Oscar Seagle (baritone) and the Columbia Stellar Quartette sing \"Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag (And Smile, Smile, Smile)\" on Columbia A6028, recorded on January 25, 1918.
This is by British songwriters. George Henry Powell, a pacifist and conscientious objector, wrote the words under the pseudonym \"George Asaf.\" Music is by his brother Felix Powell, a Staff Sergeant in the British Army. The song is about British soldiers, becoming first popular in England when published in 1915 and performed on London stages. One of the songwriters later ended his life by suicide, which is ironic for someone who co-wrote the most optimistic song ever written. Lyrics are very British. Lucifers were a brand of matches.
Private Perks is a funny little
codger with a smile--a funny smile.
Five feet none, he's an artful little
dodger with a smile--a funny smile.
Flush or broke, he'll have his little
joke. He can't be suppress'd.
All the other fellows have to grin
when he gets this off his chest--hi!
Pack up your troubles in your old
kit-bag and smile, smile, smile.
While you've a lucifer to light your
fag, smile, boys--that's the style.
What's the use of worrying? It
never was worthwhile, so pack up
your troubles in your old kit-bag
and smile, smile, smile.
Private Perks went a-marching into
Flanders with his smile, his funny
smile. He was loved by the privates
and commanders for his smile--his
funny smile! When a throng of
Germans came along with a mighty
swing, Perks yell'd out, \"This little
bunch is mine! Keep your heads
down, boys, and sing--hi!
Private Perks--he came back from Bosche-shooting
With his smile, his funny smile.
Round his home he then set about recruiting
With his smile, his sunny smile.
He told all his pals, the short and tall,
What a time he'd had!
And as each enlisted like a man,
Private Perks said \"Now my lad,\" Hi!
Is this melody from an old German soldier's song titled \"Weit ist der Weg zurueck ins Heimatland\"?
Oscar Seagle was an outstanding baritone whose recording career peaked in the World War I years. In 1915 he founded the thriving Seagle Music Colony, the oldest summer singer training program in the country.
Seagle began the Colony by opening a studio in Hague, on Lake George, in 1915. He then moved to Schroon Lake and taught at the Brown Swan Club, which is now the Word of Life Inn.
In 1922, Oscar bought the property where the Colony currently stands. The Colony was nicknamed \"Olowan,\" an Indian name meaning \"Hill of Song.\"
