Story Behind The Song

After many years, I went back to the church and the priest showed me the spot under the church that used to be the crawl space where we would all huddle during the civil defense drills. I don't know which was scarier to me as a child, the crawl space or the impending war in which we would be bombed to smitherines.

Song Description

My experience with civil defense drills during grade school attending St. Joseph's Catholic School, in the upstate community of MIddletown, NY

Lyrics

Civil Defense Drill
Music & lyrics by Ken DeAngelis

I'm glad I went to Catholic school in 1965
The most important subject then was how to stay alive
'Cause when we least expected it the sirens gave a shrill
that shook us to attention?.was it real or just a drill?

The nuns became our leaders, they demanded calm
We had to form a single line as we await the bomb
File out the doorway, scared to say the least
To meet up with the general who sounds just like our priest.

RERAIN: "Ooh wee! Look at me", sister Mary begs
"I want to see you squatting
with your head between your legs".
"Oh no! Here we go", I heard the general cry, "You'd
better pass the word along or we're all gonna die".

We march across the playground to the church next door
Led into a basement more frightening than war
Candles lit the crawl space, heads were kept real low
Radioactive symbols gave off an eerie glow

And down the ranks the orders came to bow and say a prayer
My buddy's lost, so I search, but couldn't find him there
Stumbled on a chalice, an artifact of old
And realized in the spoils of war that I discovered gold.

We try hard not to panic or show them any sweat
But, truth be known, some uniforms started getting wet.
I've done my part, and do believe I've fooled the enemy
Huddled in the cobwebs with a church on top of me.

I'm glad I went to Catholic school in 1965
The most important subject then was how to stay alive
I must admit, that education tends to haunt me still
But if they drop the bomb today?I sadly know the drill.

RERAIN: "Ooh wee! Look at me", sister Mary begs
"I want to see you squatting
with your head between your legs".
"Oh no! Here we go", I heard the general cry, "You'd
better pass the word along or we're all gonna die".

Ooh wee! Can't you see that Sister Mary's cool
But if we all get vaporized she'll keep us after school
"Oh no! Here we go!", I heard the general yell,
"You'd better pass the word along-
maybe God will keep us strong-
Let us pray that we don't all get blown? to Holy hell!".

© 2005 Ken DeAngelis