"Tell that to the Marines" is a 1918 song, written during

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 ...

. Jean Schwartz and Al Jolson composed the music;

Harold Atteridge Harold Richard Atteridge (July 9, 1886 – January 15, 1938) was an American composer, librettist and lyricist primarily for musicals and revues. He wrote the book and lyrics for over 20 musicals and revues for the Shubert family, including seve ...

wrote the lyrics. Al Jolson performed an early version of the song. Based on sales estimates, it reached number two on the Top 100 US songs of its time. The lyrics reference the catchphrase, Tell It to the Marines, and they address Kaiser Wilhelm directly.

Lyrics

Do you remember, Kaiser Bill About a year ago? We told your old friend Bernstorff That he better pack and go You laughed and said "America possessed no fighting stuff," Until our fighting Yankee boys Walked in and called your bluff That Monte Cristo idea will not do If you think that the world belongs to you Well, tell that to the Marines-- Those deviling hounds who know what fighting means You are going to lick the world-- you said you will-- If you mean Uncle Sam, now listen Kaiser Bill: Tell that to the Marines The first to fight on all the fighting scenes If you think you'll sink our new boat With your damned old u-boat Tell that to the Marines That line of Hindenburg's would never break, you made a vow It must be made of rubber, Bill The way it's bending now The Krupp works that you bragged about You rave of them no more We'll change them to the bankrupt works when we end up this war So Kaiser Bill at warfare we are new If you think now the Yankee drive is through Well, tell that to the Marines Those deviling hounds who know what fighting means We are going to have six million men in line Kaiser Bill, if you don't think they will cross the Rhine Tell that to the Marines The first to fight on all the fighting scenes If you think the Yanks won't whirl-in Right straight into Berlin Tell that to the Marines!

References

Songs about sailors Songs about soldiers Works about the United States Navy 1918 songs Songs about Wilhelm II Songs of World War I Songs written by Al Jolson Songs with music by Jean Schwartz Songs with lyrics by Harold R. Atteridge Al Jolson songs {{1910s-song-stub