“Kickin’ Hitler’s Butt: Vintage Anti-Fascist Songs 1940-1944” – An Annotated Playlist (Track 8)
Welcome Back!
Today we’re discussing Track 8: ‘When the Yanks Go Marching In’ by Woody Guthrie; a simple (and infectiously singable) reworking of the traditional African-American spiritual ‘When the Saints Go Marching In.’ Frequent Woody comrades-in-musical arms Cisco Houston and Sonny Terry play and sing along.
Bob Dylan shouts out Cisco and Sonny in his ‘Song to Woody,’ (easily the best song of his 1962 debut album) including everyone on this track, plus Lead Belly, who we heard in the last track:
Here’s to Cisco and Sonny and Leadbelly too /
Bob Dylan – ‘Song to Woody’, Verse 4 Lines 1-2
And to all the good people that traveled with you…
If you’re joining us for the first time, welcome! While in one way each discussion will build on the last, ultimately I’ve organized the series in a way that allows each post to stand on its own. If you have yet to listen this excellent compilation, this link will take you to my recreation of it in the form of a YouTube playlist. If you happened to give my channel a follow while you’re there, I’d be much obliged : )
If you’d prefer to start at the beginning of this series, here’s a link to the Introduction.
The Artists
Woody Guthrie: Songwriter, Singer, Acoustic Guitar
Cisco Houston: Singer, Acoustic Guitar
Sonny Terry: Harmonica, Hollerer
Right next to Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie would have to be on the Mount Rushmore of American protest singers; if you’re at all interested in American music history, folk music, protest music, or music in general, you likely know Woody.
Those who’ve been with us from the beginning will remember Woody (as an Almanac Singer) from Track 1: ‘Round and Round Hitler’s Grave,’ and Sonny Terry from Track 6: ‘Move Into Germany.’ If I’m not mistaken, this is Cisco’s first appearance on the compilation.
The Song
When the Yanks Go Marching In – Woody Guthrie
Genre/Style: Folk, Country
Length: 2:46
The Music
Structure
C1-V1-V2-V3-V4-C2
Chord Progression
I-V7-I-IV-I-V7-I
Key
C Major
The Lyrics
Many versions of “The Saints” treat it as a hymn (“O when they crown Him Lord of all…”), which makes sense considering who’s doing the marching, and its origin as a Spiritual. But there are also versions that seem entirely secular, like Louis Armstrong’s terrific 1938 recording.
Title & Chorus
Oh, when the Yanks / Go marching in / When the Yanks go marching in / Boys, I want to be in that number / When the Yanks go marching in
Chorus
Here Woody pulls a slant rhyme switcheroo, replacing “saints” with “Yanks” in the Title and Chorus. Elsewhere, he barely bothers with rhyme at all, relying almost solely on repetition to hold the lyrics together. The only other rhyme found in the song, where “tanks” rhymes with “Yanks,” seems almost unintentional.
The Chorus is only featured twice, bookending the song.
The Verses
Guns and cannons, tanks and planes: all typical wartime imagery. These common images more interesting by adding a little figurative language: the “guns and cannons” of Verse 1 don’t fire, or boom, but “roar.” And the planes of Verse 4 will “win the sky.”
Boys, I want to be in that number / When we set this whole world free
Verse 3
Reflections
‘When the Yanks Go Marching In’ isn’t necessarily a protest song, but it is an anti-fascist song. For all its similarities, I don’t think it’s as successful as Track 1: Round & Round Hitler’s Grave. More than anything, its strength lies in its simplicity, its call-and-response format allows for an instant singalong, even for folks hearing it for the first time.
Links
Song Lyrics – Genius
Woody Guthrie – Wikipedia
When the Saints Go Marching In – Wikipedia
Come Back Next Time for ‘Führer’ by Josh White.
Disclaimer
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~Original content © Adam Astra 2026~
Adam Astra 