"Stay Down Here Where You Belong" was a pacifist song written by Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...

 in 1914. The lyrics depict a conversation between the devil

Devil

The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...

 and his son, the devil exhorting him to "stay down here where you belong" because people on Earth do not know right from wrong.

"To serve their king, they've all gone off to war.

And not a one of them knows what they're fighting for."

While Henry Burr

Henry Burr

Henry Burr was a Canadian singer of popular songs from the early 20th century, an early radio performer and producer...

's recording of the song may have mirrored a large portion of American sentiment during the early days of World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, the eventual entry of the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 into the conflict and the consequent reversal of the national mood turned the song into a major source of embarrassment for Berlin, who is better known for his subsequent patriotic songs. One of Berlin's peeves was the penchant of Groucho Marx

Groucho Marx

Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx was an American comedian and film star famed as a master of wit. His rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers. He made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born...

 to sing the song; Berlin offered Marx $100 not to do it again. A rendition by Marx appears on his concert album, An Evening with Groucho)

A rendition of "Stay Down Here Where You Belong" was also recorded by Tiny Tim

Tiny Tim (musician)

Tiny Tim , , born in Manhattan, was an American singer and ukulele player. He was most famous for his rendition of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" sung in a distinctive high falsetto/vibrato voice.-Rise to fame:Born to Lebanese parents in 1932, Khaury displayed musical talent at a very young age...

. In the late 20th and early 21st century it has also been performed by the New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra.