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It's a Long Way to Berlin, But We'll Get There

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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 (N.Y.)  
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 second 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. The Saturday Evening Post advertisement cited on the back cover appeared on June 6, 1917.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • Marches (Voice with piano)  
  • William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941  
  • Songs and music  
  • Recruiting and enlistment  
  • Soldiers  
  • Popular music  
  • Songs and music  
  • World War, 1914-1918  
Subject - Geographic
  • United States  
  • Germany  
  • Berlin (Germany)  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
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
Newberry Library
Rights
NoC-US
Rights Description
The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information.
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 Maurice Burkhart. Black, red, and blue on white; signed with icon BL.
Back Cover Description
  • BR: A-68
  • I Called You My Sweetheart (© 1917 02 16)
  • If I Had a Son for Each Star in Old Glory (© 1917 02 19)
  • Reproduction of a Saturday Evening Post advertisement; red and blue on white. Promotional text, illustrations, and samples:
Interior Description
  • Plate numbers: pp. 2-3, BL: 3692-2
  • Gutter, pp. 2-3, middle: Feist logo
  • p. 2, BR, in box: This composition may also be had for your Talking Machine or Player Piano
  • p. 2, BL, in box: Also published for / Band 25¢ / Orchestra 25¢ / Male Quartette 10¢
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
Box 165
Local Identifier
ndi165_126
Collection Title
James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
Collection
World War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
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 (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-09-07
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Historical NoteThis is the second 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. The Saturday Evening Post advertisement cited on the back cover appeared on June 6, 1917.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • Marches (Voice with piano)  
  • William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941  
  • Songs and music  
  • Recruiting and enlistment  
  • Soldiers  
  • Popular music  
  • Songs and music  
  • World War, 1914-1918  
Subject - Geographic
  • United States  
  • Germany  
  • Berlin (Germany)  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
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 GenreMarch song
RepositoryNewberry Library
RightsNoC-US
Rights DescriptionThe organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information.
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 Maurice Burkhart. Black, red, and blue on white; signed with icon BL.
Back Cover Description
  • BR: A-68
  • I Called You My Sweetheart (© 1917 02 16)
  • If I Had a Son for Each Star in Old Glory (© 1917 02 19)
  • Reproduction of a Saturday Evening Post advertisement; red and blue on white. Promotional text, illustrations, and samples:
Interior Description
  • Plate numbers: pp. 2-3, BL: 3692-2
  • Gutter, pp. 2-3, middle: Feist logo
  • p. 2, BR, in box: This composition may also be had for your Talking Machine or Player Piano
  • p. 2, BL, in box: Also published for / Band 25¢ / Orchestra 25¢ / Male Quartette 10¢
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original LocationBox 165
Local Identifierndi165_126
Collection TitleJames Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
CollectionWorld War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

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