Album: Organisation (1980)

Charted: 8

License This Song 

• Enola Gay, you should have stayed at home yesterday
  Ah-ha words can't describe the feeling and the way you lied
  These games you play they're going to end in more than tears some day
  Ah-ha Enola Gay it shouldn't ever have to end this way
  It's eight fifteen and that's the time that it's always been
  We got your message on the radio
  Conditions normal and you're coming home
  Enola Gay, is mother proud of little boy today
  Ah-ha this kiss you give, it's never going to fade away
  Enola Gay, it shouldn't ever have to end this way
  Ah-ha Enola Gay, it shouldn't fade in our dreams away
  It's eight fifteen and that's the time that it's always been
  We got your message on the radio
  Conditions normal and you're coming home
  Enola Gay, is mother proud of little boy today
  Ah-ha this kiss you give, it's never ever going to fade away Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

• Oliver from Cirencesterwe are learning about Enola gay in lessons and this is really interesting because in the line "Conditions normal and you're coming home" signifies the fact that there were many targets chosen in Japan but Hiroshima had the best weather on the day they decided to launch the atomic bomb. Stalin was furious that Roosevelt that he hadn't told him about the bomb because they were considered allies at the time, this then started the Cold War. Thanks for reading this comment and I hope you found this helpful!
• Bobby from TorontoI remember a version of this song (from the radio) which included a reporter reading the news of the bomb, but I cannot find it. Anyone remember, or know this version?
• Georgette from Faroe Islands I remember that I used to sing this in the morning when I had 6th years in on first period when we had history lessons.
• Kenny from Princeton, Nj"It's 8:15 and that's the time that it's always been" refers to all the clocks and watches in Hiroshima frozen at 8:15 AM by the electromagnetic pulse created by the atomic detonation.
• Sioraf from Macroon, IrelandThere was a French play called Les Franglaises where they would sing English songs in French. What they didn't realise was that Enola Gay was named after the pilot's mother and that in those days gay meant happy so they translated it as Enola Homosexual instead of Enola Jolie.
• Andy from Southend, Essex, United KingdomDid you know they did a radio interview last week and have reformed with a new album and tour
• Walt from Astoria, Or"It's eight fifteen" refers to the time that the atomic bomb exploded on Hiroshima. After a forty five second free fall, the bomb (nick-named "little boy") exploded at 8:15:17 AM.
• Alan from Singapore, SingaporeAnd McCluskey did a collaboration with Sash! on a remake of this song. The Sash! remix of "Enola Gay" sampled news broadcasts announcing the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, as well as the Robert Oppenheimer quote, "Now I am become death, destroyer of worlds." Chilling, I thought.
• Dave from Cardiff, WalesFormer OMD frontman Andy McCluskey stated in 1997 that comeback hit "Walking On The Milky Way" was his resignation statement - their comeback hit after a long absence, the song was their last big hit in the UK, and after the "Universal" album flopped, Andy decided that the band had finally run it's course, so they split up in 1998, reuniting briefly in 2000 tio issue a 'best of' album. Andy is now an acclaimed producer and songwriter - indeed, it's be hard to imagine how Atomic Kitten would have changed so dramatically from bargain-bin fayre to chart superstars had Andy not taken pity on them and provided them with a sure fire hit in "Whole Again".
• Tiago from Lisbon, Portugal"Little boy" was the name given to the atomic bomb dropped in Hiroxima. The other one was the Fat Man.
• Mike from Indianapolis, InI was a big OMD fan myself. A friend knew someone who did some radio and passed on the album ARCHITECTURE AND MORALITY. My brother was given the same album by someone he knew in college radio and never listened to it until I told him I knew what it was and it was cool. In college I would play their music in my room with the door open and occasionally someone stop by and would know what I was listening to. We felt we belonged to this exclusive club. Their music was so different than anything else that I had ever heard. At one point, I had a roommate that had been in Europe and he said he heard them all the time over there. I began to be very interested in finding good music off the beaten path that wasn't played to death on the radio.
• Dee from Indianapolis, InI am a huge OMD fan, but they never got the respect they deserved if you ask me. I have everything they put out, either on CD or cassette. They have some really wild songs from some of their earlier recordings, but well worth a listen. I wish they would reunite and put out some new stuff.

More Songfacts:

RioDuran Duran

"Rio" by Duran Duran is a metaphor for America, where the band was trying to break through.

Foxy LadyJimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix opened for The Monkees on their 1967 tour, and it did not go well. The young, mostly female crowd shouted "Davy" when Hendrix sang the word "Lady" in "Foxy Lady" in honor of who they came to see: Monkees lead singer Davy Jones.

Amarillo By MorningGeorge Strait

"Amarillo By Morning" got its title from a Fed Ex commercial that promised to deliver packages the next day to places like Amarillo. It's George Strait's most famous song, but was written and originally released by Terry Stafford nine years earlier.

The FlameCheap Trick

Cheap Trick hated the ballad "The Flame" but recorded it because they needed a hit, and the song delivered, going to #1.

Killing Me SoftlyFugees

One of the most successful cover songs is Fugees' "Killing Me Softly," a 1996 reworking of Roberta Flack's 1973 hit. Originally, Fugees wanted to change the title to "Killing Him Softly" and make it about the dangers of drug abuse.

The Man Comes AroundJohnny Cash

The idea for "The Man Comes Around" came to Johnny Cash from a dream he had where he was in Buckingham Palace and the Queen said to him, "Johnny Cash, you're just like a thorn tree in a whirlwind."

Editor's Picks

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Tanita TikaramSongwriter Interviews

When she released her first album in 1988, Tanita became a UK singing sensation at age 19. She talks about her darkly sensual voice and quirky songwriting style.