George M. Cohan claimed throughout his life to have been born on the Fourth of July, though his birth certificate said July 3, 1878. As a child, he starred with his family in vaudeville theater productions, and he grew up to write, direct, and star in musical theater productions. Shortly after the United States entered World war I, Cohan wrote the words and music to "Over There," which quickly became the anthem of American soldiers. The song did so much to boost morale that years later, in 1940, Cohan would be given the Congressional Medal of Honor for his patriotic music. The lyrics to the song are included below.

Verse 1

Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun.
Take it on the run, on the run, on the run.
Hear them calling you and me,
Every Son of Liberty.
Hurry right away, no delay, go today.
Make your daddy glad to have had such a lad.
Tell your sweetheart not to pine,
To be proud her boy's in line.

Verse 2

Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun.
Johnny, show the Hun you're a son of a gun.
Hoist the flag and let her fly;
Yankee Doodle, do or die.
Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit.
Yankee to the ranks from the towns and the tanks.
Make your mother proud of you
And the old red, white, and blue.

Chorus

Over there, over there,
Send the word, send the word over there
That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming,
The drums rum-tumming everywhere.
So prepare, say a prayer,
Send the word, send the word to beware –
We'll be over, we're coming over,
And we won't come back till it's over, over there.