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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/906a3c70-ef2e-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-9
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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 fourth variant of the third 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 printings are distinguished by their front covers; the variants are distinguished and ordered by their back covers. This variant postdates June 23, 1918, based on the back cover. The Saturday Evening Post advertisement cited on the back cover appeared on June 22, 1918.
  • The Passing Show of 1917 opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, New York, on April 26, 1917, closing on October 13.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • Soldiers  
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Recruiting and enlistment  
  • Songs and music  
  • William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941  
  • Marches (Voice with piano)  
Subject - Geographic
  • Berlin (Germany)  
  • Germany  
  • United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
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
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.
Illustrator
Strauss-Peyton  
Cover Description
  • Photograph of Henry Bergman. Brown on white; photograph signed BL.
  • Left: The Big Song Hit / Featured by / Henry Bergman / Passing Show of 1917
  • BL, on photograph: Strauss-Peyton K.C. 19©16
Back Cover Description
bc: Music Will Help Win the War. Promotional text and Saturday Evening Post advertisement 1918 06 22.
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, bottom: Feist logo
  • Plate numbers: pp. 2-3, BL: 3692-2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
Box 165
Local Identifier
ndi165_127
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 Note
  • This is the fourth variant of the third 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 printings are distinguished by their front covers; the variants are distinguished and ordered by their back covers. This variant postdates June 23, 1918, based on the back cover. The Saturday Evening Post advertisement cited on the back cover appeared on June 22, 1918.
  • The Passing Show of 1917 opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, New York, on April 26, 1917, closing on October 13.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • Soldiers  
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Recruiting and enlistment  
  • Songs and music  
  • William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941  
  • Marches (Voice with piano)  
Subject - Geographic
  • Berlin (Germany)  
  • Germany  
  • United States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
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
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.
IllustratorStrauss-Peyton  
Cover Description
  • Photograph of Henry Bergman. Brown on white; photograph signed BL.
  • Left: The Big Song Hit / Featured by / Henry Bergman / Passing Show of 1917
  • BL, on photograph: Strauss-Peyton K.C. 19©16
Back Cover Descriptionbc: Music Will Help Win the War. Promotional text and Saturday Evening Post advertisement 1918 06 22.
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, bottom: Feist logo
  • Plate numbers: pp. 2-3, BL: 3692-2
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original LocationBox 165
Local Identifierndi165_127
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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