First World War.com - Vintage Audio - Don't Bite The Hand That's Feeding You

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Billy Murray Vintage Audio: Don't Bite The Hand That's Feeding You
Updated - Sunday, 9 March, 2003

Reproduced below are the lyrics to the popular wartime (and indeed thereafter) song, Don't Bite the Hand That's Feeding You, words by Thomas Hoier and music by Jimmie Morgan in 1915.

Among many others the tune was subsequently performed by Judy Garland in the film For Me and My Gal in 1942 (although it was actually cut from the movie); and also by Gene Autry.

Click here to listen to a variation of the song performed by ragtime artist Billy Murray in 1915 (MP3 format 465kb); a second version, by Walter van Brunt, was recorded the following year (MP3 format 953kb).

(Contributed with thanks by Allan Rosson)

Don't Bite the Hand That's Feeding You

Last night, as I lay a sleeping,
A wonderful dream came to me.
I saw Uncle Sammy weeping
For his children from over the sea;
They had come to him, friendless and starving,
When from tyrant's oppression they fled,
But now they abuse and revile him,
Till at last in just anger he said:

If you don't like your Uncle Sammy,
Then go back to your home o'er the sea,
To the land from where you came,
Whatever be its name,
But don't be ungrateful to me!
If you don't like the stars in Old Glory,
If you don't like the Red, White and Blue,
Then don't act like the cur in the story,
Don't bite the hand that's feeding you!

You recall the day you landed,
How I welcomed you to my shore?
When you came here empty handed,
And allegiance forever you swore?
I gathered you close to my bosom,
Of food and of clothes you got both,
So, when in trouble, I need you,
You will have to remember your oath:

"Suicide Ditch" was a term used by British soldiers to refer to the front-line trench.