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The Trench Trot

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/fbba7040-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-8

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
The Trench Trot - Lyrics
Composer
Klickmann, F. Henri  
Lyricist
Frost, Jack  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co.  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Lyrics
How do you do, how do you do, Mister New Dance? How do you do, how do you do, Mister New Chance? To “Ball the Jack” with much propriety, to take a crack at high society, how do you do, how do you do, Mister New Tune? How do you do, how do you do, Mister Blue Tune? Jackies, khakies [sic], ev’ryone’s turning it, you’ll be learning it soon. “Forward, march!” Don’t shake your shoulder, just as stiff as starch, ‘cause you’re a soldier. Then it’s “One! Two! Three! Four!” (Now don’t you trifle, he’s got a rifle) Do “Bout Face!” It seems so funny when you take your place, “Salute” your honey, then you “Right step!” and then you “Left step!” around about. Shout “Squads, right!” You cuddle close to her, and hold her tightly till she gives you “As you were!” My honey, that’s the dance we’ll soon be twirlin’ when we get over to the town of Berlin, trench trot, the little trench trot, ev’rybody’s doin’ it now. How do you do, how do you do, Mister War Dance? How do you do, how do you do, Mister War Prance? Just watch your step and don’t you hesitate, just add some pep and try to syncopate. How do you do, how do you do, Mister Joy Tune? How do you do, how do you do, Soldier Boy Tune? Swing it, fling it, ev’ryone’s dancing it, you’ll be prancing it soon.
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 14, Folder 4
Local Identifier
2014_12996_213
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
The Trench Trot
Composer
Klickmann, F. Henri  
Lyricist
Frost, Jack  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co.  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
No copyright registered.
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], [2]-[3], [1] p.)
Comment
Frost and Klickmann seem to have been only moderately successful in exploiting a pre-existing dance novelty. Despite its association with Sophie Tucker, and despite advertisements that persisted through May 1919, the only performances recorded in industry journals were by burlesque companies, with scattered amateur renditions noted through 1919.
Historical Note
  • the second, with an inset of Sophie Tucker, postdates November 23, 1918, when it was announced that she would take up the song. (There is no evidence that she actually performed it, however.) The “trench trot” was first a satirical phrase used by American troops in descriptions of life in the trenches. A novelty dance by that name was proposed as early as August 1917 and was promoted vigorously in June 1918 at the international convention of the International Dancing Masters’ Association, which also announced plans to send a dancing masters’ unit to France to teach new dance steps to the soldiers. Some controversy followed this proposal, which appears not to have been implemented.
  • This is the first of two printings
Musical Note
  • the refrain suggests a march song, with syncopation and many passing chromatic inflections.
  • the verse, in contrast, is conventional. There are allusions to minor modes and the blues in both text and music, especially in the verse
  • This novelty (marked “moderato”) is an adapted fox-trot by virtue of tempo and the extensive dotted rhythms. An unusually complex lyric is set ingeniously in an unusual 28-bar refrain
Subject - Topic
  • Novelty songs.  
  • Foxtrots  
  • Dance -- Songs and music  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Trench warfare -- Songs and music  
  • Tucker, Sophie -- 1884-1966  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
The Trench Trot [Verse] How do you do, how do you do, Mister New Dance? How do you do, how do you do, Mister New Chance? To “Ball the Jack” with much propriety, To take a crack at high society. How do you do, how do you do, Mister New Tune? How do you do, how do you do, Mister Blue Tune? Jackies, khakies, ev’ryone’s turning it, You’ll be learning it soon. [Refrain] “Forward, march!” Don’t shake your shoulder, Just as stiff as starch, ‘cause you’re a soldier. Then it’s “One! Two! Three! Four!” (now don’t you trifle, he’s got a rifle) Do “Bout Face!” It seems so funny When you take your place, “Salute” your honey, then you “Right step!” and then you “Left step!” around about. Shout “Squads, right!” You cuddle close to her, and hold her tightly Till she gives you “As you were!” My honey, that’s the dance we’ll soon be twirlin’ When we get over to the town of Berlin, Trench trot, the little trench trot, Ev’rybody’s doin’ it now. [Verse] How do you do, how do you do, Mister War Dance? How do you do, how do you do, Mister War Prance? Just watch your step and don’t you hesitate, Just add some pep and try to syncopate. How do you do, how do you do, Mister Joy Tune? How do you do, how do you do, Soldier Boy Tune? Swing it, fling it, ev’ryone’s dancing it, You’ll be prancing it soon. [Verse]
Musical Genre
  • Fox-trot
  • March song
  • Novelty song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Artist
“H“ (in circle, as a monogram)  
Cover Description
  • signed BC with monogram “H” in circle.
