I'm Gonna Pin My Medal on the Girl I Left Behind

"I'm Gonna Pin My Medal on the Girl I Left Behind"

"I'm Gonna Pin My Medal on the Girl I Left Behind" cover
Song by Albert Barbelle
Published 1918
Writer(s) Irving Berlin
Lyricist(s) Irving Berlin
Producer(s) Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co.

I'm Gonna Pin My Medal on the Girl I Left Behind is a World War I era song about a soldier named Johnny dreaming of coming home and giving his medal to his sweetheart.[1] The song was first featured in Ziegfeld Follies of 1918. It reached the top 20 in August 1918 and climbed even higher to number 14 in September 1918. It was written and composed by Irving Berlin, produced by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co., and recorded by the Peerless Quartet.

Lyrics

"Over there" in France
In a big advance
Little Johnny stood the test
Johnny held his ground
Now he struts around
With a medal on his chest
There's a happy look in his eyes
And ev'ry now and then he cries:

Chorus
I'm gonna pin my medal on the girl I left behind
She deserves it more than I
For the way she said "goodbye"

You should have seen her try to keep away the tears that blind
A braver hero
Would be hard to find

She puts a smile in ev'ry letter she signs
But I can read what's in her heart between the lines

And when I get back
Yes, when I get back
I'm gonna pin my medal on the girl I left behind

When the boys come home
From across the foam
To the girls they love the best
There'll be more than one
Little Yankee son
With a medal on his chest
When the drive is over this Spring
A lot of soldier boys will sing:

REPEAT CHORUS[1]

  1. ^ Duffy, Michael. "Vintage Audio- I'm Gonna Pin My Medal on the Girl I Left Behind". First World War.com. Retrieved July 21, 2015. 

References

  1. Paas, John Roger (2014). America Sings of War American Sheet Music from World War One. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz GmbH & Co. p. 244.
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