"Over There" Constructed Response Activity

Over There

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 ev'rywhere.

So prepare, Say a prayer, Send the word, Send the word to beware.
It will be over We're coming over And we won't come back
Till it's over, over There

Johnnie get your gun, Get your gun, get your gun back in town to run
Home to run, home to run, Hear them calling you and me
Every son of liberty Hurry right away don't delay go today
Make your daddy glad to have had such a lad
Tell your sweetheart not to pine to be proud their boy's in line.

( © 1917 by George M. Cohan )

1) Who wrote the song Over There, and when was it written?

2) Who are the "Yanks"? Where were they going, and why?

3) Read the lyrics for the Motorhead song, 1916. How does the mood and feeling of this song compare to Over There? Refer to specific lyrics to explain your answer.

4) Why were songs like Over There written during the war years? What was the purpose of these types of songs and what term do we use to describe this type of media?

5) How did new technologies and trench warfare contribute to the horrible destruction and great loss of life during the war? Refer to specific examples.

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