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Giddy Giddap! Go On! Go On!

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/483271b0-c0e6-0134-2373-0050569601ca-a

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
Giddy Giddap - Lyrics
Composer
Frost, Jack  
Lyricist
Frost, Jack  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co.  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Lyrics
Giddy Giddap! Go On! Go On! (We’re On Our Way to War) Verse: You talk about your rube recruits in overalls and jumper suits, You ought to see the soldier boys of Pumpkinville. The day that they were call’d, by gosh! They left their field of corn and squash, And said goodbye to all their friends in Pumpkinville. Then Hy and Cy and Ephraham took Hezekiah’s bay And as they rode away they sang a song that goes this way: Refrain: Giddy Giddap! Go on! Go on! We’re on our way to war! We’re goin’ to tell ‘em to go to-well! That’s what we’re fighting for! We didn’t want to do it, boys, but now they’ve made us sore. Giddy Giddap! Go on! Go on! We’re on our way to war! Verse: Miss Mandy said to Hiram Green, “Well you’re the bravest man I’ve seen. I’ll be so proud when you’ve joined the cavalry.” Then Hiram said, “That’s right of course, but I ain’t goin’ to ride no horse, Just let me say that I will join the infantry. ‘Cause when the bugle sounds ‘retreat,’ you bet that I’ll obey. I’ll run so fas
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 14, Folder 9
Local Identifier
2014_12996_222
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
Giddy Giddap! Go On! Go On!
Alternative Title
Giddy Giddap!
Composer
Frost, Jack  
Lyricist
Frost, Jack  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co.  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-09-24
Physical Description
1 score ([1], 2-3, [1] p.). Folio.
Comment
Surviving copies, republications, piano rolls and amateur performances all suggest this song was very popular. There are no indications of professional performances, however.
Historical Note
  • the chorus, as a lead-sheet, was included in the Army Song Book (1918). The cover is unsigned but attributed to Williams on stylistic grounds.
  • and by QRS in March 1918 (player not known, 33268). Byron Harlan recorded the song for Columbia on December 27, 1917, but the recording was not issued. Performances of an arrangement for band persisted at least until 1919. The text was included in Feist’s “Songs the Soldiers and Sailors Sing” (© 1918 01 26)
  • by Rythmodik, © December 20, 1917 (Victor Arden and Paul King, G100674)
  • Despite a positive review in The Billboard (November 24, 1917), there was apparently only one printing. Three piano rolls were issued: by Imperial in November 1917 (player and roll number not known)
Musical Note
Marketed as a comic novelty (“moderato”) in sheet music form, instrumental versions were categorised as marches. The melody suggests gapped scales, the rhythm recalls a 6/8 jig, and the harmony is uncomplicated—all characteristics consistent with prevailing “rube” stereotypes.
Subject - Topic
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.  
  • Humorous songs.  
  • Novelty songs.  
  • Stereotypes (Social Psychology) -- Southern States  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Subject - Geographic
Southern States  
Lyrics
  • He found a shell hole by his side, He jumped down in and tried to hide, And wished he was back home, by gosh! in Pumpkinville. The captain came and found him, said, “Get out where bullets burst.” Said Hy, “I beg your pardon, but I found this shell hole first.” [Refrain]
  • Giddy Giddap! Go On! Go On! (We’re On Our Way to War) [Verse] You talk about your rube recruits, In overalls and jumper suits, You ought to see the soldier boys of Pumpkinville. The day that they were call’d, by gosh! They left their field of corn and squash, And said goodbye to all their friends in Pumpkinville. Then Hy and Cy and Ephraham took Hezekiah’s bay, And as they rode away they sang a song that goes this way: [Refrain] Giddy Giddap! Go on! Go on! We’re on our way to war! We’re goin’ to tell ‘em to go to-well! That’s what we’re fighting for! We didn’t want to do it, boys, but now they’ve made us sore. Giddy Giddap! Go on! Go on! We’re on our way to war! [Verse] Miss Mandy said to Hiram Green, “Well you’re the bravest man I’ve seen. I’ll be so proud when you’ve joined the cavalry.” Then Hiram said, “That’s right of course, But I ain’t goin’ to ride no horse, Just let me say that I will join the infantry. ‘Cause when the bugle sounds ‘retreat,’ you bet that I’ll obey. I’ll run so fast that I don’t want no horses in my way.” [Refrain] [Verse] The boys were fighting hard one day, And in the middle of the fray You should have seen old Hiram Green from Pumpkinville
Musical Genre
  • Comic song
  • March song
  • Novelty song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Artist
Williams, Gaar  
Cover Description
  • unsigned.
