Home > Encyclopedia > SongBase
G.I. Blues


Words & Music:
Sid Tepper/ Roy C. BennettThey give us a room
with a view of the beautiful Rhine
They give us a room
with a view of the beautiful Rhine
Gimme a muddy old creek
in Texas any old time
I've got those hup, two, three, four
occupation G.I. Blues
From my G.I. hair to the heels of my G.I. shoes
And if I don't go stateside soon
I'm gonna blow my fuse
We get hasenpfeffer
and black pumpernickel for chow
We get hasenpfeffer
and black pumpernickel for chow
I'd blow my next month's pay
for a slice of Texas cow
We'd like to be heroes,
but all we do here is march
We'd like to be heroes,
but all we do here is march
And they don't give the Purple Heart
for a fallen arch
I've got those hup, two, three, four
occupation G.I. Blues
From my G.I. hair to the heels of my G.I. shoes
And if I don't go stateside soon
I'm gonna blow my fuse
The frauleins are pretty as flowers
But we can't make a pass
The frauleins are pretty as flowers
But we can't make a pass
Cause they're all wearin' signs saying:
"Keepen sie off the grass"
I've got those hup, two, three, four
occupation G.I. Blues
From my G.I. hair to the heels of my G.I. shoes
And if I don't go stateside soon
I'm gonna blow my fuse Recorded:
1960/04/27, first released on
G.I. BluesReactions
Not a great movie track. Surely no rock 'n' roll. Even no blues.
Never gravitated totally towards this song, as it always seemed to be more soundtrack material than vinyl. It is excellent in the film but one of the lesser lights when appearing as part of the G.I. Blues album.
Don't say much to me. A lesser soundtrack song when compared with almost all the 50's soundtracks, and a much much inferior album when compared to the milestone in Rock music that was Elvis is Back. But... it sold far more that "Elvis is Back", what shows that the Elvis fans were changing. Rock fans were starting to be a minor part and the crooner and easy listening fans were taking place. Parker saw the way to make more money, and in a couple of years Elvis was far far away from the rock scene, making plenty of room to the so called British Invasion, that only had that magnitude because Elvis had left the rock scene.
A great song, imagine if RCA had released this one with Wooden Heart - a sure number one :-) Lot's of nice songs on this album, G.I. Blues, and a few bad ones too. But Elvis is in perfect voice :)
Another excellent LP,with a better "Blue Suede Shoes" than the original (Elvis' version).
One of the few Tepper/Bennett winners. Good song, good performance.
If only Elvis's movies & soundtracks had stayed as good as this one ( and Blue Hawaii). To me these are the only two Elvis muscials that are worth recalling. At least, between 1960 & 1962 Elvis did a good mix of movies, movie soundtracks, studio albums & most important good singles, Now or never, lonesome tonight, Surrender, good luck charm, his latest flame/little sister & she's not you.
The very good title song from Elvis' 5th movie. A nice rock and roll song that shows "Tepper/Bennett" COULD write good songs. Elvis' delivery is perfect and the Jordinaires provide their usual stellar accompaniment. 4 1/2 stars
A song I still like after all these years, generally a good soundtrack and film too.
Yeah I like this song. Movie fluff? Sure but catchy as hell and a pretty good rocker too with Elvis in fine voice. By the mid-60's the movie title tracks were not as good as this one and Elvis didnt sound as into it.
Available Alternate Versions