Meaning of Over There, The Famous World War I Song

The song Over There was one of the most famous songs of World War I. Over There proved to be an inspiration both to the young men who were being sent to fight the war as well as to those on the home front who worried about their loved ones. The Meaning Behind the Lyrics On the morning of April 6, 1917, newspaper headlines across America announced the news that the United States had declared war on Germany. While most people who read the newspaper headlines that morning tried to comprehend how their lives were going to change, one man started humming. That may seem like an odd reaction to most people, but not for George M. Cohan. George Cohan was an actor, singer, dancer, songwriter, playwright, and Broadway producer who had composed hundreds of songs, including such famous songs as â€Å"Youre a Grand Old Flag,† â€Å"Marys a Grand Old Name,† Lifes a Funny Proposition After All, â€Å"Give My Regards to Broadway,† and â€Å"Im a Yankee Doodle Dandy.† So it is perhaps not completely surprising that Cohans reaction to reading the headlines that morning was to hum, but few might have expected Cohans humming to be the start of a very popular song. Cohan continued to hum all morning and soon began to compose a few lyrics. By the time Cohan arrived at work that morning, he already had the verses, chorus, tune, and title of what became the very popular Over There. Over There was an instant success, selling over 2 million copies by the end of the war. Perhaps the most popular version of Over There was sung by Nora Bayes, but Enrico Caruso and Billy Murray sang beautiful renditions as well. The song Over There is about the Yanks (the Americans) going over there (across the Atlantic) to help fight the Huns (what the Americans called the Germans at the time) during World War I. In 1936, Cohan was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for writing the song, and it experienced a revival in World War II when the United States again faced Germany in war. Lyrics to Over There Johnnie get your gun, get your gun, get your gunTake it on the run, on the run, on the runHear them calling you and meEvery son of liberty Hurry right away, no delay, go todayMake your daddy glad to have had such a ladTell your sweetheart not to pineTo be proud her boys in line. CHORUS (repeated twice):Over there, over thereSend the word, send the word over thereThat the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are comingThe drums are rum-tumming everywhere So prepare, say a prayerSend the word, send the word to bewareWell be over there, were coming overAnd we wont come back till its over over there.Over there. Johnnie get your gun, get your gun, get your gunJohnnie show the Hun youre a son of a gunHoist the flag and let her flyYankee Doodle do or die Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bitYankees to the ranks from the towns and the tanksMake your mother proud of youAnd the old Red White and Blue. CHORUS (repeated twice):Over there, over thereSend the word, send the word over thereThat the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are comingThe drums are rum-tumming everywhere So prepare, say a prayerSend the word, send the word to bewareWell be over there, were coming overAnd we wont come back till its over over there.Over there.