American patriotic music 1917, when he saw headlines announcing the U.S. had entered World War I. Cohan also is famous for penning "Yankee Doodle Dandy," an over-the-top parody of patriotic music. A 1918 Irving Berlin composition, "God Bless America", is sometimes considered an unofficial national anthem of the United States and is often performed at sporting events alongside (or, in some rare cases, such as Ronan Tynan, in place of) "The Star-Spangled Banner." In 1940, Woody Guthrie wrote "This Land Is Your Land" in response to his dislike of "God Bless America", calling it unrealistic and complacent. The World War II era produced
Always (Irving Berlin song) Always (Irving Berlin song) "Always" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin in 1925, as a wedding gift for his wife Ellin McKay, whom he married in 1926, and to whom he presented the substantial royalties. Although legend (and Groucho Marx) claims Berlin wrote the song "Always" for "The Cocoanuts", he never meant for the song to be included in the play. Hit versions have also been recorded by such diverse artists as Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, Tony Bennett, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Evans, Billy Corgan, Leonard Cohen, Phil Collins, Machito and The Ink Spots. Billy