How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree)?

"How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree)?"
Sheet music cover for "How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm"
Song
Published	1919
Writer(s)	Composer: Walter Donaldson Lyricist: Joe Young, Sam M. Lewis

"How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree?)" is a World War I song that rose to popularity after the war had ended. The lyrics highlight concern that American soldiers from rural environments would not want to return to farm life after experiencing the European city life and culture of Paris during World War I.

The song was first introduced to vaudeville by Sophie Tucker.

Eddie Cantor also added it to his stage set.

In 1919, an early jazz band, Jim Europe's 369th Infantry Band frequently performed this song in 1919 after arriving back in New York. They recorded a version for Pathé Records and it became a hit for that year.

Also, Nora Bayes recorded it for Columbia that same year. Bayes' version reached number two on the US song charts in March 1919.Victor released its recording, featuring the singer Arthur Fields, on February 27, 1919.

Like many World War I songs, it was sung by soldiers in World War II.

Andrew Bird included a more melancholy cover version in his 2007 EP Soldier On. In The Lego Movie (2014), the song is briefly sung in Judy Garland's voice by the character Metalbeard (using a sample from the 1942 film For Me and My Gal).

The song features music by Walter Donaldson and words by Joe Young and Sam M. Lewis. It was published in 1919 by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co in New York. The team of Donaldson, Young and Lewis, wrote another topical song commenting on soldiers returning from the war that was released by Victor the day before "How Ya Gonna Keep Em Down on the Farm." "Don’t cry, Frenchy, don’t cry" was released by Victor on February 26, 1919. It featured the singers Charles Hart and Elliott Shaw.