The Mau Mau Song
The Mau Mau Pilot went out to fly
The Mau Mau Pilot is ready to die
The Mau Mau Pilot he flies so high
The Mau Mau Pilot in the midnight sky.

The Mau Mau fly up in the sky
They fly so high and they know why
They fly that way cause they say,
They’ll always be back for another day

It’s a Mau Mau night anyone can see
The Mau Mau stars are as bright as can be
The weather is good and so is he
Tonight's the night no one will see

Our clothes are dark just like the night
If were not seen there’ll be no flight
So come in short don’t use that light
Cause tonight’s the night of the Mau Mau flight

There’s a signal now off to your side
So swing around and make it wide,
Were riding high on a rising tide
Reduce the power go in and hide.

The truck is there and the men in black
Lets drop our load and avoid the flack
Its ten past twelve and we’ll soon be back
So lock the doors she’s all yours Jack

The ground is soft, hold your nose up high
Full throttle Jack and let her fly
The time is now for the V - I
Rotation time we’ve had our fun.

Turn onto north it’s the way we came
Cause that’s the way we play the game
Now altitude is your next move
Tonight’s the night we’re in the groove

Now we’re homeward bound the skies still clear
For the Mau Mau Pilot who has no fear
It’s a game of chance we all know that
And everyone puts a bit in the hat
We all try hard no choice you see
For the Mau Mau Pilot must collect his fee
Then the time comes to have his fun
And that’s were the whole damn thing begun

A little left and a little right
Away from those cities gleaming bright
If those pokes don’t see us
Then the radar just might

It was a good night even on the ground
The oil lamps were lit on top of each mound
The landing was smooth but the grass was high
The ground was rough but I thought I would die
From out there in front not ten feet away
A herd of cattle lay munching hay

The lights were right, right into wind
But where and how did the cows come in
Why didn’t someone shu them away
A little more speed, we’d been there to stay

No one knew the herd was there
Which hardly makes the game seem fair
We take enough chances as it is
Holly smokes, god damn, gee whiz

We know we must not use our lights
We have no business there
But what the hell keep the path way clear
And the cows on the other side
But all is forgiven now we’re homeward bound
The bird is light and the tail wind strong
So stay on north plus ten for drift
More airspeed now and so more lift

The auxiliary tanks are almost dry
We are lighter now and high in the sky
Temperatures normal, pressures right
The river ahead, home ground insight

We switched to the mains all other tanks dry
We’re over the boarder and riding high
The sun went down as we took off
That spread our earth with a deep black cloth

But over there just to our fight
There’s something happening, it’s getting light
That big black cloth is sliding away
And soon we’ll be flying into another day.

So call the tower and wake them up
At first there’s no reply
It’s been ten hours since we took off
But on them we can rely

We’ll try again ten minutes or so
There’s really no big rush,
We’re a long ways out and our signal weak
So listen Jack and hush.

Now I hear them calling us
I’m sure we woke them up
Their volume they had turned down low
They’re sounding so abrupt.

Excuses many there will be
And many a promise you will see
That if you really think you can
Then take this bird to another land

Then another day and they will see
And try to remember and pray for thee
For of the parts that you most need
A special effort at full speed
Because it’s money we all need
To this we all agree.

So off to breakfast with a weary smile
We’ve yet to walk about a mile
From here to there and half way back
That’s the name of the game we’re playing Jack

So pick up my flight bag and my thermos please
And into a taxi we’ll wheeze and squeeze
For the sun had risen in the eastern skies
And soon we’ll be rubbing our weary eyes.

Stop the taxi please at the next street
I wanna get out and work my feet
Sitting in that bird so still
I think I’ll run right up that hill
My house is at the top you see
And all this day that’s were I’ll be.

For the Mau Mau Pilot must get his rest
The Mau Mau Pilot must be at his best - so -
The Mau Mau song is the song we all sing
For the Mau Mau Pilot and the cigs he bring.

Author: Henry Hicks

Mau Mau Pilot in the mid 60's.
Ascuncion, Paraguay.

I would like to hear from any other pilots in that area at that time.
Heinz Bowers flew my Lockheed Loadstar Aircraft, doing night drops
in South America.

Toll free number: 1-877-790-2301


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