Yip-Yip-Yaphank (1918)

Sterling Silver Moon, The

[Music and lyrics later revised as "Mandy" (1919)]

[VERSE:]
I was strolling out one evening 'neath the sterling silver moon
I could hear somebody singing a familiar tune
So I stopped a while to listen
Not a word I wanted to miss
It was just somebody serenading something like this

[REFRAIN:]
Mandy
Sweeter than a bushel of candy
Don't you know the summer is dandy
For a sterling silver spoon?
My pretty Mandy
Don't you know the parson is handy?
Come and talk it over with Andy
'Neath the sterling silver moon


Ding Dong

[VERSE:]
I'm so happy today
Things are coming my way
There's a wonderful reason
Why I'm feeling so gay
Now you never will guess
So I'd better confess
Why I'm so happy
My Melinda said "Yes"

[REFRAIN:]
Ding dong, ding dong
Hear those joy bells ring?
Ting-a-ling-a-ling
My little 'Lindy whispered in my ear
"Set the date, honey, don't you wait"
And ever since all I can hear is
Ding dong, ding dong
Listen to those joy bells chime
I've had my fortune read
And here's what the gypsy said
"You're gwine to be happy for a long, long time"


Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning

[Original 1918 version:]

[1st VERSE:]
The other day I chanced to meet a soldier friend of mine
He'd been in camp for sev'ral weeks and he was looking fine
His muscles had developed and his cheeks were rosy red
I asked him how he liked the life and this is what he said:

[REFRAIN:]
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 got to get up
You've got to get up
You've got to 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

[2nd VERSE:]
A bugler in the army is the luckiest of men
He wakes the boys at five and then goes back to bed again
He doesn't have to blow again until the afternoon
If ev'rything goes well with me I'll be a bugler soon

[alternate lines in 2nd REFRAIN:]
Oh! boy the minute the battle is over
Oh! boy the minute the foe is dead
I'll put my uniform away
And move to Philadelphia


[Revised version:]
[VERSE:]
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

[REFRAIN:]
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 got to get up
You've got to get up
You've got to 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

[alternate lines in 2nd REFRAIN:]
And then I'll get that other pup
The guy who wakes the bugler up


Kitchen Police (Poor Little Me)

[VERSE:]
There's dirty work to be done in the army
And it's not much fun
It's the kind of work that's done
Without the aid of a gun
The boys who work with the cooks in the kitchen
Holler out for peace
For they have to do the dirty work
And they're called the Kitchen Police

[REFRAIN:]
Poor little me
I'm a K.P.
I scrub the mess hall
Upon bended knee
Against my wishes 
I wash the dishes
To make this wide world safe for Democracy


Dream On, Little Soldier Boy

["Words by Jean Havez, Music by Irving Berlin"]

[VERSE:]
When darkness comes and the soldier 
Goes to the land of dreams
Comes stealing some little angel
Borne by the starlight beams
Soothing all of his care
With some beautiful prayer
Blessings numbering while he's slumbering
So peacefully there

[REFRAIN:]
Dream on, little soldier boy
May a golden vision fill your heart with joy

May all your happiest hours come back in dreams
May sunshine follow the show'rs with brightest beams

Wander with a peaceful mind 
In the land of fancy with the girl you left behind

Sleep on whatever befalls
Till dawn when reveille calls
Dream on, little soldier boy

[2]
You've work to do on the morrow
Dear little soldier lad
Grim war may add to your sorrow
You may be sick and sad
Even though you may fall
Sleep, forgetting it all
Resting cozily, dreaming rosily
Awaiting your call


I Can Always Find a Little Sunshine in the Y.M.C.A.

[VERSE:]
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

[REFRAIN:]
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.


Send a Lot of Jazz Bands Over There

[1st VERSE:]
Mister Wilson, Mister Wilson
Won't you kindly lend an ear
To what we think is a bright idea
It is very necessary that the boys are in good cheer
So that they can do their best
And here's what we suggest:

[REFRAIN:]
Send a lot of Jazz Bands over there
'Twill make the boys feel glad
Send a troupe of Alexanders
With their Jazz Bands out to Flanders
And make them play a lot of snappy airs
The kind that make you dance
It isn't just ammunition and food
You've got to keep them in a happy mood
So hurry up and send a troupe of Jazz Bands
Over to France

[2nd VERSE:]
Mister Wilson, Mister Wilson
Syncopation of today
Is the music of the U.S.A.
It is snappy, very happy and the only kind to play
For the soldiers out in France
Will help the big advance:


We're On Our Way to France

[1st VERSE:]
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

[REFRAIN:]
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

[2nd VERSE:]
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
Day day
Give us a parting cheer


Bevo

[VERSE:]
I used to own a vicious looking dog who wouldn't bite
I used to know a dangerous looking man who couldn't fight
My brother trained wild animals but they were really tame
And now I've tasted of a drink that strikes me just the same

[REFRAIN:]
Bevo, oh, oh, oh, Bevo
You're the grandest imitation that we know

You're the only drink that a soldier can pick
You taste like lager but you haven't got the kick, oh!

Bevo, oh, oh, oh, Bevo
Tho' you haven't got a punch up your sleeve-o

All the soldiers insist
That a Christian Scientist
Could easily come staggering home on Bevo


Ragtime Razor Brigade, The

[VERSE:]
Did you hear of the razor brigade?
Of the big reputation they've made?
Ever since they came to France
They've been used in ev'ry advance
They are noted for capturing Huns
And they never go in with their guns
When the Captain takes his stand
He gives them this command:

[REFRAIN:]
Take your trusty razor by the hand
Lead him gently into No-Man's Land
Keep a-dancing while advancing
And the first Hun that you meet
Hold up your razors
And cut off his retreat
They'll surrender when they see your blade
Razors make those German lads afraid
And when you bring your pris'ners back
You can make them ball the jack
And the world will say hip-hip-hooray
For the Ragtime Razor Brigade