Enola Gay

Enola gay, you should have stayed at home yesterday

This is the opening line to a song which I endeared very much during my Mambo Jumbo days. The catchy tune and delightful beats, had always made me assume that its a very cheerful song. Apparently, not so.

Just moments ago, I stumbled upon Tricon's blog. In this particular post, he talked about a book which he was reading, regarding the Atomic Bomb. It was horrible(the recounted events, not his writing). I also noticed the name of the plane that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima was Enola Gay. There was only one Enola Gay that I knew in my entire life and it was basic instinct that lead me to associate the two, although I was hoping inside that there is none at all.

I had to investigate. Googled for the lyrics of Enola Gay by OMD and I found it on Lyricsfreak.com. Reproduced here for your convenience...


ENOLA GAY (by OMD)
Enola gay, you should have stayed at home yesterday
Aha words can’t describe the feeling and the way you lied

These games you play, they’re gonna end it more than tears someday
Aha enola gay, it shouldn’t ever have to end this way

It’s 8:15, 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
Aha this kiss you give, it’s never ever gonna fade away

Enola gay, it shouldn’t ever have to end this way
Aha enola gay, it shouldn’t fade in our dreams away

It’s 8:15, 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
Aha this kiss you give, it’s never ever gonna fade away


The resemblence is close enough. It does sound like what Enola Gay did and what he should have done("should have stayed at home yesterday"). I stubbornly refuse to believe that this number, which I had euphorically grooved to, could be rambling about a historic icon of such a dark past.

Hence, another google on Enola Gay to land me here. It had confirmed what i feared.

Excerpt from Enola Gay.com:
At 8:09, the crew of the Enola Gay could see the city appear below; it was time to drop the bomb. Just then, they received a message indicating that the weather was good over Hiroshima. The bomb was released at 8:16 a.m.

Excerpt from Enola Gay, the song
It’s 8:15, and that’s the time that it’s always been
We got your message on the radio, conditions normal and you’re coming home

Yes, the song is about the same plane. Reading through the lyrics, well, its true that there was nothing positive to suggest however the tune of the song was, unmistakably, kinda cheerful in a carnival feel. I imagine all of the kiddos at Zouk partying to the same number and it made me cringe. I hope you understand what I mean.

Also, I entered a mental dillema. Afterall, it was Enola Gay that helped to end the WW2 with the Japanese, at this price. Failing which, the Japanese would probably have gone on to dominate Asia. Hmmm... me? A Japanese? Well, that might not have been so bad, afterall, if I'm born into it and brought up with that belief, I wouldn't be against it at all. Anyway, the reality is that I'm born a Singaporean and the Japanese failed in their WW2 campaign. The latest incident that blew up recently, was how the Chinese demonstrated outside the Japanese Embassy in China, in response to how they refused to own up to their barberic ways during the war, especially the Rape of Nanjing.

I can understand their anger too. It was inhumane how they massacre the city and rape the females. From the recounts of that book, the Chinese were even forced to commit incest in front of their family members. All that the Chinese are asking for, is an acknowledgement of the humiliation that they had suffered and a sign that the Japanese were truly apologetic. Tamade. Having seen the fuck of a proud nation that they are, no wonder their porn industry is so vibrant. On a hindsight, Japanese girls are really cute, hopefully the "Rape of Tokyo" wouldn't happen in WW3.