SONGS THAT WON THE WAR Coming in on a wing and a prayer This phrase originated with the WWII patriotic song Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer (1943), by Harold Adamson and Jimmie McHugh, which tells of a damaged warplane, barely able to limp back to base: One of our planes was missing Two hours overdue One of our planes was missing With all its gallant crew The radio sets were humming We waited for a word Then a noise broke Through the humming and this is what we heard Comin' in on a wing and a prayer Comin' in on a wing and a prayer Though there's one motor gone We can still carry on Comin' in on a wing and a prayer What a show, what a fight, boys We really hit our target for tonight How we sing as we limp through the air Look below, there's our field over there With just one motor gone We can still carry on Comin' in on a wing and a prayer Adamson and McHugh wrote several patriotic songs in World War II and were awarded the Presidential Certificate of Merit by President Harry Truman. The phrase hit a chord with the public and there are many references to it in US newspapers from 1943 onwards. It was taken up by Hollywood and a film - Wing and Listen to the song YouTube - Coming in on a wing and a prayer
