How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?
How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree)? is a pop song written by Walter Donaldson (music), Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young (lyrics) and released in 1919.
background
Donaldson's humorous song How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm was presented in February 1919 on the occasion of the American Victory Parade that welcomed US President Wilson's return from Paris after the Treaty of Versailles was signed . James Reese Europe ran the 369th Infantry Hell Fighters Band, which played the song at the parade.
First recordings
James Reese Europe played the song with his band in March 1919 for Pathé ; it followed in the following years cover versions of the song by Arthur Fields , Ted Baxter & Max Kortlander (QRS 792), Ford Dabney (Æolian) and in Paris L'Orchestre Scrap Iron Jazzerinos (HMV) (all 1919) and Eddie Cantor (1923). In later years Tommy Dorsey (with Eddie Cantor as guest vocalist), Glenn Miller , Clyde McCoy , Ray Coligon , Teddy Buckner , Max Morath , Wilbur DeParis , Ernie Carson , Joe Webster and Keith Ingham / Marty Grosz also recorded the pop song. The discographer Tom Lord lists a total of 22 (as of 2016) cover versions in the field of jazz .