"The Army Goes Rolling Along" - Official Song of the U.S.

Army, The song was

originally written by field artillery First Lieutenant (later Brigadier General)
Edmund L. Gruber, while stationed in the Philippines in 1908 as the "Caisson
Song." The original lyrics reflect routine activities in a horse-drawn field
artillery battery. The song was transformed into a march by John Philip Sousa in
1917 and renamed "The Field Artillery Song.", It was adopted in 1956 as the
official song of the Army and retitled, "The Army Goes Rolling Along." The
current lyrics tell the story of our past, our present, and our future. The "Army
Goes Rolling Along" is played at the conclusion of every U.S. Army ceremony and
all soldiers are expected to stand and sing. The Caisson Song (1908, original
version)
Over hill over dale we have hit the dusty trail
As our caissons go rolling along.
Up and down, in and out, Countermarch and right about,
And our caissons go rolling along.

For it's hi-hi-hee in the Field Artillery, Shout out the number loud and strong.

Till our final ride, It will always be our pride

To keep those caissons a rolling along.
(Keep them rolling - keep them rolling)*
Keep those caissons a rolling along.
(B-a-t-t-e-r-y H-a-l-t!)*

U.S. Field Artillery (1917)

(by Gruber, arranged by Sousa, copyright and published by Carl Fischer)

Verse:

Over hill, over dale

We have hit the dusty trail,
And the Caissons go rolling along.
In and out, hear them shout,
Counter marching and right about,
And those Caissons go rolling along.
Refrain:

For it's hi! hi! hee!

In the field artillery,
count out your numbers loud and strong,
And where e'er you go,
You will always know
That the Caissons go rolling along.
Verse:

In the storm, in the night,

Action left or action right
See those Caissons go rolling along
Limber front, limber rear,
Prepare to mount your cannoneer
And those Caissons go rolling along.
Refrain:

For it's hi! hi! hee!

In the field artillery,
Shout out your numbers loud and strong,
And where e'er you go,
You will always know
That the Caissons go rolling along.
Verse:

Was it high, was it low,

Where the hell did that one go?
As those Caissons go rolling along
Was it left, was it right,
Now we won't get home tonight
And those Caissons go rolling along.
Refrain:

For it's hi! hi! hee!

In the field artillery,
Shout out your numbers loud and strong,
And where e'er you go,
You will always know
That the Caissons go rolling along.
[edit] The Army Goes Rolling Along (1956, current official version)[10]
typically only the first verse and refrain are sung (not including the intro)

Intro:

March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free
Count the brave, count the true, who have fought to victory
We're the Army and proud of our name
We're the Army and proudly proclaim
Verse:

First to fight for the right,

And to build the Nation’s might,
And The Army Goes Rolling Along
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting till the battle’s won,
And the Army Goes Rolling Along.
Refrain:

Then it's Hi! Hi! Hey!

The Army's on its way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong*
* "Two! Three!" is typically sung here but is not an official part of the song
For where e’er we go,
You will always know
That The Army Goes Rolling Along.

Verse:

Valley Forge, Custer's ranks,

San Juan Hill and Patton's tanks,
And the Army went rolling along
Minute men, from the start,
Always fighting from the heart,
And the Army keeps rolling along.
(Refrain)
Verse:

Men in rags, men who froze,

Still that Army met its foes,
And the Army went rolling along.
Faith in God, then we're right,
And we'll fight with all our might,
As the Army keeps rolling along.
(Refrain)