Everyone nowadays is familiar with the music genres and artists of the modern era. Pop, rock, rap, and (somehow) Kpop dominate the music industry while artists such as Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, and the ever-so controversial Kanye West garner hundreds of millions of listens all the time. Although the music industry has never been greater than it is now, the variety of music has become (with exceptions) increasingly repetitive in theme and mundane overall. Especially in the winter season, it is difficult to go anywhere without being subject to hearing Michael Bublé’s cover of “Jingle Bells” or the attention-catching opening beat to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” for the 12th time in the same hour. Music wasn’t always like this. Back in the “good ‘ol days,” like really, really far back in the good ‘ol days, music wasn’t created for the sole purpose of being widely broadcasted or with the hope of becoming rich and famous, but rather with the intent to inspire the masses, to push a cause, and to commemorate special events in order to capture the feelings of the people from a time long since passed. “It’s a Long Way To Tipperary,” written by Jack Judge during The Great War captures the sentiment of the many British and Irish troops whisked away from their homes to go fight for both king and country. It is a shining example of the astonishing quality of music from over a century ago and serves to show just how much music has changed since.

Jack Judge was a British/Irish songwriter who was born on December 3rd, 1872. His most famous and successful song was “It’s a Long Way To Tipperary,” which he wrote during the first world war. Before becoming a songwriter and music hall entertainer, Jack Judge worked in his family’s fish business, which made it difficult for him to pursue his aspiration to be an entertainer. He made his debut in 1910 after attending a variety competition where he managed to get third place and also showcase his talents. The competition widened his horizons and granted him the rare opportunity to abandon the fish business and pursue his dream career. Jack Judge would be what many call today, a “one hit wonder.”. Not many of his songs made before or after have managed to match the success and love of “It’s a Long Way Tipperary.”. Unfortunately for Jack Judge, the most popular cover of his song would not be the one done by him, but the cover by John McCormack, another British singer whose name is more commonly associated with the song than Jack Judge, the composer himself.

The lyrics of “It’s a Long Way To Tipperary” tell the story of two lovers from Ireland, a soldier fighting in the European theater and a maiden left at home, sending letters to each other and detailing what they’re experiencing. This act of sending letters to and from in order to stay connected with people at home captures the feeling of longing that so many soldiers felt during the war. However, the song’s popularity was not entirely dependent on its lyrics. The song was intended to be a music hall performance, meaning people would be paying to see the song performed by various artists in music halls. Not only this, but Jack Judge composed the song with simplicity in mind. The song’s sheet music was made to be simple enough that any competent piano player with the sheet music could easily pick it up and play it for leisure. Keep in mind that many more people during this time, especially those in Britain and Ireland, knew how to play the piano than today. Tipperary is a real place in Ireland and due to the song and its popularity, Tipperary has come to be a symbol of the days at home and longing. While the song’s intended audience was British and Irish troops, the lyrics truly reflected the feelings of soldiers from all around the globe. Many countries would go to make their own adaptation of the song, making it more applicable to their own soldiers. 

In the United States the song title and overall narrative has stayed the same, but other places in Ireland referenced in the song have been Americanized; for instance, changing Piccadilly to Staten Island and Leicester Square to Times Square. Another famous adaptation of the song was from the Germans of the Weinmar Republic (different from the Nazis). Although they were on the other side of the war, the song’s profound impact on soldiers granted it an exception to anti-Western sentiments at the time. Unlike the United States, which simply Americanized the song, the German version was heavily modified, with the narrative changing from soldiers on the field to German sailors excited to sink British ships. The German-edition of the song is brimming with patriotism and high moral. Despite all of the different variations of the song, they all share the common theme of longing for home. Whether it be on a battlefield in Europe, or more recently, separated from loved ones due to travel restrictions, the feeling of longing is one present among everyone. So if you’re feeling homesick and need something to cheer you up, try listening to “It’s a Long Way To Tipperary.”. Even though the year is almost over and 2021 is so close that you can almost grab it, don’t forget that there’s still “a long way, to go.”