University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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Allegiance

Title
Allegiance - Lyrics
Composer
Smith, Julia  
Lyricist
Smith, Julia  
Publisher
D. W. Cooper Pub. Co.  
Place of Publication
Boston (Mass.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Lyrics
e’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_021
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Permalink

https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/48e269b0-c0e6-0134-2373-0050569601ca-f

Descriptive Information

Title
Allegiance
Composer
Smith, Julia  
Lyricist
Smith, Julia  
Publisher
D. W. Cooper Pub. Co.  
Place of Publication
Boston (Mass.)  
Publisher Address
224 Tremont St.  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
1918-09-23
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
In addition to a manuscript and a self-published first edition, 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 and were altered for the second edition, though the structure and sentiment is preserved. The refrain, unchanged, presents the Pledge of Allegiance verbatim; this may have been its first appearance in a published musical setting.
  • This is the second of two editions. Two previous copyrights were issued, for the manuscript (March 14, 1918) and the self-published first edition (April 3, 1918). It would seem that after July 1918 D. W. Cooper took an interest in the piece, perhaps because of the Boston Post article, and the second edition was probably prepared by a composer associated with his firm. The second edition is in a higher key than the first, with substantial revisions to the accompaniment and fewer, but significant, revisions to the melody.
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, top: 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 -- United States -- 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, / Hooray! Hooray! Hooray, we're on our way. / We'll make amends when the battle's o'er, / We'll all be friends as in days of yore, / Hooray! Hooray! Hooray, we're on our way. / 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, / Hooray! Hooray! Hooray, we're on our way. / While in the fray, we are not to blame / The Stars and Stripes we will never shame, / Hooray! Hooray! Hooray, we're on our way. / 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
Artist
Fisher, E. S. [Edwin Spencer]  
Cover Description
Soldier and sailor at attention on either side of the US flag; below flag and between the two figures appears the text for the pledge to the flag, framed and with a “sign here” line below. Red and blue on white; signed BL.
Back Cover Description
  • Below: Copies on sale at all Music Shops or will be sent by the Publishers on receipt of 15 cts. each (Postpaid)
  • Above: Try These Thematics Over On Your Piano
  • Sample: There's a Picture in My Memory (©1918 04 16); and four vocal incipits arranged as a border around it: 101st Regiment (© 1917 12 10); Battery A March (© 1916 01 08); Society Buds (© 1916 02 19); and Fire Fly (© 1916 05 22)
Interior Description
  • Plate number: p. 3, BL: Allegiance 2
  • Cover, above publisher: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands—one nation indivisible with liberty and justice to all” / Sign here _________________
  • 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_021
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  
Publisher D. W. Cooper Pub. Co.  
Place of PublicationBoston (Mass.)  
Publisher Address224 Tremont St.  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of Copyright1918-09-23
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
CommentIn addition to a manuscript and a self-published first edition, 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 and were altered for the second edition, though the structure and sentiment is preserved. The refrain, unchanged, presents the Pledge of Allegiance verbatim; this may have been its first appearance in a published musical setting.
  • This is the second of two editions. Two previous copyrights were issued, for the manuscript (March 14, 1918) and the self-published first edition (April 3, 1918). It would seem that after July 1918 D. W. Cooper took an interest in the piece, perhaps because of the Boston Post article, and the second edition was probably prepared by a composer associated with his firm. The second edition is in a higher key than the first, with substantial revisions to the accompaniment and fewer, but significant, revisions to the melody.
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, top: 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 -- United States -- 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, / Hooray! Hooray! Hooray, we're on our way. / We'll make amends when the battle's o'er, / We'll all be friends as in days of yore, / Hooray! Hooray! Hooray, we're on our way. / 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, / Hooray! Hooray! Hooray, we're on our way. / While in the fray, we are not to blame / The Stars and Stripes we will never shame, / Hooray! Hooray! Hooray, we're on our way. / 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
ArtistFisher, E. S. [Edwin Spencer]  
Cover DescriptionSoldier and sailor at attention on either side of the US flag; below flag and between the two figures appears the text for the pledge to the flag, framed and with a “sign here” line below. Red and blue on white; signed BL.
Back Cover Description
  • Below: Copies on sale at all Music Shops or will be sent by the Publishers on receipt of 15 cts. each (Postpaid)
  • Above: Try These Thematics Over On Your Piano
  • Sample: There's a Picture in My Memory (©1918 04 16); and four vocal incipits arranged as a border around it: 101st Regiment (© 1917 12 10); Battery A March (© 1916 01 08); Society Buds (© 1916 02 19); and Fire Fly (© 1916 05 22)
Interior Description
  • Plate number: p. 3, BL: Allegiance 2
  • Cover, above publisher: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands—one nation indivisible with liberty and justice to all” / Sign here _________________
  • 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_021
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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