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Roy Brown and Wop May

from Canada Songs by John Spearn

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lyrics

It’s the Baron! In terror they cried,
80 men tried him . . . 80 men died.
With the German Flying Circus, along for the ride
Nothing seemed likely to turn the tide . . .
Through the haze flew Roy Brown and Wop May
Two Royal Air Force fly boys from Canadi-ay.
“Stop the Flying Circus!” they’d toast
“Down with the Baron!” they’d drink to their host.
There was fear in the sky when the Red Baron did fly,
For numb was his nerve, and firm his despise.
Eighty small emblems appeared as his brand,
Each an opponent, shot down by his hand . . .
For Manfred was a sniper who wore no disguise,
From a fortress in Breslau came bullets with eyes . . .
From above, he’d swoop out of the sun,
On the doomed Allied pilot he’d open his guns!
Through the haze flew Roy Brown and Wop May
Two Royal Air Force fly boys from Canadi-ay.
“Stop the Flying Circus!” they’d toast
“Down with the Baron!” they’d drink to their host.
T’was in spring of ’18, over Amiens one day
On his maiden mission, the rookie Wop May
Felt the roar of a tri-plane hurtling his way,
There were death lights flashing! He veered from the fray
And a free-fall . . . he tried to escape but in vain,
For the Baron was right on his heels again.
And he prayed, “Take me home Lord, I’m finished I fear…”
When high, from the sky, Captain Brown did appear!
And with guns ablaze, from above and below,
The Great Baron’s plane became lifeless and slow . . .
And it fluttered and fell to the ground,
Where the great ace, Von Richtofen, dying; was found . . .
Through the haze flew Roy Brown and Wop May
Two Royal Air Force fly boys from Canadi-ay . . .
["To the Flying Circus!" they'd toast
"Here's to the Baron!" they'd drink to their host . . . ]

credits

from Canada Songs, released January 1, 2002

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about

John Spearn Edmonton, Alberta

You’ll instantly catch these deep influences threaded through John’s fine vocals, lyrics, and rootsy, guitar-mastered songwriting works. This is pure Canadiana: forgotten but deserving heroes, the humility in our international image, and a superb range of tender ballads through to raw, foot-stompin’ stories that need to be told. ... more

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