I have 3 favourites, in no particular order…
Over There…I can see Granpa Simpson belting this out
Lili Marlene…British and German versions
The Horst Wessel Lied…I know, I know…but you have to admit it is a rousing tune.
What about you?
“Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile” always struck me as the perfect Music Hall singalong.
Over there.
It’s a long way to Tipperary.
As a child, my mama would always sing the old WWI songs to me, and I, in turn, would sing them to my children. It’s only been recently that I realized that those songs had probably been sung to mama when she was a child (born 1924). I just think that’s kinda cool!
WW1
Keep The Home Fires Burning - John McCormack
WW2
We’re Going To Hang Out The Washing On The Siegfried Line - Flanagan and Allen
“Lili Marlene” is just about impossible to beat. I have a soft spot for “White Cliffs of Dover” because my wife used to sing it to our baby.
And hey, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” is always a bit of fun.
I just realized this is about both wars. So, including WWII–
Mairzy-Doats
Three little fishies
I’ll be home for christmas
Don’t sit under the apple tree
Coming in on a wing and a prayer
We’ll Meet Again - Vera Lynn
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square- Vera Lynn
My father played “We’ll Meet Again” on the juke box after returning from every mission.
Till We Meet Again (different song).
And its musical cousin “American Patrol”, originally penned in 1885.
“I’ll be seeing you”
“I’ll be home for Christmas”
“We’ll Meet Again”
“The White Cliffs of Dover”
Goodbyee
The Bells of Hell go Tingalingaling,a WW1 song but we always used to sing it on appropriate occassions
Oh also a newer one …I’ll be your hero by Enrique Iglezias which was big amongst Brit troops in the Gulf during the unpleasantness.but it was more a request on home radio staions rather then something everyone sang along to.
Der Fuehrer’s Face. 'Nuff said.
"When This Bloody War is Over … "
“Fuck 'em all!
Fuck 'em all!
The long and the short and the tall;
Fuck all the Sergeants and W.O.l.'s, 13
Fuck all the corporals and their bastard sons; 14
For we’re saying goodbye to them all,
As up the C.O.'s arse they crawl; 15
You’ll get no promotion this side of the ocean,
So cheer up my lads, fuck 'em all! …”
“(There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover” - Vera Lynn
The Sinking of the Ruben James, and assorted, mostly rude, ditties, including something about “Hi Ho, Hi Ho, We’re Off to Tokyo” and When This Bloody War is Over.
My great grandfather (WWI medic) loved Raspberries, Strawberries by the Kingston Trio and would ask me to sing it for him. He said he wished he could have seen France “before or after.” I have always had a suspicion that he fell in love over there, but it didn’t end with “Lived Happily Ever After.”