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Artillery Song

This song was originally written by field artillery First Lieutenant 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 later modified and adopted in 1956 as the official song of the US Army and re-named "The Army Goes Rolling Along." The melody for both songs are the same, while the wording is drastically different.

As is often discovered while doing research, different and conflicting results can appear. Such is the case with finding the official wording for "The Caisson Song". We have found numerous references to the lyrics and all claim to be the right one; and yet they are different. Some differ in the wording of the verses and some in the number of verses - while most all agree to the refrain. So where does that lead us? Well, rather than lead you astray or to utter an untruth, we can honestly say that what we present below is but one version of the song. It is the one taught by our Sergeant Major back in the late 1970s and the one we sing from memory today.

The Caisson Song

Verse 1 Over hill, over dale
We have hit the dusty trail,
And the Caissons go rolling along.
In and out, hear them shout,
Counter march and right about,
And the Caissons go rolling along.

Refrain For it's hi! hi! hee!
In the field artillery,
Shout out your numbers loud and strong,
And where e'er you go,
You will always know
That the Caissons go rolling along.

Verse 2 In the storm, in the night,
Action left or action right
See those Caissons go rolling along
Limber front, limber rear,
Prepare to mount your cannoneer
And those Caissons go rolling along.

Refrain For it's hi! hi! hee!
In the field artillery,
Shout out your numbers loud and strong,
And where e'er you go,
You will always know
That the Caissons go rolling along.

Verse 3 Was it high, was it low,
Where the hell did that one go?
As those Caissons go rolling along
Was it left, was it right,
Now we won't get home tonight
And those Caissons go rolling along.

Refrain For it's hi! hi! hee!
In the field artillery,
Shout out your numbers loud and strong,
And where e'er you go,
You will always know
That the Caissons go rolling along.

This song was originally written by field artillery First Lieutenant 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 later modified and adopted in 1956 as the official song of the US Army and re-named "The Army Goes Rolling Along." The melody for both songs are the same, while the wording is drastically different. As is often discovered while doing research, different and conflicting results can appear. Such is the case with finding the official wording for "The Caisson Song". We have found numerous references to the lyrics and all claim to be the right one; and yet they are different. Some differ in the wording of the verses and some in the number of verses - while most all agree to the refrain. So where does that lead us? Well, rather than lead you astray or to utter an untruth, we can honestly say that what we present below is but one version of the song. It is the one taught by our Sergeant Major back in the late 1970s and the one we sing from memory today.

The Caisson Song

Verse 1	Over hill, over dale We have hit the dusty trail, And the Caissons go rolling along. In and out, hear them shout, Counter march and right about, And the Caissons go rolling along.
Refrain	For it's hi! hi! hee! In the field artillery, Shout out your numbers loud and strong, And where e'er you go, You will always know That the Caissons go rolling along.
Verse 2	In the storm, in the night, Action left or action right See those Caissons go rolling along Limber front, limber rear, Prepare to mount your cannoneer And those Caissons go rolling along.
Refrain	For it's hi! hi! hee! In the field artillery, Shout out your numbers loud and strong, And where e'er you go, You will always know That the Caissons go rolling along.
Verse 3	Was it high, was it low, Where the hell did that one go? As those Caissons go rolling along Was it left, was it right, Now we won't get home tonight And those Caissons go rolling along.
Refrain	For it's hi! hi! hee! In the field artillery, Shout out your numbers loud and strong, And where e'er you go, You will always know That the Caissons go rolling along.