He Is There!

"He Is There!" is the second song in Ives' song cycle Three Songs of the War.

Date: 1917Composer: Charles IvesText: John McCraeSong Collection: Three Songs of the War

Print vitals & song text

Text

He Is There!
by John McCrae

Fifteen years ago today
A little Yankee, little yankee boy
Marched beside his granddaddy
In the decoration day parade.
The village band would play
those old war tunes,
and the G. A. R. would shout,
“Hip Hip Hooray!” in the same old way,
As it sounded on the old camp ground.

That boy has sailed o’er the ocean,
He is there, he is there, he is there.
He’s fighting for the right,
but when it comes to might,
He is there, he is there, he is there;
As the Allies beat up all the warlords!
He’ll be there, he’ll be there,
and then the world will shout
the Battle-cry of Freedom
Tenting on a new camp ground.
For it’s rally round the Flag boys
Rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

Fifteen years ago today
A little Yankee, with a German name
Heard the tale of “forty-eight”
Why his Granddaddy joined Uncle Sam,
His fathers fought that medieval stuff
and he will fight it now;
“Hip Hip Hooray! this is the day,”
When he’ll finish up that aged job.

That boy has sailed o’er the ocean…

There’s a time in ev’ry life,
When it’s do or die, and our yankee boy
Does his bit that we may live,
In a world where all may have a “say.”
He’s conscious always of his country’s aim
which is Liberty for all,
“Hip Hip Hooray!” is all he’ll say,
As he marches to the Flanders front.

That boy has sailed o’er the ocean…

Sheet Music

114 Songs

Composer(s): Charles Ives

Free via IMSLP

Support us and help us grow

Dear friends, Thank you for helping us build a comprehensive online archive of American song. Your gift is greatly appreciated.