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It's A Long Way To Berlin, But We'll Get There

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/4a27ad70-c0e6-0134-2373-0050569601ca-5

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
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
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 15, Folder 10
Local Identifier
2014_12996_276
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
It's A Long Way To Berlin, But We'll Get There
Alternative Title
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
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Soldiers -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.  
  • William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941 -- Songs and music.  
  • Marches (Voice with piano)  
Subject - Geographic
Berlin (Germany)  
Lyrics
  • [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.
  • [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 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 2]
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.
Back Cover Description
  • Reproduction of a Saturday Evening Post advertisement; red and blue on white. Promotional text, illustrations, and samples:
  • "It's a Long Way to Berlin" (© 1917 09 08)
  • "I Don't Want to Get Well" (© 1917 08 31)
  • "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here" (© 1917 09 21)
  • "Homeward Bound" (© 1917 08 18)
  • TR: A-73
Interior Description
  • p. 2, BL, in box: Also published for / Band 25¢ / Orchestra 25¢ / Male Quartette 10¢
  • p. 2, BR, in box: This composition may also be had for your Talking Machine or Player Piano
  • Gutter, pp. 2-3, middle: Feist logo
  • Plate numbers: pp. 2-3, BL: 3692-2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
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
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleIt's A Long Way To Berlin, But We'll Get There
Alternative Titlep. 2, top: It's A Long Way To Berlin, But We'll Get There!
ComposerFlatow, Leon  
LyricistFields, Arthur  
PublisherLeo Feist Inc.  
Place of PublicationNew York  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-09-07
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Historical NoteThis 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.
Dedicationp. 2, top: Dedicated to Lieut. Joseph E. Barrell and Lieut. Eugene J. Orsenigo, 71st N. Y. Infantry
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Soldiers -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.  
  • William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941 -- Songs and music.  
  • Marches (Voice with piano)  
Subject - GeographicBerlin (Germany)  
Lyrics
  • [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.
  • [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 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 2]
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
ArtistRosenbaum Studios  
Cover DescriptionAmerican 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.
Back Cover Description
  • Reproduction of a Saturday Evening Post advertisement; red and blue on white. Promotional text, illustrations, and samples:
  • "It's a Long Way to Berlin" (© 1917 09 08)
  • "I Don't Want to Get Well" (© 1917 08 31)
  • "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here" (© 1917 09 21)
  • "Homeward Bound" (© 1917 08 18)
  • TR: A-73
Interior Description
  • p. 2, BL, in box: Also published for / Band 25¢ / Orchestra 25¢ / Male Quartette 10¢
  • p. 2, BR, in box: This composition may also be had for your Talking Machine or Player Piano
  • Gutter, pp. 2-3, middle: Feist logo
  • Plate numbers: pp. 2-3, BL: 3692-2
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 15, Folder 10
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_276
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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