"Give My Regards to Broadway" is a song written by George M. Cohan for his musical play Little Johnny Jones which debuted in 1904 in New York. Cohan, playing the title character, sings this song as his friend is about to sail to America, looking for evidence aboard the ship that will clear his name for allegedly throwing the English Derby. He is sure he'll become a star at Broadway, therefore signing off with: "Give my regards to Broadway."
Recordings
The sentimental song has been recorded many times. It was featured prominently in a solo song-and-dance sequence done by James Cagney in his Oscar-winning performance in the 1942 film about Cohan's life, Yankee Doodle Dandy. It was also performed by Al Jolson. Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album Join Bing and Sing Along In 1999, National Public Radio included this song in the "NPR 100," in which NPR's music editors sought to compile the one hundred most important American musical works of the 20th century. The song was included in the 1968 musical George M!, which was based on Cohan's life. Tony Award-winning actor Joel Grey played Cohan in the original Broadway cast and performed the song for the soundtrack. One of its earliest recordings was by Billy Murray. His recording's short instrumental interludes contain the two closing lines of the chorus to The Yankee Doodle Boy, which was the other famous song from Little Johnny Jones: Verse 1 Verse 2 Chorus
In the episode "A Fish Called Selma" of The Simpsons, Troy McClure tells the audience they may remember him from such films as "Give My Remains to Broadway".
One of the beauty pageant children in the 2006 American indie comedy Little Miss Sunshine performs the song.
In Paul McCartney's Give My Regards to Broad Street the title alludes to this tune, and also to London's Broad Street railway station, which closed in 1986.
In the song "Thousands Are Sailing" by The Pogues, a verse refers to Cohan and the song, as follows: "Then we said goodnight to Broadway / Giving it our best regards / Tipped our hats to Mister Cohan / Dear old Times Square's favourite bard".
In the film Bring It On, a would-be male cheerleader auditions for the Toros with the song.
JibJab uses this song's tune as the year in review for 2013.
Allan Sherman used the tune for Get On The Garden Freeway on the albumMy Son, the Celebrity in 1963
