Over There

:For the 2005 television series, see Over There (TV series).

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"Over There" is a 1917 song popular with United States soldiers in both world wars.

Related Topics:
1917 - Song - United States

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It was written by the George M. Cohan during World War I.

Related Topics:
George M. Cohan - World War I

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Notable early recordings include versions by Nora Bayes and Enrico Caruso.

Related Topics:
Nora Bayes - Enrico Caruso

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Film appearances include Yankee Doodle Dandy starring James Cagney in his Oscar-winning performance. In that otherwise Hollywoodized film, this song was used effectively as an illustration of the creative process: Cohan is watching a military band parade by, and a segment of one of their songs catches his ear, a simple triad that he finds himself whistling. Late at night he is seen slowly working out the complete new song on a piano, note by note. The next scene unveils the song to a large and appreciative audience.

Related Topics:
Film - Yankee Doodle Dandy - James Cagney - Oscar

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Lyrics, as sung by early-20th century recording artist Billy Murray:

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Verse 1

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:Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun

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:Take it on the run, on the run, on the run

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:Hear them calling you and me

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:Every Son of Liberty

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:Hurry right away, no delay, go today

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:Make your Daddy glad to have had such a lad

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:Tell your sweetheart not to pine,

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:To be proud her boy's in line

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Verse 2

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:Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun

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:Johnny, show the "Hun" 1 you're a son-of-a-gun

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:Hoist the flag and let her fly

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:Yankee Doodle, do or die

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:Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit

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:Yankee to the ranks from the towns and the tanks

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:Make your Mother proud of you

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:And the old red-white-and-blue

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Chorus

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:Over there, over there,

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:Send the word, send the word over there

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:That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming

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:The drum's rum-tumming everywhere

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:So prepare, say a prayer,

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:Send the word, send the word to beware

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:We'll be over, we're coming over

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:And we won't come back till it's over, over there

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Footnote:

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1 Now usually sung as "Johnny on the run..."

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