<P> During the First World War, Daily Mail correspondent George Curnock saw the Irish regiment the Connaught Rangers singing this song as they marched through Boulogne on 13 August 1914 and reported it on 18 August 1914 . The song was quickly picked up by other units of the British Army . In November 1914, it was recorded by the well - known tenor John McCormack, which helped its worldwide popularity . </P> <P> One of the most popular hits of the time, the song is atypical in that it is not a warlike song that incites the soldiers to glorious deeds . Popular songs in previous wars (such as the Boer Wars) frequently did this . In the First World War, however, the most popular songs, like this one and "Keep the Home Fires Burning", concentrated on the longing for home . </P> <P> This song is not to be confused with a popular song from 1907 simply titled "Tipperary". Both were sung at different times by early recording star Billy Murray . Murray, with the American Quartet, sang "It's A Long Way To Tipperary" as a straightforward march, complete with brass, drums and cymbals, with a quick bar of "Rule, Britannia!" thrown into the instrumental interlude between the first and second verse - chorus combination . </P> <P> Judge's parents were Irish, and his grandparents came from Tipperary . Jack Judge and Harry Williams met in Oldbury, Worcestershire at the Malt Shovel, where Harry's brother Ben was the licensee . Judge and Williams began a long - term writing partnership that resulted in 32 music hall songs published by Feldmans . Harry was severely handicapped, as he had fallen down cellar steps as a child . His parents were publicans and many of the songs were believed to have been composed with Judge at their home, "The Plough Inn" (now "The Tipperary Inn"), in Balsall Common . </P>

The words to it's a long way to tipperary