THIS IS THE ARMY (Soundtrack)
Songs from the film "This Is The Army" (1943)
Starring George Murphy, Joan Leslie, Ronald Reagan, Alan Hale,
George Tobias and Charles Butterworth
All songs written by Irving Berlin - Based upon his Broadway Shows "Yip Yip Yaphank" (1918) and "This Is The Army" (1942)
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IT'S YOUR COUNTRY AND MY COUNTRY
Performed by Gertrude Niesen
It's your Country and my Country
With millions of real fighting men
It's your duty and my duty
To speak with the sword, not the pen
If Washington were living today
With sword in hand he'd stand up and say
For your Country and my Country
I'll do it all over again
It's your Country and my Country
With millions of real fighting men
It's your duty and my duty
To speak with the sword, not the pen
If Washington were living today
With sword in hand he'd stand up and say
For your Country and my Country
I'll do it all over again
**********
MY SWEETIE
Performed by George Murphy
I never felt so happy before
A little rascal knocked at my door
It's Cupid that I'm speaking of
I'm in love, so in love
I must admit that right from the start
I went and lost my heart
Wait'll you see me with my sweetie
Showin' her off to the crowd
Lookin' so dreamy at my sweetie
Feelin' so terribly proud
She makes a specialty
Of looking good to me
She ought to be right in Tiffany's window
She's a jewel, I know that you'll agree
Wait'll I'm married to my sweetie
How happy I'll be
I've got the bungalow paid for
I've had it 'specially made for
My sweetie
Sweetie-eetie-eetie
My sweetie and me
***********
POOR LITTLE ME, I'M ON KP
Performed by George Tobias and Male Chorus
Poor little me, I'm on KP
I scrub the Mess Hall on my bended knee
Against my wishes, I wash the dishes
To make this wide world safe for democracy
**********
OH! HOW I HATE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING
Performed by Male Chorus
Someday I'm going to murder the bugler
Someday they're going to find him dead
I'll amputate his reveille
And step upon it heavily
And spend the rest of my life in bed
**********
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO FRANCE
Performed by George Murphy & Male Chorus
All is ready so just hold steady
We'll soon be going to the pier
No more waiting or hesitating
The time to sail is here
Bye-bye mothers and all the others
Who'll come to shed a little tear
Don't cry, bye-bye
Give us a parting cheer
We're on our way to France
There's not a minute to spare
That's why
For when the Yanks advance
You bet we wanna be there
Goodbye
Old Hoboken is bent and broken
>From soldiers marching on her pier
While you slumber, a great big number
Of soldiers disappear
To the millions of brave civilians
That we are leaving over here
We say Good day
Give us a parting cheer
We're on our way to France
There's not a minute to spare
That's why
For when the Yanks advance
You bet we wanna be there
Goodbye
**********
GOODBYE FRANCE
Performed by Male Chorus
Goodby France
We'd love to stay here longer
But we must go home
Folks are waiting to welcome us
Across the foam
A fond farewell to you and yours
We've won the war to end all wars
The job is done
The Kaiser isn't coming back
So, goodbye France
**********
I CAN ALWAYS FIND A LITTLE SUNSHINE IN THE Y.M.C.A
Performed by Male Chorus
Mother dear, I've just finished mess
And I'm here in the Y.M.C.A.
How I've missed your tender caress
Since the day when I marched away
But don't worry, dear, I'm contented here
What is more I'm feeling fine
Ev'rything's all right, dear, and ev'ry night
I will drop you a line
You can picture me ev'ry ev'ning
At the close of the day
Writing a little letter
In the Y.M.C.A.
Don't you worry, mother darling
For while the skies are gray
I can always find a little sunshine
In the Y.M.C.A.
***********
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Performed by Kate Smith & Chorus
KATE:
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer
God Bless America
Land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above
>From the mountains, to the prairies
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home
KATE & CHORUS:
God Bless America
Land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above
KATE:
>From the mountains, to the prairies
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home
KATE & CHORUS:
God Bless America
Land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above
KATE:
>From the mountains, to the prairies
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home
>From the mountains, to the prairies
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home
KATE & CHORUS:
God bless America
KATE:
My home sweet home
**********
WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE
Performed by Frances Langford
Johnny Doughboy overseas, filled with pride and joy
Stopping everyone he meets and shouting, "It's a boy"
What does he look like, that boy of mine?
Since the news came I can't get him off my mind
Does he resemble his homely dad?
Does he look like the girl that I left behind?
Bring on the Germans and bring on the Japs
Bring on the first who you can find
One for the rascal I haven't seen
And one for the girl that I left behind
What does he look like, that boy of mine?
Since the news came I can't get him off my mind
Does he resemble his homely dad?
Does he look like the girl that I left behind?
