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It's A Long Way To Berlin, But We'll Get There - Lyrics
Composer
Flatow, Leon
Lyricist
Fields, Arthur
Publisher
Leo Feist Inc.
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)
Lyrics
It’s a long way to Berlin, but we’ll get there! Verse: Rueben Plank a husky Yank, Came into town one day, And said “I can’t resist, I really must enlist by heck, I’ll help to get that Kaiser Bill I hear so much about,” He passed the test, threw out his chest, And started into shout. Refrain: “It’s a long way to Berlin, but we’ll get there Uncle Sam will show the way, Over the line, then across the Rhine, Shouting Hip! Hip! Hooray! We’ll sing Yankee Doodle “Under the Linden,” With some real live Yankee Pep! Hep! It’s a long way to Berlin but we’ll get there, And I’m on my way by heck by heck.” Verse: Rueben Plank was in the ranks For just a little while, Then he soon went ahead, He’s Corp’ral Plank instead, by heck, He gets his squad together And at night when all is still, They sing the chorus Reuben wrote, To Mister Kaiser Bill. Refrain
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Original Location
Series 2, Box 15, Folder 10
Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_276
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
p. 2, top: It's A Long Way To Berlin, But We'll Get There!
Composer
Flatow, Leon
Lyricist
Fields, Arthur
Publisher
Leo Feist Inc.
Place of Publication
New York
Year of Publication
1917
Date of Copyright
1917-09-07
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Historical Note
This is the eighth variant of the second printing. Feist’s usual practice was to deposit a first printing, for copyright only, that had identical music but with a front cover containing only text and a back cover that was blank. The variants are distinguished by their back covers and by the inset photographs; they are ordered by the back covers and, when necessary, alphabetically by the persons pictured on the front. This variant postdates September 21, 1917, based on the copyright dates of music advertised on the back cover. The Saturday Evening Post advertisement cited on the back cover appeared on November 17, 1917.
Dedication
p. 2, top: Dedicated to Lieut. Joseph E. Barrell and Lieut. Eugene J. Orsenigo, 71st N. Y. Infantry
Subject - Topic
Marches (Voice with piano)
William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941 -- Songs and music.
Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.
Soldiers -- United States -- Songs and music.
Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music
Subject - Geographic
Berlin (Germany)
Lyrics
[refrain 2]
[verse 2]: Rueben Plank was in the ranks / For just a little while, / Then he soon went ahead, / He's Corp'ral Plank instead, by heck, / He gets his squad together / And at night when all is still, / They sing the chorus Reuben wrote, / To Mister Kaiser Bill.
[refrain 1] "It's a long way to Berlin, but we'll get there / Uncle Sam will show the way, / Over the line, then across the Rhine, / Shouting Hip! Hip! Hooray! / We'll sing Yankee Doodle 'Under the Linden,"' / With some real live Yankee Pep! Hep! / It's a long way to Berlin but we'll get there, / And I'm on my way by heck – by heck."
[verse 1] Rueben Plank a husky Yank, / Came into town one day, / And said "I can't resist, / I really must enlist – by heck, / I'll help to get that Kaiser Bill / I hear so much about," / He passed the test, threw out his chest, / And started into shout.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Artist
Rosenbaum Studios
Cover Description
American soldiers in formation, rifles on shoulders, with an officer with sword in front, march forward and to the right; BL is an inset photograph of Billy Gleason. Black, red, and blue on white; signed with icon BL.
p. 2, top: It's A Long Way To Berlin, But We'll Get There!
Composer
Flatow, Leon
Lyricist
Fields, Arthur
Publisher
Leo Feist Inc.
Place of Publication
New York
Year of Publication
1917
Date of Copyright
1917-09-07
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Historical Note
This is the eighth variant of the second printing. Feist’s usual practice was to deposit a first printing, for copyright only, that had identical music but with a front cover containing only text and a back cover that was blank. The variants are distinguished by their back covers and by the inset photographs; they are ordered by the back covers and, when necessary, alphabetically by the persons pictured on the front. This variant postdates September 21, 1917, based on the copyright dates of music advertised on the back cover. The Saturday Evening Post advertisement cited on the back cover appeared on November 17, 1917.
Dedication
p. 2, top: Dedicated to Lieut. Joseph E. Barrell and Lieut. Eugene J. Orsenigo, 71st N. Y. Infantry
Subject - Topic
Marches (Voice with piano)
William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941 -- Songs and music.
Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.
Soldiers -- United States -- Songs and music.
Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music
Subject - Geographic
Berlin (Germany)
Lyrics
[refrain 2]
[verse 2]: Rueben Plank was in the ranks / For just a little while, / Then he soon went ahead, / He's Corp'ral Plank instead, by heck, / He gets his squad together / And at night when all is still, / They sing the chorus Reuben wrote, / To Mister Kaiser Bill.
[refrain 1] "It's a long way to Berlin, but we'll get there / Uncle Sam will show the way, / Over the line, then across the Rhine, / Shouting Hip! Hip! Hooray! / We'll sing Yankee Doodle 'Under the Linden,"' / With some real live Yankee Pep! Hep! / It's a long way to Berlin but we'll get there, / And I'm on my way by heck – by heck."
[verse 1] Rueben Plank a husky Yank, / Came into town one day, / And said "I can't resist, / I really must enlist – by heck, / I'll help to get that Kaiser Bill / I hear so much about," / He passed the test, threw out his chest, / And started into shout.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Artist
Rosenbaum Studios
Cover Description
American soldiers in formation, rifles on shoulders, with an officer with sword in front, march forward and to the right; BL is an inset photograph of Billy Gleason. Black, red, and blue on white; signed with icon BL.