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George M. Cohan

George M. Cohan - Irish Sheet Music ArchivesThis great American song and dance man spent 56 of his 64 years on the stage. He became, as one of his songs would proclaim, "The Man Who Owned Broadway." He wrote 40 plays and shared production of 150 other plays. He acted in over 1000 performances and wrote over 500 songs. Many of these songs became major national hits.

He was born George Michael Cohan in Providence, Rhode Island. Contrary to his own songs and beliefs Cohan's birth certificate states that he was born on July 3, 1878. Even his mother would later state that she was sure he was born on Independence Day. He was born into a true Irish family. His paternal side had emigrated from Co. Cork, Ireland. The name had originally been O'Caomhan in Ireland and when they entered the states it was changed to Keohane, which eventually became Cohan. His mother's side also had Irish ancestry with his grandmother being a Breen. George would later work with many Jewish people in the entertainment industry and because his name closely resembled Cohen, a common Jewish name, many people thought that he was Jewish. Any look beyond his name would tell you differently.

Both of his parents Jerry and Nellie Cohan were already established in the Vaudeville circuit when George was born. In those days Vaudeville shows were sometimes called Hibernicon's or Grand Hibernica's stating the hold the Irish had on theater in those days. His older sister Josephine would be his only sibling. As an infant he was sometimes used as a prop during his parents’ performances. By the time George was ten the family was working sketches and shows together and they billed themselves "The Four Cohans." By age 13 George was writing songs, lyrics and plays for their act. By 1894 George was selling his songs to publishers and The Four Cohans were commanding $1,000 a week, a tremendous sum in those days. George had a famous line at the end of each show that became his trademark; "Ladies and gentlemen, my mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you!"

Cohan's Broadway Success

In 1899 George married Ethel Levy who was a popular singing comedienne who joined the Cohan's act. In 1904 George Cohan and Sam Harris formed a partnership that ruled Broadway for fifteen years. He also had his first smash hit with the play Little Johnny Jones. In this play two of his songs became household and vaudeville favorites: "The Yankee Doodle Boy" and "Give My Regards To Broadway." In 1906 another major hit was "You're a Grand Old Rag." Some folks objected to the title of the song and it was changed to "You're a Grand Old Flag." By 1907 George M. Cohan was a name known nationwide. He divorced Ethel and married Agnes Nolan, an Irish-American whose sister was married to Sam Harris.

Besides being a composer, lyricist, actor and song-and-dance man, Cohan was a great businessman. In 1911 Cohan and Harris had 6 hit shows on Broadway and controlled 7 theaters. He was also an avid fan of baseball and was active in the Lambs Club and Friars Club.

George M. Cohan and "Over There"

In 1917 Cohan composed one of America's greatest hit songs. America had just entered World War I, and on the train going into New York he penned the song "Over There." It was an instant success, and 25 years later President Roosevelt presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to him for this war song.

In 1919 an actors' strike closed Broadway. Cohan took this personally, dissolved his partnership with Harris and retired from show business. But it was inevitable that he would comeback as the theater was in his blood. He would write fifteen more plays and musicals but none would be as successful as his earlier efforts. In 1933 he played Nat Miller in Eugene O'Neill's nostalgic comedy Ah Wilderness to much critical success.

In his final years Cohan was sick and in seclusion. Warner Brothers approached him to do a movie on his life. Cohan approved the choice of James Cagney for the role in Yankee Doodle Dandy and later, against doctor's orders, he snuck out of his apartment to catch a screening of the movie at New York's Hollywood Theatre. Sitting in the backrow unknown to the audience Cohan heard the audience laughing and cheering and then returned to his apartment. He died quietly on November 5, 1942.