  • haystack and cabin with woman waving goodbye in background, left. Brown, beige, and blue on white
  • Cartoon drawing of four soldiers wearing fatigues, two with rifles, in a farm cart pulled by a cantering horse on a dusty road beside a crude fence, chickens and a pig scattering
Back Cover Description
  • © 1914 04 08) Let’s Go Back to Dreamy Lotus Land (© 1917, advertised 1917 07 20) I Love That Loveable Melody (© 1917, piano roll announced 1917 02 24) Fourth row: samples and covers for Moonlight Blues (© 1916, advertised 1916 12 08) My Fox-trot Girl (© 1917, piano roll announced 1917 04 28)
  • © 1916 10 14) Third row: samples for I Ain’t Got Nobody (no author
  • © 1917 04 19) Paradise Blues (Spencer Williams & Walter Hirsch
  • © 1916 07 12) Sweet Cookie Mine (Clarence M. Jones & Jack Frost
  • Advertisement for “Late Popular Successes”. Four rows of samples: Top row: samples and covers for If You’ve Never Been in Dreamland You’ve Never Been in Love (© 1917, advertised 1917 06 14) Avalon (© 1917, advertised 1917 02 07) Second row: samples for The Hour of Memory (A. Dvorak & J. Will Callahan
Performance Medium
voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 14, Folder 9
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_222
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleGiddy Giddap! Go On! Go On!
Alternative TitleGiddy Giddap!
ComposerFrost, Jack  
LyricistFrost, Jack  
PublisherFrank K. Root & Co.  
Place of PublicationChicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-09-24
Physical Description1 score ([1], 2-3, [1] p.). Folio.
CommentSurviving copies, republications, piano rolls and amateur performances all suggest this song was very popular. There are no indications of professional performances, however.
Historical Note
  • the chorus, as a lead-sheet, was included in the Army Song Book (1918). The cover is unsigned but attributed to Williams on stylistic grounds.
  • and by QRS in March 1918 (player not known, 33268). Byron Harlan recorded the song for Columbia on December 27, 1917, but the recording was not issued. Performances of an arrangement for band persisted at least until 1919. The text was included in Feist’s “Songs the Soldiers and Sailors Sing” (© 1918 01 26)
  • by Rythmodik, © December 20, 1917 (Victor Arden and Paul King, G100674)
  • Despite a positive review in The Billboard (November 24, 1917), there was apparently only one printing. Three piano rolls were issued: by Imperial in November 1917 (player and roll number not known)
Musical NoteMarketed as a comic novelty (“moderato”) in sheet music form, instrumental versions were categorised as marches. The melody suggests gapped scales, the rhythm recalls a 6/8 jig, and the harmony is uncomplicated—all characteristics consistent with prevailing “rube” stereotypes.
Subject - Topic
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.  
  • Humorous songs.  
  • Novelty songs.  
  • Stereotypes (Social Psychology) -- Southern States  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Subject - GeographicSouthern States  
Lyrics
  • He found a shell hole by his side, He jumped down in and tried to hide, And wished he was back home, by gosh! in Pumpkinville. The captain came and found him, said, “Get out where bullets burst.” Said Hy, “I beg your pardon, but I found this shell hole first.” [Refrain]
  • Giddy Giddap! Go On! Go On! (We’re On Our Way to War) [Verse] You talk about your rube recruits, In overalls and jumper suits, You ought to see the soldier boys of Pumpkinville. The day that they were call’d, by gosh! They left their field of corn and squash, And said goodbye to all their friends in Pumpkinville. Then Hy and Cy and Ephraham took Hezekiah’s bay, And as they rode away they sang a song that goes this way: [Refrain] Giddy Giddap! Go on! Go on! We’re on our way to war! We’re goin’ to tell ‘em to go to-well! That’s what we’re fighting for! We didn’t want to do it, boys, but now they’ve made us sore. Giddy Giddap! Go on! Go on! We’re on our way to war! [Verse] Miss Mandy said to Hiram Green, “Well you’re the bravest man I’ve seen. I’ll be so proud when you’ve joined the cavalry.” Then Hiram said, “That’s right of course, But I ain’t goin’ to ride no horse, Just let me say that I will join the infantry. ‘Cause when the bugle sounds ‘retreat,’ you bet that I’ll obey. I’ll run so fast that I don’t want no horses in my way.” [Refrain] [Verse] The boys were fighting hard one day, And in the middle of the fray You should have seen old Hiram Green from Pumpkinville
Musical Genre
  • Comic song
  • March song
  • Novelty song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
ArtistWilliams, Gaar  
Cover Description
  • unsigned.
  • haystack and cabin with woman waving goodbye in background, left. Brown, beige, and blue on white
  • Cartoon drawing of four soldiers wearing fatigues, two with rifles, in a farm cart pulled by a cantering horse on a dusty road beside a crude fence, chickens and a pig scattering
Back Cover Description
  • © 1914 04 08) Let’s Go Back to Dreamy Lotus Land (© 1917, advertised 1917 07 20) I Love That Loveable Melody (© 1917, piano roll announced 1917 02 24) Fourth row: samples and covers for Moonlight Blues (© 1916, advertised 1916 12 08) My Fox-trot Girl (© 1917, piano roll announced 1917 04 28)
  • © 1916 10 14) Third row: samples for I Ain’t Got Nobody (no author
  • © 1917 04 19) Paradise Blues (Spencer Williams & Walter Hirsch
  • © 1916 07 12) Sweet Cookie Mine (Clarence M. Jones & Jack Frost
  • Advertisement for “Late Popular Successes”. Four rows of samples: Top row: samples and covers for If You’ve Never Been in Dreamland You’ve Never Been in Love (© 1917, advertised 1917 06 14) Avalon (© 1917, advertised 1917 02 07) Second row: samples for The Hour of Memory (A. Dvorak & J. Will Callahan
Performance Mediumvoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 14, Folder 9
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_222
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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