| Tell that to the Marines | |
| Cover: | TellThatToTheMarinesCoverJolson.jpg |
| Published: | 1918 |
| Lyricist: | Harold Atteridge |
"Tell that to the Marines" is a 1918 song, written during World War I. Jean Schwartz and Al Jolson composed the music; Harold Atteridge wrote the lyrics. Al Jolson performed an early version of the song.[1] Based on sales estimates, it reached number two on the Top 100 US songs of its time.[2]
The lyrics reference the catchphrase, Tell It to the Marines, and they address Kaiser Wilhelm directly.[3]
Do you remember, Kaiser BillAbout a year ago?We told your old friend BernstorffThat he better pack and goYou laughed and said"America possessed no fighting stuff,"Until our fighting Yankee boysWalked in and called your bluff
That Monte Cristo idea will not doIf you think that the world belongs to you
Well, tell that to the Marines--Those deviling hounds who know what fighting meansYou are going to lick the world-- you said you will--If you mean Uncle Sam, now listen Kaiser Bill:
Tell that to the MarinesThe first to fight on all the fighting scenesIf you think you'll sink our new boatWith your damned old u-boatTell that to the Marines
That line of Hindenburg's would never break, you made a vowIt must be made of rubber, BillThe way it's bending nowThe Krupp works that you bragged aboutYou rave of them no moreWe'll change them to the bankrupt works when we end up this warSo Kaiser Bill at warfare we are newIf you think now the Yankee drive is through
Well, tell that to the MarinesThose deviling hounds who know what fighting meansWe are going to have six million men in lineKaiser Bill, if you don't think they will cross the Rhine
Tell that to the MarinesThe first to fight on all the fighting scenesIf you think the Yanks won't whirl-inRight straight into BerlinTell that to the Marines!