University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

Allegiance

Title
Allegiance - Lyrics
Composer
Smith, Julia  
Lyricist
Smith, Julia  
Publisher
Arrow Music Pub. Co.   
Place of Publication
Boston (Mass.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Lyrics
We’re off today for the battlefield, we’re on our way and we’ll never yield, we’re off! We’re off! Soon in the fray, we are not to blame, the Stars and Stripes we will never shame, we’re off! We’re off! We’re off! Look to the left, to the right, to the front, look to the left, to the right, to the front, Stars and Stripes that float above us all, I love you! I pledge allegiance to my flag, I pledge allegiance, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, I pledge allegiance to my country’s flag. Our God above in His wisdom great will guide us on and decide our fate, we’re off! We’re off! We’ll make amends when the battle’s o’er, we’ll all be friends as in days of yore, we’re off! We’re off! We’re off! Look to the left, to the right, to the front, look to the left, to the right, to the front, Stars and Stripes that float above us all, I love you!
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Local Identifier
2014_12996_020
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/46a5d9a0-c0e6-0134-2373-0050569601ca-c

Descriptive Information

Title
Allegiance
Composer
Smith, Julia  
Lyricist
Smith, Julia  
Publisher
Arrow Music Pub. Co.  
Place of Publication
Boston (Mass.)  
Publisher Address
24 Warren St.|  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
1918-04-03
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-5, [1] p.)
Comment
In addition to a second edition with a different publisher, this title was copyrighted in arrangements for band and orchestra (April 4 and 15, 1918), and the chorus of the first edition appeared in the Boston Post (July 6, 1918), together with an interview with the composer. All this suggests modest recognition and popularity, at least in the Boston area.
Historical Note
  • There are no documented performances, recordings, or promotional activities.
  • The verse texts are Smith's, but the refrain presents the Pledge of Allegiance verbatim; this may have been its first appearance in a published musical setting.
  • This is the first of two editions; it was almost certainly self-published by Smith, since Arrow Music published no other titles, and its address was only a few doors away from Smith's home address. An earlier copyright, March 14, 1918, was for the manuscript; the published copy differs from the manuscript in its key and in several details in the accompaniment. According to Smith, the song was written in response to President Wilson's speech on April 2, 1917.
Musical Note
This march song in compound duple time couples a 24-bar verse with a 32-bar refrain that resembles a march trio but with no modulation. The introduction and verse build bugle calls from the “Over There” figure. The second phrase of the refrain suggests the second phrase of “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.
Dedication
Cover: Dedicated to That Spirit of Americanism as Typified by the Immortal Lincoln
Subject - Topic
  • Pledge of allegiance.  
  • Flags -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • Allegiance -- Songs and music.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Our God above in his wisdom great / Will guide us on and decide our fate, / We're off! We're off! / We'll make amends when the battle's o'er, / We'll all be friends as in days of yore, / We're off! We're off! We're off! / Look to the left, to the right, to the front, / Look to the left, to the right, to the front, / Stars and Stripes that float above us all, I love you!
  • [refrain 1] I pledge allegiance to my flag I pledge allegiance, / and to the republic for which it stands / One nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all / I pledge allegiance to my country's flag.
  • [verse 1] We're off today for the battlefield, / We're on our way and we'll never yield, / We're off! We're off! / Soon in the fray, we are not to blame, / The Stars and Stripes we will never shame, / We're off! We're off! We're off! / Look to the left, to the right, to the front, / Look to the left, to the right, to the front, / Stars and Stripes that float above us all, I love you!
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover Description
Text only, ornamented.
Back Cover Description
Blank.
Interior Description
  • Plate numbers: pp. 2, 3, 4, BL: Allegiance 4
  • p. 5, bottom: *May be used in conjunction with the Piano Part of the Refrain, or may be sung without accompaniment.
  • p. 5, top: *Chorus of Men’s Voices ad lib.
  • p. 5: The refrain arranged for four-part men’s chorus.
  • p. 2, below title: (Patriotic Song)
  • Cover, above publisher: Price 50 cents
  • Cover, below title: Patriotic Song
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_020
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleAllegiance
ComposerSmith, Julia  
LyricistSmith, Julia  
PublisherArrow Music Pub. Co.  
Place of PublicationBoston (Mass.)  
Publisher Address24 Warren St.|  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of Copyright1918-04-03
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-5, [1] p.)
CommentIn addition to a second edition with a different publisher, this title was copyrighted in arrangements for band and orchestra (April 4 and 15, 1918), and the chorus of the first edition appeared in the Boston Post (July 6, 1918), together with an interview with the composer. All this suggests modest recognition and popularity, at least in the Boston area.
Historical Note
  • There are no documented performances, recordings, or promotional activities.
  • The verse texts are Smith's, but the refrain presents the Pledge of Allegiance verbatim; this may have been its first appearance in a published musical setting.
  • This is the first of two editions; it was almost certainly self-published by Smith, since Arrow Music published no other titles, and its address was only a few doors away from Smith's home address. An earlier copyright, March 14, 1918, was for the manuscript; the published copy differs from the manuscript in its key and in several details in the accompaniment. According to Smith, the song was written in response to President Wilson's speech on April 2, 1917.
Musical NoteThis march song in compound duple time couples a 24-bar verse with a 32-bar refrain that resembles a march trio but with no modulation. The introduction and verse build bugle calls from the “Over There” figure. The second phrase of the refrain suggests the second phrase of “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.
DedicationCover: Dedicated to That Spirit of Americanism as Typified by the Immortal Lincoln
Subject - Topic
  • Pledge of allegiance.  
  • Flags -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • Allegiance -- Songs and music.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Our God above in his wisdom great / Will guide us on and decide our fate, / We're off! We're off! / We'll make amends when the battle's o'er, / We'll all be friends as in days of yore, / We're off! We're off! We're off! / Look to the left, to the right, to the front, / Look to the left, to the right, to the front, / Stars and Stripes that float above us all, I love you!
  • [refrain 1] I pledge allegiance to my flag I pledge allegiance, / and to the republic for which it stands / One nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all / I pledge allegiance to my country's flag.
  • [verse 1] We're off today for the battlefield, / We're on our way and we'll never yield, / We're off! We're off! / Soon in the fray, we are not to blame, / The Stars and Stripes we will never shame, / We're off! We're off! We're off! / Look to the left, to the right, to the front, / Look to the left, to the right, to the front, / Stars and Stripes that float above us all, I love you!
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover DescriptionText only, ornamented.
Back Cover DescriptionBlank.
Interior Description
  • Plate numbers: pp. 2, 3, 4, BL: Allegiance 4
  • p. 5, bottom: *May be used in conjunction with the Piano Part of the Refrain, or may be sung without accompaniment.
  • p. 5, top: *Chorus of Men’s Voices ad lib.
  • p. 5: The refrain arranged for four-part men’s chorus.
  • p. 2, below title: (Patriotic Song)
  • Cover, above publisher: Price 50 cents
  • Cover, below title: Patriotic Song
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_020
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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