Paul Cunningham (songwriter)

Paul Cunningham (January 25, 1890, New York City - August 14, 1960, New York City) was an American composer, lyricist, songwriter, and singer. A graduate of the Manhattan College of Music, he began his career working in vaudeville as both a vocalist and songwriter; often in collaboration with Florence Bennett.^[1] He wrote the lyrics to the World War I song "It Won't Be Long Before We're Home",^[2] and the World War II enlistment song "Four Buddies".^[3] He composed the music to "When the Robert E. Lee Arrives in Old Tennessee (All the Way from Gay Paree)" with J. Keirn Brennan serving as his lyricist.^[4]

Paul Cunningham and Florence Bennett

Cunningham collaborated on numerous songs with composer Ernie Burnett, and also worked with Ira Schuster.^[5] His most successful songs were "All Over Nothing At All", "From the Vine Came the Grape", "Harriet", "I Am An American", and "Tripoli (The Shores of)".^[6] In 1956, he was elected president of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.^[7]