Over There (United States Army Ground Forces Band)

Composer:
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 
			


Credit for some: Library of Congress, Music Division.