Sheet Music

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A.B.C.'s Of The U. S. A. IF SL 01-451
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Gebest, Charles J.
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All My Boys IF SM 00-752
  • Cohan, George M.
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All Our Friends IF SM 01-851
  • Cohan, George M.
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Always Leave Them Laughing When You Say Good-Bye IF SL 01-447
  • Cohan, George M.
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Always Leave Them Laughing When You Say Good-Bye IF SM 00-254
  • Cohan, George M.
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Always Leave Them Laughing When You Say Good-bye IF SM 00-693
  • Cohan, George M.
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Always Leave Them Laughing When You Say Good-Bye IF SM 00-780
  • Cohan, George M.
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Any Place The Old Flag Flies ECW SL 00-005
  • Cohan, George M.
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Belle Of The Barber's Ball, The IF SL 00-826
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Starmer
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Belle Of The Barber's Ball, The IF SL 01-251
  • Cohan, George M.
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Broadway Girl, The IF SL 02-409
  • Cohan, George M.
  • McDonald, Noble
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Broadway Tipperary IF SL 01-911
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Collier, William
  • Barbelle
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Brookfield Two-Step, The IF SL 02-002
  • Cohan, George M.
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Cohan's Pet Names : That's The Pet Name For Me IF SL 02-047
  • Cohan, George M.
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Cohan's Rag Babe IF SL 02-023
  • Cohan, George M.
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Come On Down Town IF SL 02-524
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Gebest, Charles J.
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Down By The Erie Canal IF SL 02-301
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Barbelle
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Down By The Erie Canal IF SM 00-280
  • Cohan, George M.
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Down By The Erie Canal IF SM 00-281
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Barbelle
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Down By The Erie Canal IF SM 00-771
  • Cohan, George M.
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Drink With Me IF SL 01-257
  • Cohan, George M.
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Ethel Levey's Virginia Song IF SL 01-437
  • Cohan, George M.
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Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway IF SL 02-701
  • Cohan, George M.
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Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway IF SM 00-292
  • Cohan, George M.
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Frisco Melody, The IF SL 01-093
  • Cohan, George M.
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From The Land Of Dreams IF SL 02-700
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Gebest, Charles J.
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Gee, Ain't I Glad I'm Home IF SL 00-016
  • Cohan, George M.
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Gee, Ain't I Glad I'm Home IF SL 01-685
  • Cohan, George M.
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Geo. Cohan's Rag IF SL 02-387
  • Cohan, George M.
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Geo. Cohan's Rag IF SL 02-432
  • Cohan, George M.
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Give My Regards To Broadway ECW SL 00-020
  • Cohan, George M.
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Give My Regards To Broadway IF SM 00-298
  • Cohan, George M.
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Good Bye, Bargravia IF SM 00-632
  • Cohan, George M.
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Good-Bye Flo IF SL 00-904
  • Cohan, George M.
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Harrigan IF SL 00-020
  • Cohan, George M.
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Have A Heart IF SL 01-792
  • Cohan, George M.
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Hinkey Dee, The IF SM 00-753
  • Cohan, George M.
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Hugh McCue : You - Mick - You IF SL 02-536
  • Cohan, George M.
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I Love Every Girl In The Wide Wide World IF SL 00-636
  • Cohan, George M.
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I Say Flo IF SL 02-010
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Gebest, Charles J.
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I Want To Go To Paree, Papa IF SL 02-109
  • Cohan, George M.
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I Want To Go To Paree, Papa IF SL 02-435
  • Cohan, George M.
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I Want You IF SL 00-539
  • Cohan, George M.
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I Want You IF SM 00-774
  • Cohan, George M.
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I Was Born In Virginia (Ethel Levey's Virginia Song) IF SM 00-315
  • Cohan, George M.
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If I Were Only Mister Morgan IF SL 01-557
  • Cohan, George M.
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If I'm Going To Die I'm Going To Have Some Fun ECW SL 00-142
  • Cohan, George M.
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If Mr. Boston Lawson Has His Way IF SL 01-453
  • Cohan, George M.
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If Washington Should Come To Life IF SM 00-319
  • Cohan, George M.
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I'll Be There In The Public Square IF SL 01-517
  • Cohan, George M.
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I'll Be There, In The Public Square IF SL 01-896
  • Cohan, George M.
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I'll Go The Route For You IF SL 02-246
  • Cohan, George M.
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I'm Awfully Strong For You IF SL 00-569
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Gebest, Charles J.
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I'm Going To Marry A Nobleman IF SL 02-360
  • Cohan, George M.
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I'm In Love With One Of The Stars IF SL 00-632
  • Cohan, George M.
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I'm Mighty Glad I'm Living And That's All IF SM 00-775
  • Cohan, George M.
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I'm True To Them All And They're Just As True To Me IF SM 00-747
  • Cohan, George M.
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In A Kingdom Of Our Own IF SM 00-761
  • Cohan, George M.
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In A Kingdom Of Our Own IF SM 00-793
  • Duncan, William Cary
  • Goetzl, Anselm
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Ireland, My Land Of Dreams ECW SM 00-034
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Olcott, Chauncey
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Irish American, The IF SL 01-475
  • Cohan, George M.
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Jack And Jill IF SL 01-594
  • Cohan, George M.
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Jack And Jill IF SL 01-872
  • Cohan, George M.
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Kid Days IF SM 00-772
  • Cohan, George M.
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Love Will Make Or Break A Man IF SL 00-340
  • Cohan, George M.
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Man Who Owns Broadway, The IF SL 01-990
  • Cohan, George M.
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Man Who Owns Broadway, The IF SM 00-668
  • Cohan, George M.
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Man Who Owns Broadway, The IF SM 00-822
  • Cohan, George M.
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Marie McGee IF SL 01-523
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Mills, Kerry
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Mary's A Grand Old Name IF SL 02-589