Bring on the Germans and bring on the Japs
Bring on the first who you can find
One for the rascal I haven't seen
And one for the girl that I left behind
**********
OPENING CHORUS / THIS IS THE ARMY, MISTER JONES
Performed by Male Chorus
You thought that many, many years ago
You saw the last of every soldier show
But here we are, yes, here we are again
A lot of water's gone across the dam
Since we put make-up on for Uncle Sam
To treat you as our fathers treated you then
We were drafted by our President
And we march with banners unfurled
We were drilled and trained to represent
The greatest army in the world
Yes, the greatest army of actors in the world
Now don't get us wrong
We're not here for long
Our stay in the theater is brief
We're here with the show
To help get some dough
Some dough for the Army Relief
The much needed Army Relief
But beneath the powder and beneath the paint
There's a soldier brave and true
If some guy in Congress tells you that we ain't
Let him do what we had to do
And go through what we went through
We all have been selected from nearby and from far
They asked us lots of questions, they jabbed us in the arm
We stood there at attention, our faces turning red
The Sergeant looked us over and this is what he said
This is the army, Mister Jones
No private rooms or telephones
You had your breakfast in bed before
But you won't have it there any more
This is the army, Mister Green
We like the barracks nice and clean
You had a housemaid to clean your floor
But she won't help you out anymore
Do what the buglers command
They're in the army and not in a band
This is the army, Mister Brown
You and your baby went to town
She had you worried, but this is war
And she won't worry you anymore
This is the army, Mister Jones
No private rooms or telephones
You had your breakfast in bed before
But you won't have it there any more
This is the army, Mister Green
We like the barracks nice and clean
You had a housemaid to clean your floor
But she won't help you out anymore
Do what the buglers command
They're in the army and not in a band
This is the army, Mister Brown
You and your baby went to town
She had you worried, but this is war
And she won't worry you anymore
No, she won't worry you anymore
**********
I'M GETTING TIRED SO I CAN SLEEP
Performed by James Burrell
Out on a hike all day, dear
Part of the army grind
Weary and long the way, dear
But really I don't mind
I'm getting tired so I can sleep
I want to sleep so I can dream
I want to dream so I can be with you
I've got your picture by my bed
'Twill soon be placed beneath my head
To keep me company the whole night through
For a little while, whatever befalls
I will see your smile till reveille calls (Till reveille calls)
I hope you're tired enough to sleep
And please sleep long enough to dream
And look for me for I'll be dreaming too
(Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming of you the whole night through)
(For a little while, whatever befalls)
(I will see your smile till reveille calls, till reveille calls)
I hope you're tired enough to sleep
And please sleep long enough to dream
And look for me for I'll be dreaming, dreaming, dreaming too
(Dreaming too)
**********
MANDY
Performed by Ralph Magelssen & Male Chorus:
I was strolling out one evening by the silvery moon
I could hear somebody singing a familiat tune
So I stopped awhile to listen, not a word I wanted to miss
It was just somebody serenading , something like this
My pretty Mandy, there's a Minister handy
And it sure would be dandy if we let him make a fee
(If we let him make a fee)
So don't you linger, here's a ring for your finger
Isn't it a little humdinger
Come along and let the wedding chimes
Bring a happy times for Mandy and me
(Dance Routine)
My pretty Mandy, there's a Minister handy
And it sure would be dandy if he made a fee
Oh, don't you linger, here's a ring for your finger
Isn't it a humdinger
Come along and let the wedding chimes
Bring happy times for Mandy and me
Oh Mandy, there's a Minister handy
Come along and let the wedding chimes
Bring happy times for Mandy, Mandy
Ding dong, ding dong
The wedding chimes ring out
For Mandy, Mandy, Mandy and me
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LADIES OF THE CHORUS
Performed by Alan Hale & Male Chorus
Ladies of the chorus
That's what we are, it appears
We were inducted and we took a vow
We joined the Army, but look at us now
We're ladies of the chorus
Don't we look lovely, my dears
In corsets and dresses
And cute golden tresses
To hide the dirt behind our ears
I was a plumber
I quit work last summer
My number come up at the start
I was a printer
I quit work last winter
They okayed my lungs and my heart
I was a farmer
Potato embalmer
They took me away from the plow
I was a packer
I chewed plug 'terbaccer'
I wish I had some of it now
Oh, now we're in the chorus
Dressed up in girdles that squeeze
We're here to romance with
To sing and to dance with
A bunch of nerdy guys like these
GUYS: Pardon me, but aren't you the country maiden?
GALS: Pardon me, but aren't you the city chap?
