When he and his wife travelled throughout the war, creating improvised lyrics to songs to fit the situation, they delighted their audiences. It was estimated that they played before three million Allied servicemen and women.
His 1937 song, "With My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock", was banned by the BBC because of its suggestive lyrics. Formby's cheerful, innocent demeanour and nasal, high-pitched Lancashire accent neutralised the shock value of the lyrics; a more aggressive comedian such as Max Miller would have delivered the same lyrics with a bawdy leer.
His best-known catchphrase was probably "It's turned out nice again!". In 1960, his last recorded song "Happy Go Lucky Me" / "Banjo Boy", peaked at number 40 in the UK Singles Chart. Since his death in 1961, a remix version of "When I'm Cleaning Windows" by 2 In A Tent charted in the early 1990s.
George Formby, born in Wigan, Lancashire, UK, began his career as a music hall artist in 1921. He enjoyed success on stage, in song, and later on film until his death in 1961 at the age of 57. He was the top British box office draw in the 30's and early 40's.
He is perhaps best known for upbeat songs, featuring his trademark Lancashire accent, syncopated banjolele playing and laden with sly innuendo, such as Chinese Laundry Blues and When I'm Cleaning Windows.
His films were typically slapstick comedy, playing on his music hall persona, and reached their greatest heights of popularity during the war years. Films such as Let George Do It (titled "To Heil With Hitler" in America), which features Formby punching Adolf Hitler in the face during a speech, were usually highly patriotic and designed to lift the spirits of the worn out population.
He passed away following a heart attack in March, 1961. His domineering long-term manager and wife Beryl, who had controlled his career since they married in 1924, had died 4 months earlier.
Our Sergeant Major
George Formby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He proves to all the ladies he's a soldier and a man.
He sticks out his chest, two pillows in his vest,
A bolster under his rotunda, Our Sergeant Major.
His medals break our hearts, he won them playing darts,
And while competing, who was cheating? Our Sergeant Major
He's far away the worst friend we've ever had,
When he's far away well, we're mighty glad.
In the canteen bar, you know what sergeants are,
When we've passed out, who's the last out, Our Sergeant Major.
He's got a raucous voice, his language isn't choice,
In clink we'd shove him, how we'd love him, Our Sergeant Major.
His weight about he'd throw, the wicked so and so,
Who'd even smother his own mother, Our Sergeant Major.
He's far away the worst friend we've ever had,
When he's far away well, we're mighty glad.
Our bugler goes his rounds, and when the bugle sounds.
Forever lasting, who's he blasting? Our Sergeant Major.
Now he makes raw recruits, just tremble in their boots,
He calls them slackers, who's gone crackers? Our Sergeant Major.
His feet fill up the road, knock-kneed and pigeon toed,
We'd sooner shoot him then salute him, Our Sergeant Major.
He's far away the worst friend we've ever had,
When he's far away well, we're mighty glad.
The mascot goat we own, so big and fat has grown,
Wild and warlike, he's far more like, Our Sergeant Major.
The song "Our Sergeant Major" by George Formby is a light-hearted and humorous take on the role of a sergeant major in the army. The lyrics present a caricature of a sergeant major who is proud of his military status and enjoys the attention of the ladies. He is depicted as someone who is overly concerned with his appearance and wears pillows in his vest and a bolster under his rotunda to create a more imposing figure. Despite his attempts to be seen as a respected member of the army, the sergeant major is shown to be lacking in character and his behavior is often questionable.
The song details various instances where the sergeant major is less than admirable such as winning medals playing darts by cheating or sneaking out of the canteen bar last. His language is raucous and rude, and in the event that he is put in clink (jail), the other soldiers would "love him" due to his abrasive personality. This perception of the sergeant major as an obnoxious and unlikable character is further supported by his tendency to throw his weight around, figuratively and literally. The soldiers are presented as being happy when he is far away, giving the impression that they can finally breathe without fear of him.
The final verse of the song features a twist in the lyrics. The mascot goat of the soldiers, a character that is presented as wild and warlike, is referred to as "Our Sergeant Major." This suggests that the unflattering characteristics of the sergeant major are celebrated by the soldiers in the form of their goat. This ending creates a comic effect by contrasting the unlikable sergeant major to an animal that is loved and revered by the soldiers. Overall, "Our Sergeant Major" is a satirical and playful commentary on the role and behavior of a sergeant major in the military.
Line by Line Meaning
Now there's a sergeant major, enjoys life will he can.
There's a sergeant major who is enjoying life to the fullest.
He proves to all the ladies he's a soldier and a man.
He likes to remind everyone that he is a soldier and a man, especially the ladies.
He sticks out his chest, two pillows in his vest, A bolster under his rotunda, Our Sergeant Major.
