Music and Song of World War I

The Great War was the second greatest conflict of all time. It was often referred to as the war to end all wars, lasting four years. Those who fought in this war may call it something else. They call it the Singing War. In the United States, Woodrow Wilson's citizens were making music on a large scale. The scale was large enough to support the making of dozens of pianos, public sheet music, and sound recording. During this time, right before the war started, sheet music publishers thrived for five years. They marketed 7,300 songs. The sheet music publishers contribution of patriotic and war songs is what made this war so focused on music.

With all the information that we have today on the history of music of the Great War, we can picture the same recordings or authentic echoes of the songs that provided courage to those heading east across the Atlantic or Southward to the English Channel, fearing a moment of diversion for those in the trenches and some comfort to the lonely and scared left at home. There were many songs that were popular during war that served as the soldiers anthems. The most popular one was Over There. It was written by George M. Cohan in 1917, at the beginning of the war. Its arrogant enthusiasm characterizes the music and the spirit of those men who have not yet seen the realities of the battle. Les Cleveland once said, "The music industry also promoted an alternative view of the war as an opportunity for adventurous excitement implicit as large George M. Cohan's, Over There." The lyrics of Over There promise that the Yanks are coming and make the boast, it wont come back til its over there.  Keep the Home Fire Burning was an other song very popular during the war. Though it originated in England, it was very popular in America as well. It was written by Ivor Novello, and it was his greatest hit. Another very famous war song is Its a Long way to Tipperary. It was very popular with soldiers on the western front during the summer of 1914. It was written by Jack Judge and Harry Williams in 1912, before the war. 

David Bishapm wrote an article in the New York times in 1916, talking about the songs of war and his opinion on what they will become. He said that the extraordinary events that were taking place would have a great effect on music, which was true. He said because composers weren't able to put pens on paper due to the tragedy of war they couldn't write. He says of the famous George Cohan on writing Over There, he was just trying to please the public by not stopping until he created a successful piece. He also believed that war was was turning American composers away from their calling. He said the young composers enjoyed war too much to write but, its up to the elders to keep the torch burning. David believed that classics should be banished and no related to war since they were written centuries ago with countries that the US is now at war with. Even though much of his article is his opinion, the majority is true and its a primary source. He talks of how not all music was written to arouse patriotism like Tipperary. It was written before the war for vaudeville performances. While this is true, its his opinion that its should be withdrawn. Another song he believes that should be withdrawn is Hand of Hope and Glory. There was no war in its inspiration, because it was written to bring King Edward VII to the throne.


The use of songs in war for the soldiers is the most important and influential topics. Soldiers gathered hundreds of songs from multiple sources, sheet music composers of all ages. They gathers popular songs of the day, written before the war or hymns for around the world. Along with making up songs, they made parodies of all the songs they found, made up by warriors who took the known melodies and changed the words to suit their needs. Singing was a group action for the soldiers. Singing formed bonds of comradeship, reinforced belonging to a group, helped them to get to know each other, and helped the soldiers endure the strain of unending combat and service. They main idea of songs from this time is that these songs were theirs.They had the right to sing them. They were the ones in the trenches, fighting for their countries, and trying to survive. Songs that they already knew were played through out the trenches using a phonograph, or a gramophone. They gramophone was portable. It provided some entertainment for the many that were knowingly about to die. The industry in the US for the gramophone was booming. They are much like a portable record player, just smaller and more compact.


Over all music and song played a big role in World War I. They provided hope and perseverance for soldiers. Songs like Over There and Tipperary lead the way for soldiers. The gramophone was also a useful tool for the trenches. The music and song of World War I, lead the way for the same thing to happen in World War II.

The poster for "Tipperary"

       The Album cover for the song Over There. 

                             

\                                             A Gramophone that the soldiers often carried. 

                                                        Over There by George Cohan

Sources 

The Lyrics and Music of the song Over There - Primary Source I used this source to look at what the lyrics actually meant to the soldiers.

Songs from the World War I Era - AVL I used this source to find the different songs from the war.

The lyrics and information of Tipperary I used this source to understand the lyrics of Tipperary.

A Quote on the song Over There. - Primary Source I used this source as a perspective on Over there.

David Bishapm's Article - Primary Source I used this source to get information and a different opinion of the songs of the war.

Canadian Soldiers I used this source to find about how music effected the soldiers.