Amongst the 100 year anniversary of the first great World War, veterans, military families and serving soldiers have revitalized one of WW1’s marching song to a modern hit. The old marching song, “Smile, Smile ,Smile” has been recently used to uplift the moral of British soldiers. The song features lyrics encompassing the narrative of  “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile!”

The old marching song has regained it’s fame as a British Military charity choir  has organized a performance of the song Sunday, in central London. Aubrey Powell, the grandson of the original’s co-composer George Powell describes the marching tune as “the viral hit of WW1.”

“Pack Up Your Troubles” was widely known as a music hall style tune that was mostly used as a means to boost soldier moral and bring a sense of unity to platoons and troop formations on the battle fields and home front.  After an interview of one of the musical directors involved with the central London charity project was quoted with the following: ““There couldn’t have been a person alive then who didn’t know someone fighting. It affected everybody, and having that song united people.”

The song’s simplistic melodic structure and the hopeful lyrics have given it the enduring appeal needed for a century old classic. It has been argued that the lyrics are even more relevant than today because it attached itself to empathy, giving us in to wonder about what other people are going through and the men and women of our armed services.