I've Got My Captain Working for Me Now

Updated on Nov 23, 2024

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"I've Got My Captain Working for Me Now" is a popular song written in 1919 by Irving Berlin. It was published by Music Publishers Inc. in New York, New York.

The song tells of a young man who returns to work as a manager in his father's factory following his tour of duty as a Private First Class in World War I. His now-unemployed former Captain is hired as a clerk by the delighted former PFC. Sample lyric:

When I come into the office he gets up on his feetStands at attention and gives me his seatWho was it said "revenge is sweet"?I've got my Captain working for me now

This song was in the top 20 from October 1919 to January 1920 and reached number 6 in November and December 1919.

Among many artists who recorded this song were Al Jolson and Billy Murray. It was revived by Bing Crosby in the 1946 film, Blue Skies. It was also recorded in 1919, by Eddie Cantor, for Pathe (#22201).

Additional reading

Berlin, Irving, Robert Kimball, and Linda Emmet. The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin. New York: Knopf, 2000. ISBN 0-679-41943-8 OCLC 44750842

Hoffmann, Frank W., Dick Carty, and Quentin Riggs. Billy Murray: The Phonograph Industry's First Great Recording Artist. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 1997. ISBN 0-8108-3105-8 OCLC 33404458

Vogel, Frederick G. World War I Songs: A History and Dictionary of American Popular Tunes, with Over 300 Complete Lyrics. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1995. ISBN 0-89950-952-5 OCLC 32241433

Wilder, Alec, and James T. Maher. American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900–1950. New York: Oxford University Press, 1972. ISBN 0-19-501445-6 OCLC 308524

References

I've Got My Captain Working for Me Now Wikipedia

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