Rotary - The song.
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Rotary - The song.
Guys and Gals,
Just a quick plea for a little help. Currently posted somewhere when the name of the game is to annoy F3 mates. Could you please forward ANY (not only the official!!) verses of the cracking old drinking song, Rotary, that you may know- or indeed make up on the spot!
Cheers
Just a quick plea for a little help. Currently posted somewhere when the name of the game is to annoy F3 mates. Could you please forward ANY (not only the official!!) verses of the cracking old drinking song, Rotary, that you may know- or indeed make up on the spot!
Cheers
Only remember the first verse:
'when I was just a little boy
I asked my mother, what should I be
Should I fly Harriers
Should I w**k cats,
It's all the same to me
Rotary ,tary - the Puma's the girl for me
She flies so gracefully
Rotary, tary
Someone must still have the SH sonbook?!
'when I was just a little boy
I asked my mother, what should I be
Should I fly Harriers
Should I w**k cats,
It's all the same to me
Rotary ,tary - the Puma's the girl for me
She flies so gracefully
Rotary, tary
Someone must still have the SH sonbook?!
in the interest of promoting anti-FJ banter I shall ignore the outrageous attempt at trying to steal some SH credibility by substituting the french, plastic, word 'Puma' in the Rotary song.
Group 2 pilots, designer labels they have all got.
But you ask the girlies what they prefer
and a big chopper beats the lot....
Fast-jet pilots, they sound so punchy on the RT
but when they bang out, 40 miles out
they call for rotary.........
etc etc
a search will complete the edition of SH songbook
try the ROTORHEADS thread
Group 2 pilots, designer labels they have all got.
But you ask the girlies what they prefer
and a big chopper beats the lot....
Fast-jet pilots, they sound so punchy on the RT
but when they bang out, 40 miles out
they call for rotary.........
etc etc
a search will complete the edition of SH songbook
try the ROTORHEADS thread
Avoid imitations
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"I shall ignore the outrageous attempt at trying to steal some SH credibility by substituting the french, plastic, word 'Puma' in the Rotary song."
Someone fail the course then? (Probably on groundschool)
Someone fail the course then? (Probably on groundschool)
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Cheers for the response guys... but there has to be more! Some of these old 'traditional' songs do seem to be dying out... so if anyone can think of more...... post away!
InTgreen
I think I was very drunk the last time I sang this; it is the best my memory can cope with at the moment. My apologies to Richard Brooksbank, if he is out there, because I seem to remember most of this was his work!
Rotary
To the tune of ‘Que Sera,Sera’
Rotary – tary
The Seaking’s the bird for me
She flies so gracefully
Rotary – tary
When I was young
I asked my CO
When I grow up
What shall I be
Will I fly fixed wing
Will I w*nk cats
He said it’s much the same
Rotary – tary
The Seaking’s the bird for me
She flies so gracefully
Rotary – tary
Those Stovie pilots
They are so punchy on the R/T
But when they stoof in
60 miles out
They call for rotary
Rotary – tary
The Seaking’s the bird for me
She flies so gracefully
Rotary – tary
Hope that is of some help
Cheers
TeeS
I think I was very drunk the last time I sang this; it is the best my memory can cope with at the moment. My apologies to Richard Brooksbank, if he is out there, because I seem to remember most of this was his work!
Rotary
To the tune of ‘Que Sera,Sera’
Rotary – tary
The Seaking’s the bird for me
She flies so gracefully
Rotary – tary
When I was young
I asked my CO
When I grow up
What shall I be
Will I fly fixed wing
Will I w*nk cats
He said it’s much the same
Rotary – tary
The Seaking’s the bird for me
She flies so gracefully
Rotary – tary
Those Stovie pilots
They are so punchy on the R/T
But when they stoof in
60 miles out
They call for rotary
Rotary – tary
The Seaking’s the bird for me
She flies so gracefully
Rotary – tary
Hope that is of some help
Cheers
TeeS
Time and alcohol have taken their toll, sudden realisation, wrong to credit Richard with that one, his was only pertinent to being sung by a Navy crew in front of a large number of RAF bods.
