BURMA

Album: CousteauX (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The song is from the first Cousteau album released after they changed their name to CousteauX upon pressure from the Jacques Cousteau Society. Subdued piano and trumpet give platform for the sad, yearning vocals of Liam McKahey.
  • Davey Ray Moor of Cousteau spoke to Songfacts about the song's inspiration.

    "I heard on BBC Radio about a craze that swept the British Forces in World War II," Moor said. "Essentially, soldiers and pilots would write various anagrams on the backs of letters home to their sweethearts. Some of these were earnest, some lurid, some daft. The most popular was 'BURMA,' which stood for Be Up There Ready My Angel. This struck me as a song opportunity in which the 'upstairs' was either the marital bedroom or the afterlife."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Lecrae

LecraeSongwriter Interviews

The Christian rapper talks about where his trip to Haiti and his history of addiction fit into his songs.