It's a Long Way to Tipperary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" |
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Sheet music cover
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| Song | |
| Published | 1912 |
| Genre | Music Hall, patriotic song, marching anthem |
| Songwriter(s) | Jack Judge and Harry Williams |
"It's a Long Way to Tipperary" is a famous English music hall song. It was first performed in 1912 by Jack Judge. He wrote it with Harry Williams, though who exactly wrote it has been debated for a long time.
The song became very popular during the First World War. Soldiers sang it as a marching song. It is still remembered today as one of the most famous songs from that war. In Tipperary Town in Ireland, signs humorously say, "You've come a long way," because of the song.
What the Song is About
The song tells the story of an Irish worker living in London. He misses his home in Ireland very much. Unlike many war songs from earlier times, this song does not talk about brave actions or fighting. Instead, it focuses on missing home and wishing to be back there. Another famous song from that time, "Keep the Home Fires Burning," also shared this feeling.
The Lyrics
Here are the words to "It's a Long Way to Tipperary":
Up to mighty London
Came an Irishman one day.
As the streets are paved with gold
Sure, everyone was gay,
Singing songs of Piccadilly,
Strand and Leicester Square,
Till Paddy got excited,
Then he shouted to them there:
Chorus
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!"
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!"
Where Else Has It Been Heard?
"It's a Long Way to Tipperary" has appeared in many films and TV shows.
It was in the 1951 film On Moonlight Bay. It was also part of the 1960s stage musical and film Oh! What a Lovely War. In the 1970 musical Darling Lili, Julie Andrews sang it.
The song was sung by prisoners of war in the 1937 film La Grande Illusion. It was also background music in The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966).
You can hear it in For Me and My Gal (1942) with Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. It's also in Gallipoli (1981) starring Mel Gibson.
In the 1981 film Das Boot, the German submarine crew sings the song. It helps to cheer them up.
The cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show sang the song at the end of their final TV episode. This happened after news anchor Ted Baxter (played by Ted Knight) oddly recited some of the lyrics on the news.
The song is often played in documentaries about the First World War.
In 1916, after the Battle of Jutland, survivors from the sinking ship HMS Tipperary were found by another ship. Their rescuers knew who they were because they were singing "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" in their lifeboat.
See also
In Spanish: It's a Long Way to Tipperary para niños
