I'm Gonna Pin My Medal on the Girl I Left Behind

I'm Gonna Pin My Medal on the Girl I Left Behind is a World War I era song about a soldier named Johnny dreaming of coming home and giving his medal to his sweetheart. The song was first featured in Ziegfeld Follies of 1918. It reached the top 20 in August 1918 and climbed even higher to number 14 in September 1918. It was written and composed by Irving Berlin, produced by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co., and recorded by the Peerless Quartet.

Lyrics
"Over there" in France In a big advance Little Johnny stood the test Johnny held his ground Now he struts around With a medal on his chest There's a happy look in his eyes And ev'ry now and then he cries:

Chorus I'm gonna pin my medal on the girl I left behind She deserves it more than I For the way she said "goodbye"

You should have seen her try to keep away the tears that blind A braver hero Would be hard to find

She puts a smile in ev'ry letter she signs But I can read what's in her heart between the lines

And when I get back Yes, when I get back I'm gonna pin my medal on the girl I left behind

When the boys come home From across the foam To the girls they love the best There'll be more than one Little Yankee son With a medal on his chest When the drive is over this Spring A lot of soldier boys will sing:

REPEAT CHORUS