Valley of the Ruhr, The

DESCRIPTION: "There was flak, flak, bags and bags of flack, In the Ruhr, in the Ruhr." "My eyes are dime I cannot see; The searchlights they have blinded me." "There were fighters, fighters, bags of bloody fighters." "There was twitch" "There was panic"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1979 (Hopkins-SongsFromTheFrontAndRear)
KEYWORDS: soldier death technology flying
FOUND IN: Canada
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Hopkins-SongsFromTheFrontAndRear, p. 120, "The Valley of the Ruhr" (1 text, tune referenced)
Roud #29425
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Quartermaster Corps (The Quartermaster Store)" (tune)
NOTES [85 words]: When the Royal Air Force had built up its bomber squadrons enough to attack Germany heavily, much of the early attention went to the Ruhr Valley, because it was relatively close to Britain and because it was heavily industrialized. It was also heavily defended, by anti-aircraft guns, radar, searchlights, and fighters. "Bomber" Harris's squadrons usually suffered heavily when attacking -- but he kept sending his planes there, because he thought it an effective way to hurt the Germans. Hence this song. - RBW
Last updated in version 5.0
File: Hopk120B

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography

The Ballad Index Copyright 2024 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.