MUSIC OF
THE GREAT WAR
POPULAR WORLD WAR ONE
SING ALONG MIDI SONGS WITH LYRICS
The Great War era songs helped
to improve morale among the soldiers, and those serving at home.
Often the positive, optimistic
words of these songs belied the actual savagery of the fighting and killing
and destruction of this war.
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Music Information
Colonel
Bogey March
This song is thought of as
a World War Two song,
because of David Lean's
film The Bridge On The River Kwai,
but it actually was written
in 1916 by a British gent named Kenneth J. Alford.
Publication: Boosey and
Hawkes, London
Instrumental MIDI
Take
Me Back To Dear Old Blighty
Written and
Composed by A.J. Mills, Fred Godfrey and Bennett Scott
Publication:
New York, Division of Chappell Music (1916)
Incredibly
popular song for the homesick British troops in France during the War.
The term "Blighty"
refers to England.
MIDI and
Vintage Performance in MP3
Till
We Meet Again
Words by Raymond
B. Egan and Music by Richard Whiting
Publication:
Detroit: Jerome H. Remick & Co., (1918)
This bittersweet
song was the last best-selling sheet music piece;
five million
copies were sold within the first year. Richard Whiting
wrote this
waltz tune as the result of a song contest sponsored by the publisher,
and a Detroit
movie theater voted it the winner.
MIDI
It's
A Long Long Way To Tipperary
Written and
Composed by Jack Judge and Harry Williams.
Publication:
New York: Chappell & Co., Ltd., 41 East 34th St., (1912)
This song
actually came out 2 years before the Great War began,
but took on
a life of its own for all the soldiers of every country who fought in it
MIDI and
Vintage Performance in MP3
Roses
Of Picardy
Words by Fred
E. Weatherly. Music by Haydn Wood.
Publication:
New York: Chappell-Harms, Inc., (1916)
An absolutely
exquisite love song of the World War One era...no doubt cried over by countless
lassies and laddies.
MIDI and
Vintage Performance in MP3
Madelon,
I'll Be True To The Whole Regiment
Based on the French soldier's
song
Quand Madelon One Step by
Camille Robert
French Lyrics by Louis Bousquet
English Version by Alfred
Bryan
MIDI
Goodbye
Broadway, Hello France
Words by C.
Francis Reisner and Benny Davis. Music by Billy Baskette.
Publication: New York: Leo Feist, Inc. (1917)
Another rousing,
toe-tapping patriotic song from the World War One era.
MIDI
America,
I Love You
Words by Edgar
Leslie and Music by Archie Gottlier
Original Publication:
New York: Kalmar & Puck Music Co., 142 West 45th St., (1915)
I love this
fantastic patriotic song!
I cannot believe
it has faded from public memory, and wish to bring it back.
We need it's
message now, more than ever.
MIDI &
Vintage Performance in Mp3
How
'Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm
(After
They've Seen Paree?)
Words by Joe
Young & Sam M. Lewis. Music by Walter Donaldson
New York:
Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co., Music Publishing,
Strand Theatre
Bldg., Broadway at 47th St., (1919)
A comedy song:
Ma and Pa wonder how their soldier son will adjust
to life in
America after the Great War. Their worries
seem lopsided:
they fear that girls back home will be more dangerous
to their boys
than bullets were during the war.
MIDI, Vintage
Mp3
Over
There
Words and Music
By George M. Cohan.
Publication: New York: Leo. Feist, Inc., (1917)
George M.
Cohan's most famous song; he was
awarded a
Congressional Citation for penning it
MIDI
and vintage WAV Audio of Mr. Cohan singing his song
Keep
The Homefires Burning
Words by Lena
Ford and Music by Ivor Novello
Publication: New York: Chappell & Co., Ltd., (1914)
On par with
any patriotic song George M. Cohan could have written, comes this hugely
popular
song of the
World War One period
MIDI and
Vintage Performance in MP3
K-K-K-Katy
By Geoffrey
O'Hara, Army Song Leader
Publication:
New York: Leo Feist, Inc., (1918)
World War
One favorite:
"The Sensational
Stammering Song Success
Sung by the
Soldiers and Sailors"
MIDI and
Vintage Piano Roll in MP3
Sister
Susie's Sewing Shirts for Soldiers
Words by R.P.
Weston and Music by Hermann E. Darewski
Publication: New York: T.B. Harms, (1914)
Another tongue-twister
song from World War One;
it was a big
hit for Al Jolson and is featured
on Michael
Feinstein's WW One CD "Over There";
s-s-see if
you can s-s-s-sing it without s-s-s-slurring ;)
MIDI and
Vintage MP3
Oh!
How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning
Words and Music
By Irving Berlin
Publication:
New York: Waterson, Berlin & Snyder, Strand Theatre Bldg., Broadway
at 47th St., (1918)
This funny
World War One song by Mr. Berlin was dedicated to:
"My friend
'Private Howard Friend' who occupies the cot next to mine and feels as
I do about the 'bugler'"
MIDI and
vintage WAV of Mr. Berlin singing his song
And
He'd Say "Oo-La-La Wee-Wee"
Written by Harry Ruby and
George Jessel (1919)
Ah, those French girls,
they sure could work around the language barrier with the soldiers!
MIDI and Vintage Performance
in MP3
There's
A Long, Long Trail
Written by Stoddard King
and Zo Elliott
Publication: M. Witmark
& Sons, New York (1915)
While not mentioning the
war this song clearly resonated
with soldiers who were desperately
missing home and family,
and who wanted to reassure
loved ones that they would soon be home again.
MIDI and Vintage Performance
in MP3
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