"Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!"

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.

View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Object Details

composer: Loesser, Frank
depicted: Kyser, Kay
lyricist: Loesser, Frank
publisher: Famous Music Corp.

Description: This sheet music is for the sonfg “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!” with words and music by Frank Loesser. It was published by Famous Music Corp. in New York, New York in 1942.; On a Sunday morning in December 1941, a chaplain had his most difficult assignment — to say a prayer to sailors aboard a U.S. navy ship actively under low–flying attack by the enemy firing from all directions. He quickly realized the best he could do was walk the ammunition line saying, “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!” Stories of the overheard phrase quickly turned into legend and passed between soldiers, eventually reaching the press and one Broadway composer and lyricist, Frank Loesser. He served in the Radio Productions Unit charged with mounting shows of popular guest stars for boosting morale of the troops.; With the phrase as the song title, he combined the stories into one set of lyrics — fact mattered not as much as the need to inspire spirit. By 1943, the song, performed by Kay Kaiser and His Orchestra, had reached no. 1 on the Billboard chart, surpassing its peak of no. 8 the previous year when performed by the Merry Macs. Loesser donated his royalties for sale of the song to the Navy Relief Society. The chaplain originally quoted wished to remain anonymous, and the episode to remain legend. Many variations on the tale, the name of the chaplain, whether or not he himself manned a gun turret to participate in the battle, and the battle's whereabouts have existed over the years.
Location: Currently not on view

date made: 1942

ID Number: 1983.0424.108
accession number: 1983.0424
catalog number: 1983.0424.108

Object Name: sheet music

Physical Description: paper (overall material); ink (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 12 in x 9 in; 30.48 cm x 22.86 cm

place made: United States: New York, New York

Related Publication: Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition; Lyrics to "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" transcribed by Ronald E. Hontz; Frank Loesser: The Official Website; Forgy, Chaplain Howell M.. And Pass the Ammunition

See more items in: Culture and the Arts: Entertainment; Popular Entertainment; Music & Musical Instruments; Military; Religion

Data Source: National Museum of American History

related event: World War I

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-6dc6-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

nmah_670902

NMAH

"PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE AMMUNITION!"

National Museum of American History

CC0

Metadata Usage: CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

Record ID: nmah_670902