Sorry
TeeS
Sorry
TeeS
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Think this may actually have started as a song for the fixed-wing version during WW2 (time and red infuriator have taken their toll on this poor ole remnanat of a brane), but we still used to sing it when trying to get a rise out of sideways marching aviators 
We are the Air Sea Rescue,
No bloody use are we,
The only time you'll see us is breakfast, lunch or tea.
But if you're in the oggin by day or even night,
Per Ardua Ad Astra,
F*uck you jack I'm alright.
(with apologies to crab@sa...... etc)
We are the Air Sea Rescue,
No bloody use are we,
The only time you'll see us is breakfast, lunch or tea.
But if you're in the oggin by day or even night,
Per Ardua Ad Astra,
F*uck you jack I'm alright.
(with apologies to crab@sa...... etc)
Song written by Ian Colton 824 Old Ark, Final deployment, along with a shedload of other anti-stovie songs. Thank you to Ian.
When I was young I asked my CO
Where to find fame.
Should I fly fixed wing, should I w**k cats
He said its much the same.
Rotary-tary etc
Then one year on I aske my CO
If things had changed.
If you fly fixed wing here's what he said
You will end up deranged.
Chorus
Stovies are dull stovies are half-wits
They are so drab
And if you join them even at sea
Acquire a taste for crab.
Stovies boost off the sound so cocky
on the RT
But when the bang out 50 miles out
They cry for Rotary
Couple more verses, finishes with....
This is our song, now we have song it
there is no more
But there is only one Naval Air Squadron
And that is 824.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Other old 824 anti stovie songs provided by request.
When I was young I asked my CO
Where to find fame.
Should I fly fixed wing, should I w**k cats
He said its much the same.
Rotary-tary etc
Then one year on I aske my CO
If things had changed.
If you fly fixed wing here's what he said
You will end up deranged.
Chorus
Stovies are dull stovies are half-wits
They are so drab
And if you join them even at sea
Acquire a taste for crab.
Stovies boost off the sound so cocky
on the RT
But when the bang out 50 miles out
They cry for Rotary
Couple more verses, finishes with....
This is our song, now we have song it
there is no more
But there is only one Naval Air Squadron
And that is 824.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Other old 824 anti stovie songs provided by request.
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To the tune of the "Surrey with the fringe on top" from Oklahoma:
Honey when I take you out with meeeeee
Honey that's the way it's gonna beeee
When I take you flying in my big blue Seaking
It's the cutest bird you've ever seeeeen
When I take you out in my Seaking
My all-electric, gas-turbine Seaking
When I take you out in my Seaking
With the dome on top . . .
The wheels are silver, the upholstry's brown
The dashboard's genuine leather
There's a radar set you can switch right on
in case of a change in the weeeeather
Well, there we were just sittin' in the hover
40' up with the ball in the water
Radar's singin' & the sonar's pingin'
When the engine stops
And that shiny little Seaking suddenly drops...
Well, we don't care, we just sit tight
and then we lock our harness
The pilot's trying to re-light one,
The Observer's doing his darndest . . .to
Get out a Mayday, with a position
Ship says "Roger, confirm that you're ditchin'"
No 1's getting hotter and then we're in the water
with the SARBE on
And that shiny little Seaking's suddenly gone, plip, plop!
As sung by 826 & 814 chaps, '81-'85
Honey when I take you out with meeeeee
Honey that's the way it's gonna beeee
When I take you flying in my big blue Seaking
It's the cutest bird you've ever seeeeen
When I take you out in my Seaking
My all-electric, gas-turbine Seaking
When I take you out in my Seaking
With the dome on top . . .
The wheels are silver, the upholstry's brown
The dashboard's genuine leather
There's a radar set you can switch right on
in case of a change in the weeeeather
Well, there we were just sittin' in the hover
40' up with the ball in the water
Radar's singin' & the sonar's pingin'
When the engine stops
And that shiny little Seaking suddenly drops...
Well, we don't care, we just sit tight
and then we lock our harness
The pilot's trying to re-light one,
The Observer's doing his darndest . . .to
Get out a Mayday, with a position
Ship says "Roger, confirm that you're ditchin'"
No 1's getting hotter and then we're in the water
with the SARBE on
And that shiny little Seaking's suddenly gone, plip, plop!
As sung by 826 & 814 chaps, '81-'85
Who's the author?
