Toward the end of WWII, both sides had amassed a great number of POW’s. These people were used as labor to build roads and bridges. To keep moral high, the POW’s made up songs that were sung or whistled. These tunes made the work go faster and were used to communicate messages. The "Spirit of ‘44" was written in honor of those valiant men and women. Try whistling the melody. It might raise your spirits, too.