Ten German Bombers

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Ten German Bombers was originally a song sung by English school children during World War II. It uses the same tune as 'She'll Be Coming 'Round The Mountain' though its verse and chorus follow the format of the song 'Ten Green Bottles':

There were ten German bombers in the air,

There were ten German bombers, Ten German bombers,

There were ten German bombers in the air,

And the RAF from England shot one down,

And the RAF from England, The RAF from England,

And the RAF from England shot one down,

These verses are then repeated with one more bomber being shot down, until there are none left. The final verses of the song are:

There were no German bombers in the air,

There were no German bombers, No German bombers,

There were no German bombers in the air,

'Cos the RAF from England shot them down,

'Cos the RAF from England, The RAF from England,

'Cos the RAF from England shot them down.

[edit] Controversy

In recent years the song has been sung by English football fans at matches against Germany. It is typically accompanied by horizontally outstreched arms and a gentle swaying motion, as if to mimic an aircraft in flight.

Such behaviour has been deemed to be offensive by the Football Association and the English coach Sven-Göran Eriksson asked fans to refrain from it at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.^[1] Television commercials starring David Beckham, Michael Owen, and Wayne Rooney requesting the same were also planned. ^[2]

These moves have been criticized by some elements of the British press. Tony Parsons, writing in The Daily Mirror, has stated:

"Less than a lifetime ago the Germans inflicted untold misery on the world. If English football fans choose to deal with that a mere 60 years later by holding their arms out and pretending to be Lancaster bombers, I would suggest that the Germans are getting off quite lightly." ^[2]