IIRC, Rotaree was penned by Andy Lovesy and Ken Lamprey (ex Gannets, but managed to convert to Sea Kings OK 
) on 826NAS during Eagle's last cruise, about 1971. It was certainly in our squadron song book from that time 
There was an excellent thread on Squadron songs on the mil forum in 2001, link here
) on 826NAS during Eagle's last cruise, about 1971. It was certainly in our squadron song book from that time There was an excellent thread on Squadron songs on the mil forum in 2001, link here
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Rotary - The song.
Can't resist. Sing to the rythm of John Brown's Body
I'm the ****ty pilot of a knackered 22
I fly it down at twenty feet cause that's the best she'll do
she wobbles like a good un cause the blades are out of true
But it beats havin to legit any day.
The doors dont fit, the screen leaks, and the carpets are in shreds
The skids are bent the tail is kinked the nuts have worn out threads
Its a pile of effing rubish that leaves passengers in dreads,yes its
just your worn out Robbo twenty two
When i'm rich i'll get a new one,and i'll show it to me friends
I'll rob or steal to get one I will go to any ends
Underneath it will not change me from the chap that I am now
I'm the pilot of a knackered 22.
I'm the ****ty pilot of a knackered 22
I fly it down at twenty feet cause that's the best she'll do
she wobbles like a good un cause the blades are out of true
But it beats havin to legit any day.
The doors dont fit, the screen leaks, and the carpets are in shreds
The skids are bent the tail is kinked the nuts have worn out threads
Its a pile of effing rubish that leaves passengers in dreads,yes its
just your worn out Robbo twenty two
When i'm rich i'll get a new one,and i'll show it to me friends
I'll rob or steal to get one I will go to any ends
Underneath it will not change me from the chap that I am now
I'm the pilot of a knackered 22.
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"Where's the Puma gone?" was always a favourite (Monaghan, actually). Also, sending a Puma 40 miles out when it hasn't got a winch was always a truimph of looks over practicality. But gents, let us keep these little differences for when the FJ mates aren't looking.
I watched a 3000+hr harrier test pilot mounting the jet prior to his display flight. turning to Angry Crewman, I observed: "Just look at that. All that experience and he still needs help strapping in."
Boom boom.
I watched a 3000+hr harrier test pilot mounting the jet prior to his display flight. turning to Angry Crewman, I observed: "Just look at that. All that experience and he still needs help strapping in."
Boom boom.
6Z3: Rotary was written well before Coltin, yes, he might have added a verse (especially relating to mandraulically stimulating a feline) and the last line you quote, yet 826 and 814 had their versions too. We know he penned the rest of the classics and most of the anti stovie dits aimed at 892, 849 B Flight and 809 in 78. Still got my tape, have you ?
I reckon the definitive answer will lie with Peter Hardy; he contributed to a few benchmark songs way back with Lamprey, Fish, Throp etc on Tiger/Blake, Pete having been a fixed and rotary wing looker cum bard. I think he still works as a RO at Yeovs in Focas, Fonac, or Fona, or Comna, or the RAF; whatever they call the Fleet Air Arm this week.
6Y2
I reckon the definitive answer will lie with Peter Hardy; he contributed to a few benchmark songs way back with Lamprey, Fish, Throp etc on Tiger/Blake, Pete having been a fixed and rotary wing looker cum bard. I think he still works as a RO at Yeovs in Focas, Fonac, or Fona, or Comna, or the RAF; whatever they call the Fleet Air Arm this week.
6Y2
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Can anyone recall a ditty named "Albert the observer". T'was an ode done in the manner of those old music hall dits. This one was a take on the one about Albert who got eaten by a Lion but with the subject changed to Albert the Observer who failed to take a wind find and got lost.
Peterperfect,
Blake days: this was her giving some feedwater over to Ark (off Gib) when Ark's condenser's went TU. Ken was with us on 826 a few years earlier in Eagle: 6W6 them days, but NFI what my 5 deck cabin was in Ark
Blake days: this was her giving some feedwater over to Ark (off Gib) when Ark's condenser's went TU. Ken was with us on 826 a few years earlier in Eagle: 6W6 them days, but NFI what my 5 deck cabin was in Ark
Last edited by John Eacott; 8th Feb 2005 at 22:54.