U.S. Army Song

United States Army – Service Song(s)

(1) The song for the Army was written by First Lieutenant Edmund L. Gruber, who later became a Brigadier General, while he was stationed in the Philippines in 1908 and was originally known as the “Caisson Song.” Listen to the hymn in the video below.

“The Army’s official march and a worship hymn are intended for entirely different settings within military life. Military chaplains have long carried the responsibility of preserving and explaining those distinctions within the Army’s ceremonial and spiritual traditions.”

—Chaplain (Colonel) Joel V. Miller, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Former Division Command Chaplain, 76th Operational Response Command

(2) An additional hymn for the Army is Eternal Father, Hear Our Prayer. (Video & Hymn at the bottom of the page)

“It is with great admiration that I highly recommend ‘Eternal Father, Hear Our Prayer,’ written by Chaplain (MAJOR) James F. Linzey. Jim has written a prayer that goes to the core of a soldier and combined it with a traditional hymn melody that creates the proper atmosphere for such a beautiful prayer. This is a hymn that can represent the Army and speak to the concerns of the men and women who wear the uniform and go into harm’s way. May this bless Soldiers for years to come.”

—Chaplain (Colonel) Rob Nolan, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Former Deputy Command Chaplain, United States Army Reserve Command

The Caissons Go Rolling Along

Verse One
Over hill, over dale
As we hit the dusty trail,
And the Caissons go rolling along.
In and out, hear them shout,
(Counter march! and right about!)
Hear those wagon soldiers shout
While those Caissons go rolling along.

Refrain
Then it’s hi! hi! hee!
In the field artillery,
Shout out your numbers loud and strong,
For where’er you go,
You will always know
That the Caissons go rolling along.

Verse Two
In the storm, in the night,
Action left or action right
See those Caissons go rolling along
Limber front, limber rear,
Prepare to mount your cannoneer
And those Caissons go rolling along.
(refrain)

Verse Three Was it high, was it low,
Where the heck did that one go?
As those Caissons go rolling along
Was it left, was it right,
Now we won’t get home tonight
And those Caissons go rolling along.
(refrain)

In 1956, the song was renamed “The Army Goes Rolling Along” and adopted as the official song of the Army. The lyrics have been changed to reflect the story of the Army’s past, present and future.

Here are the current lyrics as posted on the U.S. Army Bands website:

The Army Goes Rolling Along

Intro
March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free
Count the brave, count the true, who have fought to victory
We’re the Army and proud of our name
We’re the Army and proudly proclaim.

Verse One
First to fight for the right,
And to build the Nation’s might,
And The Army Goes Rolling Along
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting till the battle’s won,
And the Army Goes Rolling Along.

Refrain
Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey
The Army’s on its way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong (TWO! THREE!)
For where e’er we go,
You will always know
That The Army Goes Rolling Along.

Verse Two
Valley Forge, Custer’s ranks,
San Juan Hill and Patton’s tanks,
And the Army went rolling along
Minute men, from the start,
Always fighting from the heart,
And the Army keeps rolling along.
(refrain)

Verse Three
Men in rags, men who froze,
Still that Army met its foes,
And the Army went rolling along.
Faith in God, then we’re right,
And we’ll fight with all our might,
As the Army keeps rolling along.
(refrain)