Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.
Gee I Wish I Was Back in the Army / White Christmas
Irving Berlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought without a doubt
That I was through with all
My care and strife i thought that I was then
The happiest of men
But after months of tough civilian life
Gee, I wish I was back in the Army
Three meals a day for which you didn't pay
Uniforms for winter, spring and fall
There's a lot to be said for the Army
The life without responsibility
A soldier out of luck was really never stuck
There's always someone higher up where
You can pass the buck
Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Army
Gee, I wish I was back in the Army
The Army was the place to find romance
Soldiers and WACS
The WACS who dressed in slacks
Dancing cheek to cheek and backs to backs
There's a lot to be said for the Army
A gal was never lost for company
A million handsome guys
With longing in their eyes
And all you had to do was
Pick the age, the weight, the size
Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Army
Gee, I wish I was back in the Army
The shows we got civilians couldn't see
How we would yell for Dietrich and Cornell
Jolson, Hope and Benny all for free
There's a lot to be said for the Army
The best of doctors watched you carefully
A dentist and a clerk
For weeks and weeks they'd work
They'd make a thousand dollar job and
Give it to a jerk
Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Army
Three meals a day for which you didn't pay
A million handsome guys
With longing in their eyes
I thought that I was through with
All my care and strife
But after months and months
Of tough civilian life oh, gee
I wish I was back in the Army now
In the song "Gee I Wish I Was Back in the Army / White Christmas," Irving Berlin reflects on the longing for the simplicity and camaraderie of military life. The lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia and highlight the benefits the Army provided, contrasting it with the challenges of civilian life.
The first paragraph suggests that the singer initially believed that leaving the Army would bring an end to their worries and difficulties. However, after experiencing the realities of civilian life, they realize that being in the military wasn't as bad as they thought. This sets the stage for their desire to return to the Army.
The second paragraph focuses on the practical benefits of being in the Army. The singer reminisces about the three meals a day that were provided without charge and the variety of uniforms issued for different seasons. They appreciate the simplicity and routine that comes with these basic necessities, highlighting the perceived lack of responsibility they felt in the military.
The third paragraph explores the potential for romantic relationships within the Army. The singer recalls the presence of soldiers and Women's Army Corps (WACs) who often socialized and danced together. They emphasize the ease of finding companionship as a soldier, highlighting the diverse options available and the interest they received from others.
The fourth paragraph touches on the entertainment and access to shows that soldiers enjoyed. The singer remembers the excitement of seeing famous performers like Dietrich, Cornell, Jolson, Hope, and Benny, which were often exclusive to the military. They highlight the excellent medical care provided by doctors and the dedication of dentists and clerks, albeit with a hint of sarcasm regarding the allocation of their services.
Overall, the lyrics convey a longing for the simplicity, community, and perks of military life. The singer fondly reminisces about the structure, companionship, and unique experiences that the Army provided, contrasting them with the challenges and uncertainties of civilian life.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was mustered out
Upon being discharged from the Army
I thought without a doubt
I believed with absolute certainty
That I was through with all
That I had finished with
My care and strife i thought that I was then
My worries and difficulties, I thought they were over
The happiest of men
The most joyful individual
But after months of tough civilian life
However, after enduring months of challenging life as a civilian
Gee, I wish I was back in the Army
Oh, how I longed to return to the Army
The Army wasn't really bad at all
The Army wasn't truly unpleasant by any means
Three meals a day for which you didn't pay
Three daily meals that required no payment
Uniforms for winter, spring and fall
Apparel suitable for all seasons
There's a lot to be said for the Army
The Army has many positive aspects
The life without responsibility
A life free from accountability
A soldier out of luck was really never stuck
A soldier facing difficulties would never remain trapped
There's always someone higher up where
There's always an authority figure above you
You can pass the buck
To whom you can assign the blame or responsibility
Gee, I wish I was back in the Army
Oh, how I longed to return to the Army
The Army was the place to find romance
