OMD - Enola Gay

From Organisation (1980)

A somewhat unusual classic with an iconic one-hand synth riff; it feels at once 80s and timeless.

The songwriter Andy McCluskey did extensive research, and wrote some interesting lyrics:

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

Enola Gay is the name of the bomber that dropped the first atomic bomb, Little Boy, on Hiroshima. The pilot was proud of his mission and named the plane after his mother Enola Gay. Which makes the line “Is mother proud of little boy today?” quite filled with meanings. I imagine Mrs. McCluskey was indeed proud after her son pulled out that line.

Eight fifteen is the time that the clocks were at when the bomb hit Hiroshima and stopped them forever.

Following a recurring theme here on Biweekly Songs, it was not recognized as a strong song at the time, and the manager threatened to quit if it was released as a single.

Given its upbeat synth beat, it has been argued that it belongs on the list of songs with music in juxtaposition to the lyrics, along with eg I Don’t Like Mondays and Pumped Up Kicks. It admittedly would feel a little odd to dance along to a song about nuclear annihilation.

The song was banned from a BBC childrens program, not because it was about one of the most horrific events in human history, but because they thought it might be about homosexuality.

Bonus: A good rockabilly cover