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Would You Rather Be a Colonel with an Eagle on Your Shoulder, or a Private with a Chicken on Your Knee?

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/f286de10-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-7

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
Would You Rather Be A Colonel With An Eagle On Your Shoulder or A Private With A Chicken On Your Knee - Lyrics
Composer
Gottler, Archie  
Lyricist
Mitchell, Sidney  
Publisher
Leo Feist Inc.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Lyrics
Would You Rather Be a Colonel With an Eagle On Your Shoulder, Or a Private With a Chicken On Your Knee? Verse: Once I heard a father ask his soldier son, “Why can’t you advance like other boys have done? You’ve been a private mighty long, won’t you tell me what is wrong?” And then the soldier lad, said, “Listen to me, Dad.” Refrain: “I’d rather be a private than a colonel in the army, a private has more fun, When his day’s work is done, and when he goes on hikes, in ev’ry town he strikes, Girls discover him, and just smother him with things he likes, But girlies act so shy, when colonel passes by, he holds his head so high with dignity, So would you rather be a colonel with an eagle on your shoulder, Or a private with a chicken on your knee?” Verse: “Ev’ry night you find some private in the park, spooning on a bench where it is nice and dark, He’s just as happy as can be, with his girlie on his knee. But colonel never dares, to mix in such affairs.” Refrain: “I’d rather be a private th
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 22, Folder 5
Local Identifier
2014_12996_889
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
Would You Rather Be a Colonel with an Eagle on Your Shoulder, or a Private with a Chicken on Your Knee?
Composer
Gottler, Archie  
Lyricist
Mitchell, Sidney  
Publisher
Leo Feist Inc.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
1918-10-01
Lyrics
Would You Rather Be a Colonel With an Eagle On Your Shoulder, Or a Private With a Chicken On Your Knee? Verse: Once I heard a father ask his soldier son, “Why can’t you advance like other boys have done? You’ve been a private mighty long, won’t you tell me what is wrong?” And then the soldier lad, said, “Listen to me, Dad.” Refrain: “I’d rather be a private than a colonel in the army, a private has more fun, When his day’s work is done, and when he goes on hikes, in ev’ry town he strikes, Girls discover him, and just smother him with things he likes, But girlies act so shy, when colonel passes by, he holds his head so high with dignity, So would you rather be a colonel with an eagle on your shoulder, Or a private with a chicken on your knee?” Verse: “Ev’ry night you find some private in the park, spooning on a bench where it is nice and dark, He’s just as happy as can be, with his girlie on his knee. But colonel never dares, to mix in such affairs.” Refrain: “I’d rather be a private th
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 22, Folder 5
Local Identifier
2014_12996_889
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleWould You Rather Be a Colonel with an Eagle on Your Shoulder, or a Private with a Chicken on Your Knee?
ComposerGottler, Archie  
LyricistMitchell, Sidney  
PublisherLeo Feist Inc.  
Place of PublicationNew York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of Copyright1918-10-01
LyricsWould You Rather Be a Colonel With an Eagle On Your Shoulder, Or a Private With a Chicken On Your Knee? Verse: Once I heard a father ask his soldier son, “Why can’t you advance like other boys have done? You’ve been a private mighty long, won’t you tell me what is wrong?” And then the soldier lad, said, “Listen to me, Dad.” Refrain: “I’d rather be a private than a colonel in the army, a private has more fun, When his day’s work is done, and when he goes on hikes, in ev’ry town he strikes, Girls discover him, and just smother him with things he likes, But girlies act so shy, when colonel passes by, he holds his head so high with dignity, So would you rather be a colonel with an eagle on your shoulder, Or a private with a chicken on your knee?” Verse: “Ev’ry night you find some private in the park, spooning on a bench where it is nice and dark, He’s just as happy as can be, with his girlie on his knee. But colonel never dares, to mix in such affairs.” Refrain: “I’d rather be a private th
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 22, Folder 5
Local Identifier2014_12996_889
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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Would You Rather Be A Colonel With An Eagle On Your Shoulder or A Private With A Chicken On Your Knee - Lyrics
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