Little Johnny Jones

You don't think you know the 1904 hit musical "Little Johnny Jones," but really you do.

Little Johnny Jones. Give my regards to Broadway. Sheet music, 1904.
Vocal score: Give my regards to Broadway / [words and music by] Geo. M. Cohan.

Verse 1

Did you ever see two Yankees part upon a foreign shore
When the good ship is just about to start for Old New York once more?
With tear-dimmed eye they say goodbye, they're friends without a doubt;
When the man on the pier shouts loud and clear, as the ship strikes out...

Verse 2

Say hello to dear old Coney Isle, if there you chance to be,
When you're at the Waldorf 1 have a "smile" 2 and charge it up to me;
Mention my name ev'ry place you go, as 'round the town you roam;
Wish you'd call on my gal, now remember, old pal, when you get back home...

Chorus

Give my regards to Broadway, remember me to Herald Square,
Tell all the gang at Forty-Second Street, that I will soon be there;
Whisper of how I'm yearning to mingle with the old time throng;
Give my regards to old Broadway and say that I'll be there ere long.

Little Johnny Jones pamphlet. 1907.

Synopsis: Johnny Jones (George M. Cohan), an American jockey, is accused of throwing the English Derby by Anstey (Jerry Cohan). His soon to be sweetheart Goldie (Ethel Levey) follows him to London with her lawyer (Donald Brian). While in London she disguises herself as a man, fooling both Jones and her Aunt (Nellie Cohan), hoping to discover if Jones really loves her. In the end, Jones is vindicated of the charges and marries Goldie.

A French girl from Paris, that's funny.
"The cast is immense
the chorus divine
and the music! Go hear it;
it sparkles like wine."
Little Johnny Jones pamphlet. 1907.

Little Johnny Jones also featured "The Yankee Doodle Boy."

Verse 1

I'm the kid that's all the candy,
I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy,
I'm glad I am,
So's Uncle Sam.
I'm a real live Yankee Doodle,
Made my name and fame and boodle,
Just like Mister Doodle did, by riding on a pony.
I love to listen to the Dixie strain,
I long to see the girl I left behind me;
That ain't a josh,
She's a Yankee, by gosh.
Oh, say can you see,
Anything about a Yankee that's a phony?

Verse 2

Father's name was Hezikiah,
Mother's name was Ann Maria,
Yanks through and through.
Red, White and Blue
Father was so Yankee-hearted,
When the Spanish war was started,
He slipped on a uniform and hopped upon a pony.
My mother's mother was a Yankee true,
My father's father was a Yankee too:
That's going some,
For the Yankees, by gum.
Oh, say can you see
Anything about my pedigree that's phony?

Chorus

I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy,
A Yankee Doodle, do or die;
A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam's,
Born on the Fourth of July.
I've got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart,
She's my Yankee Doodle joy.
Yankee Doodle came to London, just to ride the ponies;
I am the Yankee Doodle Boy.

Images courtesy of the NYPL.