The Army was an ideal setting to discover love
Soldiers and WACS
Both male soldiers and female members of the Women's Army Corps
The WACS who dressed in slacks
The WACS, who wore trousers instead of skirts
Dancing cheek to cheek and backs to backs
Engaging in intimate dances, with faces and backs close together
There's a lot to be said for the Army
The Army has many positive aspects
A gal was never lost for company
A girl was never without companionship
A million handsome guys
Countless attractive men
With longing in their eyes
Filled with desire and longing
And all you had to do was
And all you needed to do was
Pick the age, the weight, the size
Choose based on age, weight, and size
Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Army
Oh, how I longed to return to the Army
The shows we got civilians couldn't see
The performances exclusive to the military, civilians were unable to attend
How we would yell for Dietrich and Cornell
How we would cheer and shout for Dietrich and Cornell
Jolson, Hope and Benny all for free
Jolson, Hope, and Benny - all enjoyed without charge
There's a lot to be said for the Army
The Army has many positive aspects
The best of doctors watched you carefully
Expert physicians monitored you attentively
A dentist and a clerk
A dental practitioner and an administrative employee
For weeks and weeks they'd work
For numerous weeks, they would perform their duties
They'd make a thousand dollar job and
They would complete an expensive task and
Give it to a jerk
Hand it over to an undeserving person
Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Army
Oh, how I longed to return to the Army
Three meals a day for which you didn't pay
Three daily meals that required no payment
A million handsome guys
Countless attractive men
With longing in their eyes
Filled with desire and longing
I thought that I was through with
I believed that I was finished with
All my care and strife
All my concerns and struggles
But after months and months
However, after several months
Of tough civilian life oh, gee
Of challenging life as a civilian, oh, how
I wish I was back in the Army now
I yearned to return to the Army at this moment
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@charlessamson74
When I was mustered out
I thought without a doubt
That I was through with all my care and strife
I thought that I was then
The happiest of men
But after months of tough civilian life
Gee, I wish I was back in the Army
The Army wasn't really bad at all
Three meals a day
For which you didn't pay
Uniforms for winter, spring and fall
There's a lot to be said for the Army
The life without responsibility
A soldier out of luck
Was really never stuck
There's always someone higher up where you can pass the buck
Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Army
Gee, I wish I was back in the Army
The Army was the place to find romance
Soldiers and WACS
The WACS who dressed in slacks
Dancing cheek to cheek and pants to pants
There's a lot to be said for the Army
A gal was never lost for company
A million handsome guys
With longing in their eyes
And all you had to do was pick the age, the weight, the size
Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Army
Gee, I wish I was back in the Army
The shows we got civilians couldn't see
How we would yell for Dietrich and Cornell
Jolson, Hope and Benny all for free
[Alternate line from sheet music:
Crosby, Hope and Jolson all for free]
There's a lot to be said for the Army
The best of doctors watched you carefully
A dentist and a clerk
For weeks and weeks they'd work
They'd make a thousand dollar job and give it to a jerk
Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Army
Three meals a day
For which you didn't pay
A million handsome guys
With longing in their eyes
I thought that I was through with all my care and strife
But after months and months of tough civilian life
Oh, gee
I wish I was back in the Army now
@NightShade1218
After all these years, I just realized the pun:
"G.I." wish I was back in the army.
@ultraviolettas
my god........how have I not realized that until you said something
@ultraviolettas
Irving Berlin was a genius. Single most important and influential composer/lyricist of the entire 20th century, god
@paolaoc95
I don't get it :(
@rcantwell161
GI is a military term, like G.I. Joe
@Ryan_Hansen
Omg 😱 now I get it 😆 clever.
@scottcarroll9201
For everyone wondering about Rosie Clooney's facial expression as she dances on to the stage, she's in character. Her character is a little nervous about how Bing's character will react to her being there.
@TralfazConstruction
Bing acted, quite well, both pleased and surprised. They both sold their characterizations very well as did the entire cast.
@Northfan42
Agreed, and there's the added layer of her being the singer of the two lead ladies, hence being less comfortable with the movement than Vera Ellen. Rosemary settles much more when she's just standing and singing, plus she recorded all the singing dubs for Vera Ellen's Judy character as well as her own.
@PaulLHunziker
@@Northfan42 I thought someone else said it was Trudy Miller who dubbed her voice?