100 years ago: The American Quartet’s “Over There” hit #1

Over There American Quartet

Writer(s): George M. Cohan (see lyrics here) First Charted: September 29, 1917 Peak: 19 US, 120 GA, 122 SM, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.0 (sheet music) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.05 video, -- streaming

Over There Nora Bayes

First Charted: November 3, 1917 Peak: 13 US, 120 GA (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 2.0 (sheet music) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.18 video, -- streaming

Awards (American Quartet version):

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Awards (Nora Bayes’ version):

About the Song: George M. Cohan’s “biggest song not written for Broadway” RCG became World War I’s most famous song. DJ He penned the patriotic number after reading in the newspaper that the United States had declared war on Germany. He expanded the opening phrase of “Johnny Get Your Gun,” a popular song from 1886, into “a lyric that is both a call to arms and a vow not to come home till ‘it’s over, over there’.” RCG Cohan himself introduced the song at Ft. Myers to an audience of soldiers, but it had little impact. However, the response was “overwhelming” when Charles King sang it at the New York City’s Hippodrome Theatre for a Red Cross Benefit. RCG For the official recording of the song, Cohan specifically requested Nora Bayes. NRR She was a popular vaudeville and Broadway star and former member of the Ziegfeld Follies. NRR She introduced it at a Red Cross war-bond rally, DJ added it to her vaudeville act, and then recorded it. It sold over a million copies RCG and hit #1. She wasn’t the first to chart with the song, however. In fact, the American Quartet and the Peerless Quartet took it to #1 before she did. The American Quartet’s version was the biggest hit of 1917. CPM The following year, Enrico Caruso also recorded a chart-topping version PM giving “Over There” and “Peg O’ My Heart” the distinction of being the only two songs in history to top the charts four times. Billy Murray and Prince’s Orchestra also recorded top 10 versions of the song. Resources: DJ David Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 154. NRR National Recording Registry RCG RimChiGuy.com The Old Songs (1900-1929) PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research, Inc: Menomonee Falls, WI. Page 565. CPM Joel Whitburn (1999). A Century of Pop Music. Record Research, Inc.: Menomonee Falls, WI. Page 28. Related Links: First posted 9/29/2011; last updated 3/20/2023.

George M. Cohan Was Born: July 3, 1878

One of America’s greatest patriotic songwriters was, at least by his account, born on the 4th of July. Many sources confirm that date and even his mother claimed he was an Independence Day baby. However, the Irish Music Archive confirms that his official birth certificate indicates July 3, ^IM although it also lists the wrong first name for his mother. ^WK

Among Cohan’s most notable compositions were “Over There” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag” (originally called “You’re a Grand Old Rag”). The songs were so associated with patriotism during World War I that Cohan earned a Congressional Medal of Honor in 1936 for his contributions to boosting wartime morale. He was the first artist to receive the honor. “Flag” was also given the Towering Song Award by the Songwriters Hall of Fame and is in the National Recording Registry.


Sheet music cover for “You’re a Grand Old Flag” featuring Cohan dressed as George Washington. Click to hear Billy Murray’s performance of the song.

Cohan also has two entries in the Grammy Hall of Fame with “Yankee Doodle Boy” and “Give My Regards to Broadway”. The four songs already mentioned and “Harrigan” rate in the top 1000 songs of the 20th century list by Dave’s Music Database.

Cohan got an early start in musical theater. At age 9, he was appearing on stage with his vaudevillian family. By age 13, he was writing songs and plays for the act. He went on to write, produce, direct, and star in more than 40 Broadway musicals. He wrote more than 500 songs and acted in over 1000 performances. ^IM He has been referred to as the father of American musical comedy and “the man who owned Broadway”. ^WK He was the subject of the 1942 Academy-Award-winning biopic Yankee Doodle Dandy, starring James Cagney as Cohan.



Cohan was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and is rated one of the top 100 songwriters of all time by Dave’s Music Database.

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Resources:

• George M. Cohan’s DMDB music maker encyclopedia entry
  
• ^IM Irish Music Archive
  
• ^SH Songwriters Hall of Fame
  
• ^WK Wikipedia entry on Cohan
  

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