He pops out his chest, wearing two pillows in his vest and was even wearing a bolster under his stomach.
His medals break our hearts, he won them playing darts, And while competing, who was cheating? Our Sergeant Major
His medals earned through playing darts break our hearts, but he was known to cheat during the competitions.
He's far away the worst friend we've ever had, When he's far away well, we're mighty glad.
He's the worst friend we've ever had, and when he's gone, we're happy.
In the canteen bar, you know what sergeants are, When we've passed out, who's the last out, Our Sergeant Major.
In the bar, he acts like any other sergeant, and when everyone's passed out drunk, he's always the last to leave.
He's got a raucous voice, his language isn't choice, In clink we'd shove him, how we'd love him, Our Sergeant Major.
He has a loud, unpleasant voice, and his language is pretty crude. If we were in prison with him, we would push him around but still love him as one of our own.
His weight about he'd throw, the wicked so and so, Who'd even smother his own mother, Our Sergeant Major.
He's heavy enough to throw his body weight around and acts like a wicked person. He would even smother his own mother, that's how ruthless he can be.
Our bugler goes his rounds, and when the bugle sounds. Forever lasting, who's he blasting? Our Sergeant Major.
When the bugler is doing his rounds, Our Sergeant Major is often the object of his disdain.
Now he makes raw recruits, just tremble in their boots, He calls them slackers, who's gone crackers? Our Sergeant Major.
He intimidates raw recruits to the point where they're shaking in their boots. He's the one who calls them slackers, but we think he's gone crazy.
His feet fill up the road, knock-kneed and pigeon toed, We'd sooner shoot him then salute him, Our Sergeant Major.
He's knock-kneed and pigeon-toed, and his feet fill up the road. We'd rather shoot him than salute him.
The mascot goat we own, so big and fat has grown, Wild and warlike, he's far more like, Our Sergeant Major.
Our mascot goat has grown big and fat and is now even wilder and more warlike than before, just like Our Sergeant Major.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEORGE FORMBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sarcasticbookworm271
Now there's a sergeant major
Enjoys life while he can
He proves to all the ladies
He's a soldier and a man!
He sticks out his chest
Two pillows in his vest
A bolster under
His rotunda
Our sergeant major!
His medals break our hearts
He won them playing darts!
And while competing
Who was cheating?
Our sergeant major!
He's far away the worst friend we've ever had
When he's far away, well, we're mighty glad!
In the canteen bar
You know what sergeants are!
When we've passed out
Who's the last out?
Our sergeant major!
He's got a raucous voice
His language isn't choice!
In clink we'd shove him
How we love him
Our sergeant major!
His weight about he'll throw
The wicked so and so!
Who'd even smother
His own mother?
Our sergeant major!
He's far away the worst friend we've ever had
When he's far away, well, we're mighty glad!
Our bugler goes his rounds
And when the bugle sounds
For everlastin'!
Who's he blastin'?
Our sergeant major!
Now he makes raw recruits
Just tremble in their boots
He calls 'em slackers!
Who's gone crackers?
Our sergeant major!
His feet fill up the road
Knock-kneed and pigeon-toed
We'd sooner shoot him
Than salute him
Our sergeant major!
He's far away the worst friend we've ever had
When he's far away, well, we're mighty glad!
The mascot goat we own
Though big and fat has grown
Wild and warlike
It's far more like
Our sergeant major!
@herdinglemurs
The ability to play and sing funny songs and really bring them off, like the ability to write funny poems or funny stories and really bring them off, is IMO under-appreciated. George Formby is clearly one of the masters. Special great funny couplet award for: "His medals break our hearts./He won them playing darts."
@Tinker1066
HE is a blast from the past and never forgot you were an amazing entertainer
@PhilipJamesPrentice
I came across this video about 5 years ago by accident. Since that time I have probably watched it perhaps 150 times. During my tour of duty in the Canadian Army I wrote and sang songs to the troops. And I thought I was good. But this song, by George Formby, is by far the most amazing military song I have ever heard.
@stofferrussell
Later on he gets called before the senior officers and he plays another version complementing the Sergeant Major. I love this film.
@johnk6312
I love this. The lyrics are funny enough for its time, but the whole melody and the chord structure together are just out standing and beautiful plus the ancient recording somehow makes it sound like its from an unreachable world.
@rickmoody9024
Definitely need listen to back on the farm by him then if you like this one
@owmacc
Formby was a master of the ukelele. His strumming and chords were amazing.
@vickthorodin6987
Whenever i feel depressed, despondent I listen to George Formby
@allanwells4886
About 36 years of age in 1940. Love it!!!
@robjohnson7806
I am learning this one now, on my banjolele and it ain't that easy - he makes it look effortless.