GUYS:
Cuddle closer, won't you please
I'm about to take a squeeze
GALS: If you do then I will give your face a slap
GUYS:
I would love to take you home to meet my mother
I would like to meet my mother, but I can't
She will treat you like a queen
GALS: But I'm only seventeen
GUYS: If you are seventeen, then so's my aunt
GALS: Hi-ho! I want you to behave
GUYS: Hi-ho! I think you need a shave
GALS: Do you think that you can get me into pictures?
GUYS: If you're nice to me I'll get you on the screen
GALS: How about a movie test?
GUYS: Not with hair upon your chest
GALS: And now it's time to dance but keep it clean
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WHAT THE WELL-DRESSED MAN IN HARLEM WILL WEAR
Performed by James Cross, Joe Louis & Male Chorus
CROSS:
There's a change in fashion that shows
In those Lennox Avenue clothes
Mister Dude has disappeared with his flashy tie
You'll see in the Harlem Esquire
What the well-dressed man will desire
When he's struttin' down the street with his sweetie-pie
Sun tan, shade of green
Or an olive drab color scheme
That's what the well-dressed man in Harlem will wear
Dressed up in O.D.'s
With a tin hat for overseas
That's what the well-dressed man in Harlem will wear
Top hat, white tie and tails no more
They've been put away till after the war
If you want to know
Take a look at Brown Bomber Joe
That's what the well-dressed man in Harlem will wear
(Joe Louis keeps the beat with a punchbag)
CHORUS:
Sun tan, shade of green
Or an olive drab color scheme
That's what the well-dressed man in Harlem will wear
Dressed up in O.D.'s
With a tin hat for overseas
That's what the well-dressed man in Harlem will wear
Top hat, white tie and tails no more
They've been put away till after the war
If you want to know
Take a look at Brown Bomber Joe
That's what the well-dressed man in Harlem will wear
(Dance Routine)
CROSS:
Hi-Yo Silver
(Go son, go son)
A-boo-dlee-bee-bop
A-boo-dlee-bee-bop
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HOW ABOUT A CHEER FOR THE NAVY?
Performed by Male Chorus:
This is the Army, Mister Jones
(SHOUTS: How about the Navy? How about the Navy?)
The Army this, the Army that
Is all we heard from where we sat
Now how about a cheer for the Navy?
The Army's great, the Army's tough
But don't you think we've heard enough?
So how about a cheer for the Navy?
We know that Mister Stimson
Is solid as the rocks
But how about an orchid
For Secretary Knox?
The Army may be in the groove
But Walter Winchell won't approve
Unless you give a cheer for the Navy
Hip hip hooray
We haven't got long to stay
So how about one bouquet
For the Navy?
One word of praise, let it flow from your lips
One cheer and then we'll go back to our ships
Hip hip hooray
The Army has had its say
You're letting them get away
With the gravy
Just let them know
That an Army show
Could never be a hit without the Navy
The Army's what you may prefer
But in the social register
Is where you'll have to look for the Navy
If you would like to touch the gilt
Of Astor or of Vanderbilt
You'll have to come around to the Navy
The show was in the alley
It simply wouldn't do
Until the big finale
With Navy white and blue
The Army sails across the foam
The Navy always bring them home
So how about a cheer for the Navy?
Hip hip hooray
We haven't got long to stay
So how about one bouquet
For the Navy?
One word of praise, let it flow from your lips
One cheer and then we'll go back to our ships
Hip hip hooray
The Army has had its say
You're letting them get away
With the gravy
Just let them know
That an Army show
Could never be a hit without the Navy
Give a cheer, give a cheer, give a cheer, give a cheer
For the Navy
Just make it clear
That a rousing cheer
Is very much in order for the N-A-V-Y
The Navy
Navy
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HOSTESSES OF THE STAGE DOOR CANTEEN
Performed by Male Chorus & Sgt. Alan Manson as Jane Cowl
Merrily we appear on the scene
Hostesses of the Stage Door Canteen
Started by a lady with the wisdom of an owl
Waiting for instructions from our Captain........Jane Cowl
JANE COWL: Good evening, ladies
HOSTESSES: Good evening, Miss Cowl
JANE COWL:
Tonight's a special occasion
So be especially bright
The cast of "This Is The Army"
Will be our guests tonight
They must have fun, but don't be fools
It must be done according to the rules
You must be ladies
HOSTESSES: Don't worry, Miss Cowl
Merrily we appear on the scene
Hostesses of the Stage Door Canteen
Entertaining soldiers who are going off to war
Glad to be of service, but we could do much more
We could do more for the boys
And greatly add to their joys
But we don't get very far
The rules and regulations are
We mustn't be seen
Outside the Canteen
With a soldier
They each could do with a gal
Would greatly help their morale
But we simply must resist
We take an oath when we enlist
To never be found
Canoodling around
With a soldier
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I LEFT MY HEART AT THE STAGE DOOR CANTEEN
Performed by Earl Oxford & Chorus
Old Mister Absent-Minded, that's me
Just as forgetful as I can be
I've got the strangest sort of a mind
I'm always leaving something behind
I left my heart at the Stage Door Canteen
(At the Stage Door Canteen)
I left it there with a girl named Eileen
(A girl named Eileen, she stole his heart away)
I kept her serving doughnuts
Till all she had were gone
I sat there dunking doughnuts
Till she caught on (Till she caught on)
I must go back to the Army routine
(The Army routine)
And every doughboy knows what that will mean
(Know what you mean by routine)
A soldier boy without a heart
Has two strikes on him from the start
And my heart's at the Stage Door Canteen
(We must go back to the Stage Door Canteen)
(And every doughboy knows what that will mean)
A soldier boy without a heart
Has two strikes on him from the start
And my heart's at the Stage Door Canteen
(My heart is at the Stage Door Canteen)
**********
WITH MY HEAD IN THE CLOUDS
Performed by Robert Shanley & Chorus
What does a flyer think of when he's up there in the sky?
