At the Music Hall: It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, 1912

It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly,
Farewell, Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.


One of the most popular songs of World War I, It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, was written as the result of a bet in 1912. On January 30, 1912, Jack Judge and Henry James “Harry” Williams of Stalybridge (Cheshire, England), were bet five shillings that they couldn’t write a song overnight. Judge did, in fact write the song (which was co-credited to Williams though he didn’t have anything to do with it) and it was performed the following day. The rousing song was inspired by Judge’s Irish family who hailed from Tipperary.

It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, like other songs of World War I, does not focus on the battles or even the “glory” of war, but rather about coming home and acts as a reminder of the reason to fight in order to protect a way of life.

The song was popularized in 1913 by Florrie Forde who made the anthem one of the most beloved music hall songs of the time. In fact, it’s still a celebrated song and one which quickly brings to mind the First World War.