The Army Song

The song was originally written by Field Artillery First Lieutenant (later Brigadier General) Edmund L. Gruber, while stationed in the Philippines in 1908 as the “Caisson Song.”  The original lyrics reflect routine activities in a horse-drawn Field Artillery Battery.  The song was transformed into a march by John Philip Sousa in 1917 and renamed “The Field Artillery Song.” It was adopted in 1952 as the official song of the Army and re-titled, “The Army Goes Rolling Along.”  The current lyrics tell the story of our past, our present, and our future.

Brigadier General Gruber

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“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: 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.