University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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If I Had a Son For Each Star in Old Glory

Title
If I Had a Son For Each Star in Old Glory - Lyrics
Composer
Burke, Joseph A.  
Lyricist
Dempsey, J. E.  
Publisher
Leo Feist Inc.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Lyrics
  • If I Had a Song For Each Star in Old Glory, Uncle Sam, I’d Give Them All To You! Verse: Uncle Sam, is that somebody calling? Someone calling you from far away
  • Don’t you hear that gentle mother’s voice? Listen, this is what she seems to say. “While I’m only one of the million other mothers, I speak for all the U.S.A.” Refrain: “Though God never made men for soldiers, Now the clouds of war have burst, We must pray for the best, and prepare for the test, Our country must come first. Tho’ I’ve but one boy to offer He’s your’s when you call That’s all a mother can do, But if I had a son for each star in the old glory, Uncle Sam, I’d give them all to you!” Verse: Uncle Sam, I’ll paint a picture for you, Frame the scene, in battle clouds of gray, Count the dead and dying soldier boys, Call the picture, “What a price to pay!” And over each son place a broken hearted mother, Too sad to weep, yet proud to say: 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_270
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/49e431d0-c0e6-0134-2373-0050569601ca-b

Descriptive Information

Title
If I Had a Son For Each Star in Old Glory
Composer
Burke, Joseph A.  
Lyricist
Dempsey, J. E.  
Publisher
Leo Feist Inc.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-02-19
Lyrics
  • Don’t you hear that gentle mother’s voice? Listen, this is what she seems to say. “While I’m only one of the million other mothers, I speak for all the U.S.A.” Refrain: “Though God never made men for soldiers, Now the clouds of war have burst, We must pray for the best, and prepare for the test, Our country must come first. Tho’ I’ve but one boy to offer He’s your’s when you call That’s all a mother can do, But if I had a son for each star in the old glory, Uncle Sam, I’d give them all to you!” Verse: Uncle Sam, I’ll paint a picture for you, Frame the scene, in battle clouds of gray, Count the dead and dying soldier boys, Call the picture, “What a price to pay!” And over each son place a broken hearted mother, Too sad to weep, yet proud to say: Refrain
  • If I Had a Song For Each Star in Old Glory, Uncle Sam, I’d Give Them All To You! Verse: Uncle Sam, is that somebody calling? Someone calling you from far away
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 15, Folder 10
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_270
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleIf I Had a Son For Each Star in Old Glory
ComposerBurke, Joseph A.  
LyricistDempsey, J. E.  
PublisherLeo Feist Inc.  
Place of PublicationNew York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-02-19
Lyrics
  • Don’t you hear that gentle mother’s voice? Listen, this is what she seems to say. “While I’m only one of the million other mothers, I speak for all the U.S.A.” Refrain: “Though God never made men for soldiers, Now the clouds of war have burst, We must pray for the best, and prepare for the test, Our country must come first. Tho’ I’ve but one boy to offer He’s your’s when you call That’s all a mother can do, But if I had a son for each star in the old glory, Uncle Sam, I’d give them all to you!” Verse: Uncle Sam, I’ll paint a picture for you, Frame the scene, in battle clouds of gray, Count the dead and dying soldier boys, Call the picture, “What a price to pay!” And over each son place a broken hearted mother, Too sad to weep, yet proud to say: Refrain
  • If I Had a Song For Each Star in Old Glory, Uncle Sam, I’d Give Them All To You! Verse: Uncle Sam, is that somebody calling? Someone calling you from far away
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 15, Folder 10
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_270
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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