John Parr

Songwriter: John Parr

Producer: John Parr

When these boots hit the ground
When these boots hit the ground
82nd loud and proud
82nd loud and proud
If you ask us yes we can
If you ask us yes we can
In the air and on the land
In the air and on the land

Double A
Double A
Double A
Double A
All American

We caught General Patton's eye
We caught General Patton’s eye
Guard of honor marching by
Guard of honor marching by
When these boots hit the ground
When these boots hit the ground
82nd loud and proud
82nd loud and proud

Double A
Double A
Double A
Double A
All the way
All the way
All the way
All American

In World War 2
The 82nd served at the Battle of the Bulge
When Hitler tried to attack through the Arden
It was his last gamble in the west
PFC Martin said to a Sergeant
In a retreating tank destroyer
Put your vehicle behind me sir
I am the 82nd Airborne
And this is as far as those jerks are going

Defeat the enemy
Preserve the peace
And freedom for our nation
Yeah
And get back home
Just get back home
To our loved ones

When these boots hit the ground
When these boots hit the ground
82nd loud and proud
82nd loud and proud
If you ask us yes we can
If you ask us yes we can
In the air and on the land
In the air and on the land

Yeah
Double A
Yeah
Double A
Yeah
Double A
Yeah
Double A
Yeah
Double A
Yeah
All the way
Yeah
Double A
Yeah
All the way

Don't mess with The 82nd

John Parr (born 18 November 1952) is a Grammy-nominated English musician, best known for his 1985 US #1 single “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)” and for his 1984 single “Naughty Naughty” (US Rock #1). Parr was nominated for a Grammy award for “St Elmo’s Fire” in 1985.

Parr first entered the music scene when he was 12 years old and formed a band with two fellow schoolmates, which they named The Silence. The band had achieved some success. They eventually became professional and started to tour Europe. He then joined a band named Bitter Suite who were a huge success in the working men’s clubs in Yorkshire, he then formed a “Super Band” with musicians from other working men’s club bands, and named the band Ponders End , a band that set a new precedent for the bands in the north.

Parr secured a publishing deal with Carlin America in 1983 and in the same year Meat Loaf asked him to write some songs for his new album. It led to a fateful meeting with John Wolff, who was tour manager for The Who. Foreseeing the initial demise of The Who, Wolff was looking for a new venture and considered Parr to be a suitable partner. Parr first visited America in 1984 and worked with Meat Loaf on Bad Attitude. Meanwhile, Wolff secured Parr’s solo Atlantic recording deal in New York.

more tracks from the album

The Mission

From the album

The Mission (2012)

John Parr popular songs

Boots on the GroundJohn Parr

John Parr

The Mission