The yankee doodle boy aka im a yankee doodle dandy is a favorite popular patriotic song sing along words lyrics by george m cohan im a yankee doodle dand. The yankee doodle boy also well known as im a yankee doodle dandy is a patriotic song from the broadway musical little johnny jones written by george m cohanthe play opened at the liberty theater on november 7 1904 the play concerns the trials and tribulations of a fictional american jockey johnny jones based on the real life jockey tod sloan who rides a horse named yankee . James cagney showing off his hoofing ability playing the part of entertainer george m cohan in the 1942 warner brothers film on the life and times of george. From little johnny jones george m cohan recorded 1906 yankee doodle boyim the kid thats all the candyim a yankee doodle dandyim glad i amsos