Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag

Last updated
"Pack Up Your Troubles"
Song
Published1915
Genre March
Composer(s) Felix Powell
Lyricist(s) George Henry Powell

Other performances

Florrie Forde performed it throughout the United Kingdom in 1916. [8]

Other performers associated with this song include Helen Clark, Reinald Werrenrath, and Oscar Seagle. [9]

Cilla Black performed the song as a comedy/singing sketch on her variety television series Surprise Surprise .

The original version was interpolated in and inspired the song "Pack Up" by English musician Eliza Doolittle.

In film

The song appears in several films, including Varsity Show with Dick Powell, Pack Up Your Troubles (1932) with Laurel & Hardy, whose title actually came from the song, High Pressure (1932), and The Shopworn Angel (1938). [9] It is also featured in For Me and My Gal (1942) starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, and “On Moonlight Bay” with Gordon MacRae and Doris Day (1951). Tilly the Hippo sings a portion in Cats Don't Dance (1997).

The song also featured briefly in the 1979 film All That Jazz , sung between Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider) and a hospital orderly. It was sung during a march in the 2010 film, Private Peaceful , based on the book by Michael Morpurgo.

The song is also played by Schroeder in "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and in an episode of The Waltons .

In the Rugrats episode "Music", Chuckie sings this song.

It was also sung during the opening credits of the 1970 Blake Edwards film, Darling Lili , starring Julie Andrews.

In the second Sapphire & Steel serial (”The Railway Station") the tune is frequently used during the paranormal sequences involving military personnel (including a World War One soldier).

Literary references

Video game usage

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Morning Mr. Zip-Zip-Zip!</span> Ragtime song

"Good Morning Mr. Zip-Zip-Zip" is a ragtime song published as sheet music in 1918 by Leo Feist Inc. of New York City. It was one of the most popular tunes with United States soldiers during the World War I era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florrie Forde</span> Australian singer (1875–1940)

Florrie Forde was an Australian-born British vaudevillian performer and popular singer, notable in music hall and pantomime. From 1897 she lived and worked in the United Kingdom, where she found her greatest success, as one of the most popular stars of the early 20th century as a music hall entertainer and recording artist.

Felix Lloyd Powell was a Welsh British Army Staff Sergeant most famous for writing the music for marching song "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile", in 1915, during World War I. The words were written by his brother George Henry Powell, and the song was entered into a competition for "best morale-building song". It won first prize and was noted as "perhaps the most optimistic song ever written".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Till We Meet Again (1918 song)</span> 1918 song

"Till We Meet Again" is an American popular song. The music was written by Richard A. Whiting, the lyrics by Raymond B. Egan in 1918. Written during the Great War, the song tells of the parting of a soldier and his sweetheart. The title comes from the final line of the chorus:

George Henry Powell was a Welsh songwriter who, under the pseudonym George Asaf, wrote the lyrics of the marching song "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag" in 1915. The music was written by his brother Felix Powell, and the song was entered into a World War I competition for "best morale-building song". It won first prize and was noted as "perhaps the most optimistic song ever written". Although Felix Powell was a Staff Sergeant in the British Army, George Powell was a pacifist, and became a conscientious objector when conscription was imposed in 1916.

<i>Whats Cookin?</i> 1942 film by Edward F. Cline

What's Cookin'? is a 1942 American musical film directed by Edward F. Cline and starring The Andrews Sisters, Jane Frazee, Robert Paige and Gloria Jean. The film is based on the story Wake Up and Dream written by Edgar Allan Woolf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep the Home Fires Burning (Ivor Novello song)</span> Song

"Keep the Home-Fires Burning " is a British patriotic First World War song composed in 1914 by Ivor Novello with words by Lena Guilbert Ford.

