Topic: AIF - Marching Songs
Australian Imperial Forces
Marching Songs
It's a Long Way to Tipperary, It's a long way to France
[From: The Queenslander, 3 April 1915, p. 22.]
To get over the mood of the Great War to the population of Australia and strike up a tune that had universal appeal and soon to become the quintessential anthem of the British Army, many Australian newspapers published the lyrics and the music score to It's a Long Way to Tipperary. Here is one example.
It's a Long Way to Tipperary
[From: Adelaide Chronical, 10 October 1914, p. 44.]
The song, It's a Long Way to Tipperary was never Irish despite using the name of the Irish town Tipperary. The song was written in 1912 by Harry Williams and his partner, an Irishman named Jack Judge, a music hall lyricist who never spent time in Ireland. It proved to be immensely popular once it was released. Very soon, not only London music halls but many cities throughout the United Kingdom had this song in their routines. It was guaranteed to get the audience singing along with the chorus, the ultimate aim of all good music hall songs.
Only two other songs gained such universal appeal during the Great War, they being "Lily Marleen" and "Colonel Bogey". The popular British anthem, It's a Long Way to Tipperary was possibly the favourite amongst all the warring nations.
Words and music by Harry Williams and Jack Judge, 1912
[To listen to John McCormack sing, click here.]
Up to mighty London came
An Irish lad one day,
All the streets were paved with gold,
So everyone was gay!
Singing songs of Piccadilly,
Strand, and Leicester Square,
'Til Paddy got excited and
He shouted to them there:
It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye Piccadilly,
Farewell Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.
Paddy wrote a letter
To his Irish Molly O',
Saying, "Should you not receive it,
Write and let me know!
If I make mistakes in "spelling",
Molly dear", said he,
"Remember it's the pen, that's bad,
Don't lay the blame on me".
It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye Piccadilly,
Farewell Leicester Square,
It's a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.
Molly wrote a neat reply
To Irish Paddy O',
Saying, "Mike Maloney wants
To marry me, and so
Leave the Strand and Piccadilly,
Or you'll be to blame,
For love has fairly drove me silly,
Hoping you're the same!"
It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye Piccadilly,
Farewell Leicester Square,
It's a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.
Extra wartime verse
That's the wrong way to tickle Mary,
That's the wrong way to kiss!
Don't you know that over here, lad,
They like it best like this!
Hooray pour le Francais!
Farewell, Angleterre!
We didn't know the way to tickle Mary,
But we learned how, over there!
After its popularity was cemented, another rival song arrived in 1915 using the same tune, called Pack up your Troubles. Written by George Asaf and the music score by Felix Powell, when published by by Chappell & Co. in London it became an instant success.
Pack up your Troubles
Words by George Asaf and music by Felix Powell
[To listen to Billy Murray sing, click here.]
Private Perks is a funny little codger
With a smile a funny smile.
Five feet none, he’s and artful little dodger
With a smile a funny smile.
Flush or broke he’ll have his little joke,
He can’t be suppress’d.
All the other fellows have to grin
When he gets this off his chest, Hi!
Chorus (sung twice after each verse)
Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,
And smile, smile, smile,
While you’ve a lucifer to light your fag,
Smile, boys, that’s the style.
What’s the use of worrying?
It never was worth while, so
Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,
And smile, smile, smile.
Private Perks went a-marching into Flanders
With his smile his funny smile.
He was lov’d by the privates and commanders
For his smile his funny smile.
When a throng of Bosches came along
With a mighty swing,
Perks yell’d out, “This little bunch is mine!
Keep your heads down, boys and sing, Hi!
Private Perks he came back from Bosche-shooting
With his smile his funny smile.
Round his home he then set about recruiting
With his smile his funny smile.
He told all his pals, the short, the tall,
What a time he’d had;
And as each enlisted like a man
Private Perks said ‘Now my lad,’ Hi!
Both these songs became favourites with the AIF whilst serving in France alongside their allies.
Further Reading:
Australian Light HorseBattles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: Australian Imperial Forces, Marching Songs, It's a Long Way to Tipperary, It's a long way to France
