Tag Archives: Over There

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Over There is a patriotic song during World War I written by George M. Cohan, and it was widely performed by various artists from its publication in 1917. Notable early recordings include versions by Nora Bayes, Enrico Caruso, Billy Murray, initiated by Charles King. Cohan later recalled that the words and music to the song came to him while traveling by train from New Rochelle to New York shortly after the U.S. had declared war against Germany in April 1917 (firstworldwar.com). This song was a nationwide hit in the months immediately following America’s enthusiastic entry into the war. On June 29, 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt awarded Cohan the Congressional Gold Medal for this and other songs.

Listen to The Song (Credit:Vintage Audio, firstworldwar.com)

Enrico Caruso – Over There by Enrico Caruso, Nora Bayes – Over There by Nora Bayes, Billy Murray – Over There by Billy Murray

Your Song–Our Song–Our Boys' Song! Over There.

Johnnie, 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.

Johnnie, get your gun,
Get your gun, get your gun,
Johnnie show the Hun
Who’s 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.

Over there, over there,
Send the word, send the word over there –
That the Yanks are coming,
The Yanks are coming,
The drums rum-tumming
Ev’rywhere.
So prepare, say a pray’r,
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.