<i>So This Is Love</i> (film) 1953 film by Gordon Douglas

So This Is Love is a 1953 American musical drama film directed by Gordon Douglas, based on the life of singer Grace Moore. The film stars Kathryn Grayson as Moore, and Merv Griffin. The story chronicles Moore's rise to stardom from 1918 to February 7, 1928 when she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When Yankee Doodle Learns to "Parlez Vous Français"</span> Song

"When Yankee Doodle Learns to "Parlez Vous Français"" is a World War I song published by A.J. Stasny Music Co. Based on estimates of sales, a performance of the song by Arthur Fields in 1918 was ranked #8 in the United States when it was featured on his Oh! Frenchy album, released by Victor. The lyrics playfully present American soldiers learning French so that they may flirt with women while in France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If He Can Fight Like He Can Love, Good Night Germany!</span> Song

"If He Can Fight Like He Can Love, Good Night Germany!" is a World War I song from the perspective of a woman confident that her boyfriend will be a good soldier because he was a good lover. It became a hit after it was released by The Farber Sisters in 1918.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somewhere in France Is the Lily</span> 1918 song by Joe Howard and Philander Chase Johnson

"Somewhere In France Is the Lily" is a World War I march composed in 1918 by Joseph E. Howard with lyrics written by Philander Chase Johnson. It became a hit twice in 1918, charting when released by Charles Hart and by Henry Burr. The song presents a young couple separated by war but held together by love and the sentimental value of lily flowers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Lips Are No Man's Land But Mine</span> Song

"Your Lips Are No Man's Land But Mine" is a World War I war song. It became a hit in 1918 when released by Henry Burr & Albert Campbell, charting peaking at #2 in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberty Bell (It's Time to Ring Again)</span> Song

The cover has George Washington, Betsy Ross, and her helper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring Back My Daddy to Me</span> 1917 song

"Bring Back My Daddy To Me" is a World War I era song released in 1917. William Tracey and Howard Johnson wrote the lyrics. George W. Meyer composed the music. Leo Feist, Inc. of New York, New York published the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">And He'd Say, "Oo-La-La! Wee-Wee!"</span> 1919 song by Billy Murray

"And He'd Say, 'Oo-La-La! Wee-Wee!'" is a World War I era song released in 1919. Lyrics and music were written by George Jessel and Harry Ruby. William Baker arranged the song. It was published by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder, Inc. of New York, New York. The song was written for voice and piano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come On Papa</span> Song by Joseph C. Smiths Orchestra

"Come On Papa" is a World War I era song released in 1918.

Pack Up Your Troubles is a 1940 British comedy film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Reginald Purdell, Wylie Watson and Patricia Roc. It takes its name from the First World War marching song "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dear Old Pal of Mine</span> Song

Dear Old Pal of Mine is a World War I song written by Harold Robe and Gitz Rice. The song was first published in 1916 by G. Ricordi & Co. in New York, NY.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swanee Shore</span> Song

Swanee Shore: is a song composed by Sidney D. Mitchell, Arthur Fields and Irving Kaufman in 1919 and published by Leo Feist Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Cry, Frenchy</span> Song

Don't Cry Frenchy, Don't Cry is a 1919 song written during World War I. The lyrics were written by Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young, and the music was written by Walter Donaldson.The song was published by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Company in New York City.

References

  1. "Indiana University Sheet Music". Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag and smile, smile, smile. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  2. Pegler, Martin, Soldiers' Songs and Slang of the Great War. Osprey Publishing, 2014, ISBN   9781427804150, pages 263–264.
  3. Scott K. Williams (September 1, 2001). "Old Kit Bag". Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  4. Paas, John Roger (2014). America Sings of War: American Sheet Music from World War I. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 38, ISBN   9783447102780.
  5. Paas, John Roger (2014). America Sings of War: American Sheet Music from World War I. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 38. ISBN   9783447102780.
  6. "Productions : Pack Up Your Troubles". National Theatre. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  7. Malone, Gareth. "The Importance of WWI Songs". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  8. Tyler, Don (2016). Music of the First World War. ABC-CLIO. p. 18. ISBN   9781440839962.
  9. 1 2 Tyler, Don (2016). Music of the First World War. ABC-CLIO. p. 19. ISBN   9781440839962.
  10. "The Wilfred Owen Association". Wilfredowen.org.uk. Retrieved 8 January 2021.