University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

If I'm Not at the Roll Call

Title
If I Am Not At the Roll-Call, Kiss Her Goodbye For Me - Lyrics
Composer
Boyden, Geo  
Lyricist
Boyden, Geo  
Publisher
George L. Boyden Music Pub.  
Place of Publication
Boston (Mass.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Lyrics
(If I am Not at the Roll-call) Kiss Her Good Boy For Me Verse: ‘Twas just before the battle, boys, That day I’ll ne’er forget For in the trench near me there stood calmly waiting As brave a young lad as I’ve met Tho death was near he had no fear ‘Twas very plain to see For just before blowing the charge on his bugle He smilingly said to me. Refrain: If I am not at the roll-call After the fighting is done Won’t you be kind to my mother Just for her soldier son Tell her I know how she loves me And prays for me constantly Angels attend her, good comrade befriend her And kiss her goodbye for me. Verse: We all felt glad our little lad Came through the fight all right His presence beside us with courage inspired us And help us in winning the fight It made his dear old mother’s heart As proud as it could be When I wrote and told her, her brave little soldier These fine words had said to me. Refrain
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 15, Folder 10
Local Identifier
2014_12996_268
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/49c78980-c0e6-0134-2373-0050569601ca-6

Descriptive Information

Title
If I'm Not at the Roll Call
Alternative Title
  • If I Am Not at the Roll-Call
  • If I Am Not at the Roll-Call, Kiss Her Goodbye for Me
Composer
Boyden, Geo  
Lyricist
Boyden, Geo  
Publisher
George L. Boyden Music Pub.  
Place of Publication
Boston (Mass.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-06-14
Lyrics
(If I am Not at the Roll-call) Kiss Her Good Boy For Me Verse: ‘Twas just before the battle, boys, That day I’ll ne’er forget For in the trench near me there stood calmly waiting As brave a young lad as I’ve met Tho death was near he had no fear ‘Twas very plain to see For just before blowing the charge on his bugle He smilingly said to me. Refrain: If I am not at the roll-call After the fighting is done Won’t you be kind to my mother Just for her soldier son Tell her I know how she loves me And prays for me constantly Angels attend her, good comrade befriend her And kiss her goodbye for me. Verse: We all felt glad our little lad Came through the fight all right His presence beside us with courage inspired us And help us in winning the fight It made his dear old mother’s heart As proud as it could be When I wrote and told her, her brave little soldier These fine words had said to me. Refrain
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 15, Folder 10
Local Identifier
2014_12996_268
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleIf I'm Not at the Roll Call
Alternative Title
  • If I Am Not at the Roll-Call
  • If I Am Not at the Roll-Call, Kiss Her Goodbye for Me
ComposerBoyden, Geo  
LyricistBoyden, Geo  
PublisherGeorge L. Boyden Music Pub.  
Place of PublicationBoston (Mass.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-06-14
Lyrics(If I am Not at the Roll-call) Kiss Her Good Boy For Me Verse: ‘Twas just before the battle, boys, That day I’ll ne’er forget For in the trench near me there stood calmly waiting As brave a young lad as I’ve met Tho death was near he had no fear ‘Twas very plain to see For just before blowing the charge on his bugle He smilingly said to me. Refrain: If I am not at the roll-call After the fighting is done Won’t you be kind to my mother Just for her soldier son Tell her I know how she loves me And prays for me constantly Angels attend her, good comrade befriend her And kiss her goodbye for me. Verse: We all felt glad our little lad Came through the fight all right His presence beside us with courage inspired us And help us in winning the fight It made his dear old mother’s heart As proud as it could be When I wrote and told her, her brave little soldier These fine words had said to me. Refrain
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 15, Folder 10
Local Identifier2014_12996_268
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Download Options

  Zip of Original Files…   Zip of JPEGs PDF
If I Am Not At the Roll-Call, Kiss Her Goodbye For Me - Cover
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
If I Am Not At the Roll-Call, Kiss Her Goodbye For Me - Page 2
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
If I Am Not At the Roll-Call, Kiss Her Goodbye For Me - Page 3
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
If I Am Not At the Roll-Call, Kiss Her Goodbye For Me - Back Cover
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
If I Am Not At the Roll-Call, Kiss Her Goodbye For Me - Lyrics
Original File (PDF)
Email Curator About This Item