Over There
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other Script error: No such module "Listen". "Over There" is a 1917 war song written by George M. Cohan that was popular with the United States military and the American public during World War I and World War II. Written shortly after the American entry into World War I, "Over There" is a patriotic propaganda song meant to galvanize American men to enlist in the American Expeditionary Forces and fight the Central Powers. The song is best remembered for a line in its chorus: "The Yanks are coming."[1]
History
According to the Library of Congress, Cohan wrote "Over There" during his commute to work on April 7, 1917,[2] a day after the U.S. officially abandoned their policy of non-interventionism and joined the Allied Powers. Its opening verse is derived from "Johnny, Get Your Gun", an 1886 song written by Monroe Rosenfeld, while its rhythm was based on a three-note bugle call.[3]
Cohan personally chose Nora Bayes to premiere "Over There" in June 1917,[4] but the Peerless Quartet recorded it first on June 6 with Columbia Records.[5] Bayes's rendition was released on July 13.[3] Though early tests with soldiers saw indifferent reception, the song was popular among the civilian public. Other versions recorded by Billy Murray, the American Quartet, and Arthur Fields were also made. President Woodrow Wilson described it as "a genuine inspiration to all American manhood". By the end of 1918, over 2 million copies of sheet music were sold.[3]
Though written and intended for World War I, the song has been revived on various occasions during and after World War II.[1] It was not heavily used during the Vietnam War, but it regained some popularity in the 21st century after the September 11 attacks and throughout the war on terror.[6]
Lyrics
As sung by early 20th-century recording artist Billy Murray:
In popular culture
- Since 2009, UK financial services comparison website Go.Compare has used an adapted version of the song for their adverts, sung by Wynne Evans.[7][8]
- The song provides the introduction to the Kanonenfieber song "The Yankee Division March" (with Trevor Strnad).[9]
- In the video game Hell Let Loose, set in World War II, the song plays when the Allies faction wins a match.[10]
See also
Notes
References
External links
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- Nora Bayes recording July 13, 1917, via U.S. Library of Congress, National Jukebox
- Vintage Audio: Over There
- Rendition by Billy Murray and quartet
- Library of Congress essay on recording on the National Recording Registry.
- Sheet music for "Over There", Leo Feist, Inc., 1917.
- Over There from Patriotic Melodies
Template:Billy Murray Template:Nora Bayes
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- Pages with script errors
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- 1917 songs
- American patriotic songs
- Songs about the military
- Songs of World War I
- Billy Murray (singer) songs
- Songs written by George M. Cohan
- Nora Bayes songs
- Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients
- Songs used as jingles
- United States National Recording Registry recordings
- American military marches