Over There (United States Army Ground Forces Band)
Composer:
George M. Cohan
Arranger:
P. Holbrook
Performing Ensemble:
United States Army Ground Forces Band
Notes:
From CD entitled: "Sing America."
The band is from Fort McPherson, GA.
Call Number:
MENC3085
Compact disc recording
George M. Cohan was a Broadway producer and performer. He wrote "Over There" on his way in to work one day. The headlines of April 6, 1917 that morning inspired him. They announced that the United States had abandoned its policy of isolationism
and entered the First World War on the side of England, Russia and France.
"Over There" was first performed in 1917 by Charles King in New York, but the song was made famous by the popular singer Nora Bayes.
Then President Wilson described "Over There" as an "inspiration to all American manhood."
The song became popular with U.S. soldiers in both world wars. In 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt awarded Mr. Cohan the Congressional Gold Medal for this and other songs.
Over There (United States Army Ground Forces Band)
Listen -- MP3
Listen -- MP3 (U. S. Marine Band)
Verse 1
Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun
Take it on the run, on the run, on the run
Hear them calling you and me
Every Son of Liberty
Hurry right away, no delay, go today
Make your Daddy glad to have had such a lad
Tell your sweetheart not to pine,
To be proud her boy's in line
Verse 2
Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun
Johnny, show the "Hun" you're a son-of-a-gun
Hoist the flag and let her fly
Yankee Doodle do or die
Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit
Yankee to the ranks from the towns and the tanks
Make your Mother proud of you
And the old red-white-and-blue
Chorus
Over there, over there,
Send the word, send the word over there
That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming
The drum's rum-tumming everywhere
So prepare, say a prayer,
Send the word, send the word to beware
We'll be over, we're coming over
And we won't come back till it's over, over there
