This song was written and recorded by the Dutch brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland in 1981. Five years later, the British rock band Status Quo covered it as the title track of their 1986 album. Despite being completely different to Quo's usual 12-bar boogie format, it was released as a single. It proved to be an astute move as the song became one of the group's biggest ever selling hits, peaking at #2 in the UK and topping several charts in Europe, including those of Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
In 1986 The Bolland brothers teamed up with Falco to write a song about Mozart called Rock Me Amadeus, which became an international smash. The sibling duo also wrote "Love House," an UK Top 40 hit for Samantha Fox.
This song returned to the UK singles chart in 2010 in an updated form featuring backing from the Corps of Army Choir. All proceeds from the re-recorded version were split between the military charities the British Forces Foundation and Help For Heroes.
Lyrics
A vacation in a foreign land, Uncle Sam does the best he can You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army now Now you remember what the draft man said, nothing to do all day but stay in bed You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army now You'll be the hero of the neighbourhood, nobody knows that you've left for good You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army now Smiling faces as you wait to land, but once you get there no-one gives a damn You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army now Hand grenades flying over your head Missiles flying over your head, if you want to survive get out of bed You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army now Shots ring out in the dead of night, the sergeant calls 'Stand up and fight!' You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army now You've got your orders better shoot on sight, your finger's on the trigger but it don't seem right You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army now You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army now Night is falling and you just can't see, is this illusion or reality? You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army, in the army now You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army now Oh-oo-oh you're in the army, in the army now Oh-oo-oh you're in the army, in the army now Oh-oo-oh you're in the army, in the army now