In the nineteen-forties, American and German soldiers had little in common.  Except the lyrics to this song.

The lyrics come from one of the most popular poems of World War Two, Frances Angermayer’s “Conversion”.  Denver Darling set it to music for this recording in nineteen forty-five.  It tells the story of a soldier in a foxhole saying his very first prayer to God.

On D-Day a catholic chaplain found thirty copies of the poem on fallen US soldiers. Translated versions were also found on German soldiers.

Denver Darling was best known for his patriotic war songs like this one, but his biggest hit was Choo Choo Ch’Boogie, featured recently on Dancing with the Stars.