Over There Explained

Over There
Artist:	Nora Bayes
Published:	1917
Genre:	War-time song, March, Tin Pan Alley

"Over There" is a 1917 song written by George M. Cohan that was popular with the United States military and public during both world wars. It is a patriotic song designed to galvanize American young men to enlist and fight the "Hun". The song is best remembered for a line in its chorus: "The Yanks are coming."^[1]

History

Cohan wrote it after he had learned that the US had abandoned their policy of non-interventionism and planned to enter World War I on the side of the Allied Powers.^[2] It has been revived on various occasions during and after World War II.^[1] It was not heavily used during the Vietnam War but has been used since the September 11 terrorist attacks.^[3]

Lyrics

As sung by early 20th-century recording artist Billy Murray:

In popular culture

• Since 2009, UK financial services comparison website Go.Compare has used an adapted version of the song for their adverts, sung by Wynne Evans.^{[4] [5]}
• The song provides the introduction to the Kanonenfieber song "The Yankee Division March" (with Trevor Strnad).^[6]

See also

• List of best-selling sheet music

External links

• Nora Bayes recording July 13, 1917, via U.S. Library of Congress, National Jukebox
• Vintage Audio: Over There
• Rendition by Billy Murray and quartet
• Library of Congress essay on recording on the National Recording Registry.
• Sheet music for "Over There", Leo Feist, Inc., 1917.
• Over There from Patriotic Melodies

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mondello . Bob . George M. Cohan, 'The Man Who Created Broadway,' Was An Anthem Machine . American Anthem . NPR . 2022-04-29 . 20 December 2018.
2. Web site: Over There . 2023-06-29 . Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.
3. • Book: Collins, Ace. Songs Sung, Red, White, and Blue: The Stories Behind America's Best-Loved Patriotic Songs . registration. HarperResource. 2003. 0060513047. 138–145 . 2022-04-29 . Internet Archive.
4. Web site: GoCompare creates opera singer to take on Comparethemarket's meerkat . Fiona . Ramsay . campaign.co.uk . 18 August 2009 . 18 January 2024 .
5. News: Go Compare: The most annoying man on telly is back . Karen . Price . 26 July 2015. WalesOnline . 18 January 2024 .
6. News: Passend zum EP-Titel startet der Quasi-Titeltrack "The Yankee Division March" mit dem in beiden Weltkriegen populären Song "Over There" (George M. Cohan), der vom Einmarsch der "Yanks" kündet. Moritz. Grütz. 26 July 2015. Metal 1. 18 January 2024 .