I have every sympathy (writes a correspondent) with the writer of the leading article on "War Songs"; for obviously the songs that were sung by many, many soldiers in dug-out, hut or other billet could not be quoted in an Irish newspaper.
"Mademoiselle from Armentieres" appeared after the war in an innocuous form, but the words used by the soldiers were what is sometimes called "suggestive". It and a vulgar piece of composition, commencing with the words: "I love my wife," were the British Army's first favourites.
A neat little thing, "Kitty was Pretty," was rude without being obscene. My own mob had a great liking for a music-hall song of the period called "Samoa". I doubt that any soldiers sang, certainly not without a blush, "Keep the Home Fires Burning".
"Carry Me Back to Dear Old Blighty" and "Pack Up Your Troubles" they did sing. I suppose it is remembered that a "blighty" was a wound that necessitated treatment in England, so that England became Blighty. "Tipperary" was not a war song, though it became famous through the war, but it was popular at least a year before August, 1914.
The Irish Times, September 12th, 1940.