Over There - 1917 Recording Performed by Billy Murray

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This is a 1917 recording of "Over There", sung by Billy Murray and recorded on Edison disc #50443. It was originally composed by George M. Cohan.

"Over There" was first composed in 1917 by George M. Cohan. It quickly became a hit and was extremely popular with the United States military and public during both world wars. As a patriotic song, it was designed to inspire young men to enlist in the army and fight the Germans in Europe. The song was also a commercial success, selling over 2 million copies of sheet music.

Cohan reportedly wrote the song in two hours on the day after president Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany.


Lyrics:


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 Sons 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 drums 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.