"I've Got My Captain Working for Me Now" is a

popular Popularity or social status is the quality of being well liked, admired or well known to a particular group. Popular may also refer to: In sociology * Popular culture * Popular fiction * Popular music * Popular science * Populace, the total ...

song written in 1919 by

Irving Berlin Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin; yi, ישראל ביילין; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-American composer, songwriter and lyricist. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook. Born in Imperial Russ ...

. It was published by Music Publishers Inc. in New York, New York. The song tells of a young man who returns to work as a manager in his father's factory following his tour of duty as a Private First Class in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. His now-unemployed former Captain is hired as a clerk by the delighted former PFC. Sample lyric: :''When I come into the office he gets up on his feet'' :''Stands at attention and gives me his seat'' :''Who was it said "revenge is sweet"?'' :''I've got my Captain working for me now'' This song was in the top 20 from October 1919 to January 1920 and reached number 6 in November and December 1919.

Al Jolson Al Jolson (born Eizer Yoelson; June 9, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-American Jewish singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. He was one of the United States' most famous and highest-paid stars of the 1920s, and was self-billed ...

and Billy Murray had successful recordings of the song in 1919-20. It was also recorded in 1919, by Eddie Cantor, for Pathe (#22201). The song was revived by Bing Crosby in the 1946 film, '' Blue Skies'' and he made a commercial recording for Decca Records on July 24, 1946 which was included in his album '' Blue Skies''.

References

*Berlin, Irving, Robert Kimball, and Linda Emmet. ''The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin.'' New York: Knopf, 2000. *Hoffmann, Frank W., Dick Carty, and Quentin Riggs. ''Billy Murray: The Phonograph Industry's First Great Recording Artist.'' Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 1997. *Vogel, Frederick G. ''World War I Songs: A History and Dictionary of American Popular Tunes, with Over 300 Complete Lyrics.'' Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1995. *Wilder, Alec, and James T. Maher. ''American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900–1950.'' New York: Oxford University Press, 1972.

External links

Complete lyricsRecording by Billy Murray
{{authority control 1919 songs Billy Murray (singer) songs Songs written by Irving Berlin Songs of World War I Songs about military officers Songs about soldiers Songs about occupations Songs about revenge Al Jolson songs Eddie Cantor songs

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