It's Not Your Nationality (It's Simply You)

Performed by Billy Murray
Recorded October 25, 1916
Written by Howard Johnson & Joe McCarthy

Ev'rybody has a native land,
in the North, south East or West,
And it's only right, your native land
should be the place you love the best
Now it makes no diff'rence what you are,
don't wait for fame to come,
Just go and get it, and they'll give you credit,,
No matter where you're from:

[chorus]
It's not your nationality,
It's what you do,
It's not your personality,
that always pulls you through.
Bismark make his mark in Germany, we know,
And Georgie Cohan was a Yankee in the growin'
But he made a bunch of dough.
Just think of Rockefeller and what he can buy,
He started from the cellar,
but he climbed away up high
So if you've got the spirit,
Nevermind your name,
foks will hear it, if you play the game,
It's not your nationality, it's simply you!

Ev'ry day you'll hear somebody brag,
of the land where they belong,
And they knock all other nationalities,
but take my tip, they're wrong.
In the end the man that plugs along
is the fellow that succeds,
The whole creation is a great big nation,
They judge you by your deeds:

[chorus]
It's not your nationality,
It's what you do,
Sometime a technicality
will bring great fame to you.
Bryan kept tryin' he never gave up hope,
And young Marconi had a scheme that sounded phoney,
But he upset all the dope.
Just think of Henry Ford and his old Fliver bus,
We laugh, but all the dough he's got,
he took away from us,
So never mind your breeding,
Keep a level head,
Face the world, prepare to knock'em dead,
It's not your nationality, it's simply you!

[lyrics from the sheet music]