"It's a long way to Tipparary..." - When the sitcom THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW/CBS/1970-77 ended its successful run, the show's cast began singing the popular World War I song "It's a long way to Tipparary" as they slowly shuffled out of the newsroom of WJM-TV for the last time (clinging to each other in a group hug they didn't want to end). Ironically, all the newsroom staff received a pink slip when new management came on board, but the pompous no-talent news anchor Ted Baxter got to stay. After all the WJM-TV personnel had departed the newsroom, Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore), returned on last time, paused for a last look around, and then switched off the newsroom lights. A few minutes earlier Mary offered a special speech to her best friends. Here it is:

"I just wanted you to know that sometimes I get concerned about being a career woman. I get to thinking that my job is too important to me, and I tell myself that the people I work with are just the people I work with. And not my family. But last night I thought, ' what is a family anyway?'  They're just people who make you feel less alone and really loved. And that's what you've done for me. Thank you for being my family."

It's a long way to Tipperary It's a long way to Tipperary, It's a long way to go. It's a long way to Tipperary To the sweetest girl I know! Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square! It's a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart's right there.

The chorus lyrics of the popular World War One British anthem written by Jack Judge and Harry Williams in 1912. Check out the full song lyrics and audio at First World War.com