The story
It became the cheerful wake-up call of soldiers and sailors. “Rise” means get out of bed, and “shine” likely meant polishing your boots first thing, though that part is a guess. A 1916 U.S. Marine Corps bulletin printed it, with “Wiggle a toe.” Navy crews sang “Wakey, wakey, rise and shine.” Earlier, an 1824 Maryland newspaper used it in a poem about the sun.