"Over there"
As you read...
Q UE ST I O N S TO C ONS I DER
1. According to this song, who would be impressed or pleased by the young man’s service? How might
this have motivated young men to serve in the army?
2. How were American men portrayed in this song? What characteristics did the “Yanks” have?
3. What lyrics bring to mind images of the American nation?
4. What lyrics bring to mind images of war?
5. How did the tune (not the words but the music) motivate men to join the army?
6. Look at the image of the music-sheet cover on the right-hand margin of this page. Why do you think the
publishers used an image of a woman in an old army uniform?
7. Did you find the song enjoyable to listen to? Why or why not?
8. How is this song similar to popular patriotic songs today? How is it different?
George M. Cohan claimed throughout his life to have been born on the Fourth of July,
though his birth certificate said July 3, 1878. As a child, he starred with his family in
vaudeville theater productions, and he grew up to write, direct, and star in musical theater
productions. Shortly after the United States entered World war I, Cohan wrote the words
and music to “Over There,” which quickly became the anthem of American soldiers. The
song did so much to boost morale that years later, in 1940, Cohan would be given the
Congressional Medal of Honor for his patriotic music.
This media is available in the web edition only.
Figure 1. George M. Cohan’s
patriotic song “Over There,”
written in 1917, was quickly
published and was recorded
several times during the war.
Lyrics
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,
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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.
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
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.
(Chorus repeats)
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.
(Chorus repeats twice)
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