Ask any Army pilot and he'll answer with a sigh
While I'm there in the air
With my head in the clouds
I think of someone I love
And I know down below
She is thinking of me
When I am up there above
When the night is clear
And the bombardier
Drops a bomb that's wired for sound
How I yearn to return
With my head in the clouds
To the one I love on the ground
(While I'm there in the air)
(With my head in the clouds)
I think of someone I love
(And I know down below)
(She is thinking of me)
When I am up there above
When the night is clear
And the bombardier
Drops a bomb that's wired for sound
How I yearn to return
With my head in the clouds
To the one I love on the ground
**********
AMERICAN EAGLES
Performed by Male Chorus
Eagles
American eagles
America sings
Of her wings
In the sky
Eagles
American eagles
America's strong
Just as long
As they fly
More bombers to attack with
More bombers till the skies are black with
Eagles
American eagles
America sings
Of her kings
In the sky
Eagles
American eagles
America sings
Of her wings
In the sky
Eagles
American eagles
America's strong
Just as long
As they fly
Give us some more bombers to attack with
More bombers till the skies are black with
Eagles
American eagles
America sings
Of her kings
In the sky
**********
OH! HOW I HATE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING
Performed by Irving Berlin, George Murphy, George Tobias, Charles Butterworth & Male Chorus
MURPHY: You gotta get up, you gotta get up, you gotta get up this morning
BERLIN:
I've been a soldier quite a while and I would like to state
The life is simply wonderful, the Army food is great
I sleep with ninety-seven others in a wooden hut
I love them all, they all love me, it's very lovely, but.....
Oh! How I hate to get up in the morning
Oh! How I'd love to remain in bed
For the hardest blow of all is to hear the bugler call
'You've gotta get up, you've gotta get up
You've gotta get up this morning!'
Someday I'm going to murder the bugler
Someday they're going to find him dead
I'll amputate his reveille and step upon it heavily
And spend the rest of my life in bed
ALL:
Oh! How I hate to get up in the morning
Oh! How I'd love to remain in bed
For the hardest blow of all is to hear the bugler call
'You gotta get up, you gotta get up
You gotta get up this morning!'
Someday I'm going to murder the bugler
Someday they're going to find him dead
BERLIN:
And then I'll get that other pup
The guy who wakes the bugler up
ALL:
And spend the rest of my life in bed!
**********
THIS TIME
Performed by Robert Shanley & Chorus
SHANLEY:
'Twas not so long ago
We sailed to meet the foe
And thought our fighting days were done
We thought 'twas over then
But now we're in again
To win the war that wasn't won
This time
We will all make certain
That this time is the last time
This time
We will not say "Curtain"
Till we ring it down
In their own home town
For this time
We are out to finish the job we started then
Clean it up for all time this time
So we won't have to do it again
ALL:
Dressed up to win
We're dressed up to win
Dressed up for victory
We are just beginning
And we won't stop winning
Till the world is free
For this time
We will all make certain
That this time is the last time
This time
We will not say "Curtain"
Till we ring it down
In their own home town
For this time
We are out to finish the job we started then
Clean it up for all time this time
So we won't have to do it again
Dressed up to win
We're dressed up to win
Dressed up for victory
We are just beginning
And we won't stop winning
Till the world is free
For this time
We will all make certain
That this time is the last time
This time
We will not say "Curtain"
Till we ring it down
In their own home town
For this time
We are out to finish the job we started then
Clean it up for all time this time
So we won't have to do it again
We'll fight to the finish this time
And we'll never have to do it again
**********
All songs transcribed and/or verified by Mel Priddle - November 2007)
**********
(Contributed by - November 2007)
