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Is There Any One Can Tell Me What It's For? - Lyrics
Composer
Bellin, Betty
Lyricist
Carey, G. H.
Publisher
Success Music Co. (Akron, OH)
Lyrics
Is There Anyone Can Tell Me What It’s For Verse: Just a tiny little girl of tender years Knelt beside her bed one night to pray Terrifying echoes of the dogs of war She could hear not very far away Daddy was a soldier in the army His letters told of vict’ries fought and won She knew that he was bravely fighting for his country With the heroes the men behind the guns Refrain: I don’t see why they’re fighting mother darling Why men will kill each other in the fray It makes me sad and lonely when I hear of soldiers in the trenches dying ev’ry day For there are babes who’d never see their daddy And there are homes once happy but no more Is there someone who can answer just once question, Is there any one can tell me what it’s for. Verse: Mother can you tell me the real reason why Can you tell me what it’s all about Tell me why this sorrow and this anguish too Tell me what keeps all the world in doubt Is there anyone can tell me truly Why all these awful battles must be won Can tell me why
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 15, Folder 10
Local Identifier
2014_12996_271
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Is There Anyone Can Tell Me What It’s For Verse: Just a tiny little girl of tender years Knelt beside her bed one night to pray Terrifying echoes of the dogs of war She could hear not very far away Daddy was a soldier in the army His letters told of vict’ries fought and won She knew that he was bravely fighting for his country With the heroes the men behind the guns Refrain: I don’t see why they’re fighting mother darling Why men will kill each other in the fray It makes me sad and lonely when I hear of soldiers in the trenches dying ev’ry day For there are babes who’d never see their daddy And there are homes once happy but no more Is there someone who can answer just once question, Is there any one can tell me what it’s for. Verse: Mother can you tell me the real reason why Can you tell me what it’s all about Tell me why this sorrow and this anguish too Tell me what keeps all the world in doubt Is there anyone can tell me truly Why all these awful battles must be won Can tell me why
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Original Location
Series 2, Box 15, Folder 10
Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_271
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Is There Anyone Can Tell Me What It’s For Verse: Just a tiny little girl of tender years Knelt beside her bed one night to pray Terrifying echoes of the dogs of war She could hear not very far away Daddy was a soldier in the army His letters told of vict’ries fought and won She knew that he was bravely fighting for his country With the heroes the men behind the guns Refrain: I don’t see why they’re fighting mother darling Why men will kill each other in the fray It makes me sad and lonely when I hear of soldiers in the trenches dying ev’ry day For there are babes who’d never see their daddy And there are homes once happy but no more Is there someone who can answer just once question, Is there any one can tell me what it’s for. Verse: Mother can you tell me the real reason why Can you tell me what it’s all about Tell me why this sorrow and this anguish too Tell me what keeps all the world in doubt Is there anyone can tell me truly Why all these awful battles must be won Can tell me why
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Original Location
Series 2, Box 15, Folder 10
Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_271
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986