  • Cohan, George M.
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Maudie IF SL 00-637
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Gebest, Charles J.
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Mr. Burns Of New Rochelle IF SL 01-529
  • Cohan, George M.
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Name Of Kelly, The IF SM 00-757
  • Cohan, George M.
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Nellie Kelly I Love You IF SL 02-486
  • Cohan, George M.
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Nellie Kelly I Love You IF SM 00-045
  • Cohan, George M.
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Nellie Kelly I Love You IF SM 00-756
  • Cohan, George M.
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Never Breathe A Word Of This To Mother IF SL 01-653
  • Cohan, George M.
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Night Time IF SL 02-068
  • Cohan, George M.
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Nothing New Beneath The Sun IF SL 02-207
  • Cohan, George M.
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Nothing New Beneath The Sun IF SM 00-401
  • Cohan, George M.
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Oh You Wonderful Girl IF SL 01-019
  • Cohan, George M.
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Oh! Mr. Moon IF SL 01-991
  • Cohan, George M.
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Oh, You Beautiful Coon IF SL 01-884
  • Cohan, George M.
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Oh, You Wonderful Girl IF SM 00-406
  • Cohan, George M.
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Over There IF SL 01-444
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Barbelle
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Over There ECW SL 00-061
  • Cohan, George M.
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Over There ECW SL 00-062
  • Cohan, George M.
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Popularity IF SL 00-107
  • Cohan, George M.
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Popularity IF SM 00-779
  • Cohan, George M.
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Push Me Along In My Push Cart IF SL 02-019
  • Cohan, George M.
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Put A Bet Down For Me IF SL 01-426
  • Cohan, George M.
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So Long Mary IF SL 00-109
  • Cohan, George M.
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So Long Mary IF SL 00-110
  • Cohan, George M.
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So Long Mary ECW SL 00-072
  • Cohan, George M.
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So Long, Mary IF SM 00-760
  • Cohan, George M.
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Songs That Maggie Sings, The IF SL 00-576
  • Cohan, George M.
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Spanish IF SL 02-434
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Berlin, Irving
  • Barbelle
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Stand Up And Fight Like H--- IF SL 01-256
  • Cohan, George M.
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Sullivan IF SL 01-179
  • Cohan, George M.
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Sullivan IF SM 00-669
  • Cohan, George M.
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Telephone Me, Baby IF SL 01-761
  • Cohan, George M.
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That Haunting Melody IF SL 00-383
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Starmer
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That's Some Love IF SL 01-568
  • Cohan, George M.
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The Name Of Kelly IF SM 00-103
  • Cohan, George M.
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Their Hearts Are Over Here IF SL 01-328
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Barbelle
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There's Only One Little Girl IF SL 01-600
  • Cohan, George M.
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They're All My Friends IF SM 00-442
  • Cohan, George M.
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They're All My Friends IF SM 00-776
  • Cohan, George M.
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Think It Over Carefully IF SL 01-305
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Gebest, Charles J.
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'Till My Luck Comes Rolling Along IF SM 00-206
  • Cohan, George M.
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'Till My Luck Comes Rolling Along IF SM 00-758
  • Cohan, George M.
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Tommy Atkins You're All Right IF SL 02-016
  • Cohan, George M.
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Villains In The Play IF SL 01-858
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Gebest, Charles J.
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Voice In My Heart, The IF SL 01-121
  • Cohan, George M.
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Voice In My Heart, The IF SM 00-551
  • Cohan, George M.
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Voice In My Heart, The IF SM 00-755
  • Cohan, George M.
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Waltz With Me IF SL 01-018
  • Cohan, George M.
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Warmest Baby In The Bunch, The IF SL 00-922
  • Cohan, George M.
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Wee Bit Of Lace, A IF SL 01-455
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Tierney, Harry
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We'll Be Alone At Last IF SL 02-404
  • Cohan, George M.
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When A Fellow's On The Level With A Girl That's On The Square IF SL 02-662
  • Cohan, George M.
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When A Fellow's On The Level With A Girl That's On the Square ECW SL 00-262
  • Cohan, George M.
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When I Look In Your Eyes, Mavourneen IF SM 00-641
  • Cohan, George M.
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When We Are M-A-Double R-I-E-D IF SL 01-442
  • Cohan, George M.
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When We Are M-A-double-R-I-E-D IF SM 00-455
  • Cohan, George M.
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When You Come Back (And You Will Come Back, There's a Whole World Waiting for You) ECW SL 00-095
  • Cohan, George M.
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When You Come Back And You Will Come Back, The Whole World Waiting For You IF SL 00-074
  • Cohan, George M.
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Where Is The Girl I Left Behind IF SM 00-820
  • Cohan, George M.
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Won't You Come Back To Me IF SM 00-957
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Starmer
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Yankee Doodle Boy, The IF SL 02-665
  • Cohan, George M.
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Yankee Doodle Boy, The IF SM 00-515
  • Cohan, George M.
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Yankee Doodle Boy, The IF SM 01-893
  • Cohan, George M.
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Yankee Prince Waltzes, The IF SL 02-534
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Gebest, Charles J.
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You Can Tell That I'm Irish IF SL 01-017
  • Cohan, George M.
  • Barbelle
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You Can Tell That I'm Irish IF SM 00-667
  • Cohan, George M.
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You Can't Deny You're Irish IF SM 00-067
  • Cohan, George M.
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You Can't Deny You're Irish IF SM 00-463
  • Cohan, George M.
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You Remind Me Of My Mother IF SL 02-619
  • Cohan, George M.
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You Remind Me Of My Mother IF SM 00-207
  • Cohan, George M.
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You Remind Me Of My Mother IF SM 00-465
  • Cohan, George M.
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You're A Grand Old Flag IF SL 00-396
  • Cohan, George M.
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