?
my friends in germany likes this,,!!!
Top tune😃
HeHe turned out nice again.
Sergeant Major in the RAF? Never! The SNCO who came in was a Warrant Officer. What about the guy by George's right shoulder? Leading Aircrafsman - at his age? He must have been in trouble a lot!
RAF in the 1930's had Sergeant Majors.
1:00 The gentleman with the blonde has a "Sergeant's Flunky" look to him.
I wish we could get these DVDs in America. I may have to get a region free player someday.
This is the most popular music in Britain
He's like the slash of the 1930s.
the guy behind george looks pissed.
am pissed,/ drunk,!! to much whisky,!!
In the days when they'd laugh at a swinging gate!
Great!!!!
my friends in Germany likes this,!!
My Biological Grandfather was George Formby JR-there was my Father-his son= Oscar Angel Kallmyr Georges son......
George never had children. Beryl had a hysterectomy
Who's watching in 2024 ? ❤❤❤
@FinalFreek Its not the Parachute Regiment anyway, could be RAF but im not sure really.
What movie is it from?
lmaoooo at the guy on the left chucklin away
Thanks to the camera and the gramophone
Lol it’s the best song ever
My Grandfather as DNA can proove-as Oscar was his son,and Oscar Angel was my biological father,made in 1955,as my Brothers Ola and Edmund saw this happening beetwen my mother and Oscar on the third floor.Honestly Thomas Kallmyr
@FinalFreek he doesnt join a para regiment, but he does accidentaly joins the r.a.f and gets left in a plane that he cant fly
ITS IN THE AIR-1935 SCREWBALL COMEDY ........
my friends in Germany likes this,!!!
so?
my friends in Germany , like this,!!!
23 sergeant majors watched this video and didn't approve.
Bit late... but he is in one of the RAF regiments.
have friends, in Germany, that likes , this !!!
@FinalFreek RAF uniform, but he I don't think he fought during the war. He kept the moral high at home by doing performances.
@ConnorP95 that would be great!
I want to learn how to play the solo!!!
RIP Benny Harvey
it`s like something straight out of beetle bailey.
I beg to differ! Listen to "It serves you right" from Bell Bottom george. Its on here somewhere!
Does anyone have the chords?
Yes, Am C7 D7 Em7 F G7 Gm, but it’s a key higher than the original 🤘🏻👍
classic
@iliketoridemybycycle they might be in the air force
@FinalFreek Royal Air Force
this is really funny
Forever demoted to guard of the head!
@joshyashton but...he's slagging off his Sgt Major to get laughs in this song.
Wonder if that was the first ever "he's behind me isnt he...." joke
@FinalFreek RAF
I still can’t get over his teeth
Limmy brought me here
RAF unit.
George could only play in one key so he had several uke's tuned in different keys..
@FinalFreek
Give him a court martial or a dislike.
Walz theme song.