Last Long Mile, The (Plattsburg Marching Song)

DESCRIPTION: "Oh, they put me in the army and they handed me a pack" and sent him on a 20 mile hike. "I didn't mind the first 19 but the last one made me sore." "It's not the pack you carry on your back... That wipes away your smile... But the last long mile"
AUTHOR: Emil Breitenfeld (source: Arthur-WhenThisBloodyWarIsOver; Wikipedia)
EARLIEST DATE: 1917 (Arthur-WhenThisBloodyWarIsOver)
KEYWORDS: soldier clothes travel hardtimes
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Arthur-WhenThisBloodyWarIsOver, p. 126, "The Last Long Mile" (1 text)
Roud #15628
NOTES [94 words]: Although this became a popular song -- it was included in the Broadway musical "Toot Toot" in 1918, according to the Wikipedia article on the song (checked July 29, 2023) -- it feels more genuine than most popular war songs. This is no doubt because author Emil Breitenfeld was a lieutenant in the 17th New York Regiment as it trained at Plattsburg, New York. In its original form, it was called "The Long Last Mile"; the middle two words were reversed in the Broadway show. It was also published in military songbooks, so it is not surprising that it spread. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.6
File: AWTBW126

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