  • diagonally across, in front, is a banner with photographic insets of Sophie Tucker and her 5 Kings of Syncopation. Black (1st printing) or blue (2nd printing) and red on white
  • Two couples, each containing a uniformed soldier and a woman in ballroom gown, dancing, in front of a grid (trellis or window) with vines, art deco style
Back Cover Description
Advertisement for “Late Patriotic Successes”. Four rows of samples: Top row: samples and covers for There’s a Little Blue Star in the Window (© 1918, advertised 1918 01 16) I’m Hitting the Trail to Normandy (© 1917 09 15) Second row: samples for Old Glory Goes Marching On (© 1918 04 10) Will the Angels Guard My Daddy Over There? (© 1918 04 10) When a Boy Says Good Bye to His Mother and She Gives Him To Uncle Sam (© 1917 09 04) Third row: samples for When It Comes to a Lovingless Day (© 1918 01 23) Let the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells (© 1918, advertised 1918 05 15) When the Kaiser Does the Goose-step to a Good Old American Rag (© 1917 10 22) Fourth row: samples and covers for A-M-E-R-I-C-A (© 1917 06 22) Giddy Giddap! Go on, Go on (© 1917 09 04)
Performance Medium
voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 14, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_213
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleThe Trench Trot
ComposerKlickmann, F. Henri  
LyricistFrost, Jack  
PublisherFrank K. Root & Co.  
Place of PublicationChicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of CopyrightNo copyright registered.
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], [2]-[3], [1] p.)
CommentFrost and Klickmann seem to have been only moderately successful in exploiting a pre-existing dance novelty. Despite its association with Sophie Tucker, and despite advertisements that persisted through May 1919, the only performances recorded in industry journals were by burlesque companies, with scattered amateur renditions noted through 1919.
Historical Note
  • the second, with an inset of Sophie Tucker, postdates November 23, 1918, when it was announced that she would take up the song. (There is no evidence that she actually performed it, however.) The “trench trot” was first a satirical phrase used by American troops in descriptions of life in the trenches. A novelty dance by that name was proposed as early as August 1917 and was promoted vigorously in June 1918 at the international convention of the International Dancing Masters’ Association, which also announced plans to send a dancing masters’ unit to France to teach new dance steps to the soldiers. Some controversy followed this proposal, which appears not to have been implemented.
  • This is the first of two printings
Musical Note
  • the refrain suggests a march song, with syncopation and many passing chromatic inflections.
  • the verse, in contrast, is conventional. There are allusions to minor modes and the blues in both text and music, especially in the verse
  • This novelty (marked “moderato”) is an adapted fox-trot by virtue of tempo and the extensive dotted rhythms. An unusually complex lyric is set ingeniously in an unusual 28-bar refrain
Subject - Topic
  • Novelty songs.  
  • Foxtrots  
  • Dance -- Songs and music  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Trench warfare -- Songs and music  
  • Tucker, Sophie -- 1884-1966  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
LyricsThe Trench Trot [Verse] How do you do, how do you do, Mister New Dance? How do you do, how do you do, Mister New Chance? To “Ball the Jack” with much propriety, To take a crack at high society. How do you do, how do you do, Mister New Tune? How do you do, how do you do, Mister Blue Tune? Jackies, khakies, ev’ryone’s turning it, You’ll be learning it soon. [Refrain] “Forward, march!” Don’t shake your shoulder, Just as stiff as starch, ‘cause you’re a soldier. Then it’s “One! Two! Three! Four!” (now don’t you trifle, he’s got a rifle) Do “Bout Face!” It seems so funny When you take your place, “Salute” your honey, then you “Right step!” and then you “Left step!” around about. Shout “Squads, right!” You cuddle close to her, and hold her tightly Till she gives you “As you were!” My honey, that’s the dance we’ll soon be twirlin’ When we get over to the town of Berlin, Trench trot, the little trench trot, Ev’rybody’s doin’ it now. [Verse] How do you do, how do you do, Mister War Dance? How do you do, how do you do, Mister War Prance? Just watch your step and don’t you hesitate, Just add some pep and try to syncopate. How do you do, how do you do, Mister Joy Tune? How do you do, how do you do, Soldier Boy Tune? Swing it, fling it, ev’ryone’s dancing it, You’ll be prancing it soon. [Verse]
Musical Genre
  • Fox-trot
  • March song
  • Novelty song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
Artist“H“ (in circle, as a monogram)  
Cover Description
  • signed BC with monogram “H” in circle.
  • diagonally across, in front, is a banner with photographic insets of Sophie Tucker and her 5 Kings of Syncopation. Black (1st printing) or blue (2nd printing) and red on white
  • Two couples, each containing a uniformed soldier and a woman in ballroom gown, dancing, in front of a grid (trellis or window) with vines, art deco style
Back Cover DescriptionAdvertisement for “Late Patriotic Successes”. Four rows of samples: Top row: samples and covers for There’s a Little Blue Star in the Window (© 1918, advertised 1918 01 16) I’m Hitting the Trail to Normandy (© 1917 09 15) Second row: samples for Old Glory Goes Marching On (© 1918 04 10) Will the Angels Guard My Daddy Over There? (© 1918 04 10) When a Boy Says Good Bye to His Mother and She Gives Him To Uncle Sam (© 1917 09 04) Third row: samples for When It Comes to a Lovingless Day (© 1918 01 23) Let the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells (© 1918, advertised 1918 05 15) When the Kaiser Does the Goose-step to a Good Old American Rag (© 1917 10 22) Fourth row: samples and covers for A-M-E-R-I-C-A (© 1917 06 22) Giddy Giddap! Go on, Go on (© 1917 09 04)
Performance Mediumvoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 14, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_213
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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