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Cheer up mothers, dry your tears, he’s coming back to you, sweethearts you’ll soon hear the cheers, for your hero true, battle’s roar he’ll hear no more, soon he’ll sail from France’s shore, when he’s paid the debt, he owes to Lafayette, he will say goodbye and cry. All aboard for home sweet home again to the girl I left behind, I’ll go sailing ‘cross the foam again, what a welcome there I’ll find, and the day that I return to her, I will make that girl my own, hello dear hometown I’m homeward bound, all aboard for home sweet home. When our boys sail up the bay, a great day that will be, they’ll
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Original Location
Record Series 12/9/96
Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Local Identifier
2014_12996_018
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
A minor success in spring 1918, this song had a second, bigger surge in popularity after the armistice. In both cases it was heard primarily in recordings and piano rolls, some of which were made even before copyright was registered. It was not widely used in vaudeville, but it was incorporated in a soldiers’ show in December 1918. By April 1919 it had faded from view.
Historical Note
Between April and August, 1918, three recordings and four piano rolls were issued. In January 1919 a fifth piano roll appeared.
The advertising in March 1918, which appeared at a time when the public was not optimistic about the war’s conclusion, specifically claimed this was “not a peace song but an inspiring march song.” Although advertising ended in April 1918, the piano rolls and the variant printings, which continued into May, imply some popularity. Immediately after the armistice the song was reissued with a slightly altered text, and it was vigorously promoted; in its new, timely version it was briefly but decidedly successful. Its use in a soldier’s show, “Who Stole the Hat?,” sustained its popularity from the armistice through December, but thereafter interest quickly diminished.
This is the first variant (of two) of the second printing (of two) of the first edition, issued in of after mid-May 1918. A second edition, with a minor adjustment to the lyrics, was issued after the armistice.
“Burkhardt” is misspelled as “Burkhart” on both the cover and p. 2.
Musical Note
This is a march song (marked “marcia”), with a walking bass, rat-a-tat-tat rhythms and fanfare fills; but the sentiment and the fermata before the last phrase slightly suggest a march ballad. The first phrase of “Home Sweet Home” is quoted twice, with lyric references as well, and “The Girl I Left Behind Me” is quoted in the lyrics only.
Subject - Topic
Peace -- Songs and music.
Homecoming -- Songs and music.
Home -- Songs and music.
Soldiers -- Songs and music.
Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music
Lyrics
[refrain 2]
[verse 2] When our boys sail up the Bay, / A great day that will be, / They’ll be more than proud to say, / Hello Liberty, / With joy our hearts will be filled, / Soon our France we will rebuild, / For you’ve been true blue, / So now we say to you / “Au Revoir” but not “Goodbye.”
[refrain 1] All aboard for Home Sweet Home again / to the girl I left behind, / I’ll go sailing ’cross the foam again, / What a welcome there I’ll find, / And the day that I return to her, / I will make that girl my own, / Hello dear home town I’m homeward bound, / All aboard for Home Sweet Home. /
[verse 1] Cheer up mothers, dry your tears / He’s coming back to you, / Sweethearts you’ll soon hear the cheers, / For your hero true, / Battles roar he’ll hear no more, / Soon he’ll sail from France’s shore, / When he’s paid the debt, / He owes to Lafayette, / He will say Goodbye and cry.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Artist
Starmer [William and Frederick]
Cover Description
At bottom, on a dock, troops in formation marching up a gangplank onto a troop ship; wagon and artillery waiting to be loaded; above, center, Statue of Liberty, in a cloud; BL, oval photographic inset of Mel Klee. Tan monochrome; signed BR.
Back Cover Description
Wrought-iron-style frame enclosing the whole. Bottom: Slogans: “Save! Save! / Food will win the war / Buy war saving stamps”. Center: sample, Oh Moon of the Summer Night (1918 05 11).
Interior Description
Plate number: p.3, BL: All Aboard etc. 2
p. 2, BL, in box: Can be had for Music Rolls / And Phonograph Records.
Cover, in oval insert: Mel Klee
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.
Original Location
Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_018
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
A minor success in spring 1918, this song had a second, bigger surge in popularity after the armistice. In both cases it was heard primarily in recordings and piano rolls, some of which were made even before copyright was registered. It was not widely used in vaudeville, but it was incorporated in a soldiers’ show in December 1918. By April 1919 it had faded from view.
Historical Note
Between April and August, 1918, three recordings and four piano rolls were issued. In January 1919 a fifth piano roll appeared.
The advertising in March 1918, which appeared at a time when the public was not optimistic about the war’s conclusion, specifically claimed this was “not a peace song but an inspiring march song.” Although advertising ended in April 1918, the piano rolls and the variant printings, which continued into May, imply some popularity. Immediately after the armistice the song was reissued with a slightly altered text, and it was vigorously promoted; in its new, timely version it was briefly but decidedly successful. Its use in a soldier’s show, “Who Stole the Hat?,” sustained its popularity from the armistice through December, but thereafter interest quickly diminished.
This is the first variant (of two) of the second printing (of two) of the first edition, issued in of after mid-May 1918. A second edition, with a minor adjustment to the lyrics, was issued after the armistice.
“Burkhardt” is misspelled as “Burkhart” on both the cover and p. 2.
Musical Note
This is a march song (marked “marcia”), with a walking bass, rat-a-tat-tat rhythms and fanfare fills; but the sentiment and the fermata before the last phrase slightly suggest a march ballad. The first phrase of “Home Sweet Home” is quoted twice, with lyric references as well, and “The Girl I Left Behind Me” is quoted in the lyrics only.
Subject - Topic
Peace -- Songs and music.
Homecoming -- Songs and music.
Home -- Songs and music.
Soldiers -- Songs and music.
Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music
Lyrics
[refrain 2]
[verse 2] When our boys sail up the Bay, / A great day that will be, / They’ll be more than proud to say, / Hello Liberty, / With joy our hearts will be filled, / Soon our France we will rebuild, / For you’ve been true blue, / So now we say to you / “Au Revoir” but not “Goodbye.”
[refrain 1] All aboard for Home Sweet Home again / to the girl I left behind, / I’ll go sailing ’cross the foam again, / What a welcome there I’ll find, / And the day that I return to her, / I will make that girl my own, / Hello dear home town I’m homeward bound, / All aboard for Home Sweet Home. /
[verse 1] Cheer up mothers, dry your tears / He’s coming back to you, / Sweethearts you’ll soon hear the cheers, / For your hero true, / Battles roar he’ll hear no more, / Soon he’ll sail from France’s shore, / When he’s paid the debt, / He owes to Lafayette, / He will say Goodbye and cry.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Artist
Starmer [William and Frederick]
Cover Description
At bottom, on a dock, troops in formation marching up a gangplank onto a troop ship; wagon and artillery waiting to be loaded; above, center, Statue of Liberty, in a cloud; BL, oval photographic inset of Mel Klee. Tan monochrome; signed BR.
Back Cover Description
Wrought-iron-style frame enclosing the whole. Bottom: Slogans: “Save! Save! / Food will win the war / Buy war saving stamps”. Center: sample, Oh Moon of the Summer Night (1918 05 11).
Interior Description
Plate number: p.3, BL: All Aboard etc. 2
p. 2, BL, in box: Can be had for Music Rolls / And Phonograph Records.
Cover, in oval insert: Mel Klee
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.
Original Location
Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_018
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986