http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/offwego.htm
Per this link the original lyrics of this song are quite a bit more interesting than the versions I typically hear sung. Does anyone know of a recording that has the full lyrics the way the song was originally written per the link?
Speaking as a retired Airman, I was kinda surprised there were more lyrics. Most airmen can’t even remember all the words to the first verse, and a lot of us trail off badly after “Off we go, into the wild blue yonder…”
Usually at formal functions, such as dining-outs, a printed sheet of the first verse is always included in the program. It only goes back to the days of the Army Air Forces in WWII, so it doesn’t have a lot of history behind it like the Army’s “Caissons”, the Navy’s “Anchors Aweigh”, and the Marines’ “Halls of Montezuma”.
But, getting back to your original question, you might try the Air Force Link at http://www.af.mil, it might help. Usually we just stumbled through the first few lines and mumbled or lip-synched the words if we didn’t have the lyric sheet. It’s not as catchy a tune as our sister services.
I always found the tune to be inspiring and catchy, but the lyrics in the middle of the verse are not easy to remember. I remember standing before movies to hear the national anthem and then this song.
Am I the only one that wishes they would not keep playing the national anthem in stores? I catch myself stopping, looking for a flag to salute, hand over breast, and then feeling quite silly. I don’t mind the rest of the patriotic music, but this is getting on my nerves.