"Over There" is a 1917 war song written by George M. Cohan that was popular with the United States military and the American public during World War I and World War II. Written shortly after the American entry into World War I, "Over There" is a patriotic motivational song meant to galvanize American men to enlist in the American Expeditionary Forces and fight the Central Powers. The song is best remembered for a line in its chorus: "The Yanks are coming."
History
According to the Library of Congress, Cohan wrote "Over There" during his commute to work on April 7, 1917, a day after the U.S. officially abandoned its policy of non-interventionism and joined the Allied Powers. Its opening verse is derived from "Johnny, Get Your Gun", an 1886 song written by Monroe Rosenfeld, while its rhythm was based on a three-note bugle call.
Cohan personally chose Nora Bayes to premiere "Over There" in June 1917, but the Peerless Quartet recorded it first on June 6 with Columbia Records. Bayes's rendition was released on July 13.
Lyrics
thumb|right|Sheet music from 1917 featuring sailor William J. Reilly of the [[USS Michigan (BB-27)|USS Michigan]]
right|thumb|Cover drawing of soldiers from sketch by Henry Hutt
As sung by early 20th-century recording artist Billy Murray: