University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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America First

Title
America First - Lyrics
Composer
Kocian, Howard  
Lyricist
Menown, John  
Publisher
Buck & Lowney (St. Louis, MO)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Lyrics
  • we stood for law while the law ruled your play, but now at last it has come time to say, we stand to fight if to fight means right. Come one and all the bugle sounds its call, war has come, and tho we fall our country’s flag must not be trail’d in dust, for honor we’ll fight, die if we must, march step by step, united for our land, side by side we’ll stand, America first and last and always.
  • men from the East bugles blare (some fighters), they do and dare each his share (no blighters), then from the west comes the call, we’ll show them, with God’s own from North and South so strong, train’d to fight and to die, death now to foes eye for eye, we stood for peace while your war kill’d good men, much stronger sword than the pen
  • Now comes the first call to arms (brave soldiers), our county [sic] stands now in need, here comes the youth from the farms (and cities), to fill the ranks elders lead
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_024
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/4a458870-c0e6-0134-2373-0050569601ca-3

Descriptive Information

Title
America First
Composer
Kocian, Howard  
Lyricist
Menown, John  
Publisher
St. Louis : Buck & Lowney  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-05-11
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], [2]-[3], [1] p.)
Comment
No performances, advertisements, or recordings have been found for either edition, and there are very few surviving copies. This publication seems to have had almost no effect.
Historical Note
  • Howard Kocian has not been identified; it is likely the name was a pseudonym, possibly for Lynden S. Buchanan, the publisher.
  • "America First" was a prominent slogan in the first part of 1916, extracted from a speech by President Wilson which asked immigrant Americans to set aside their national allegiances. The dedication is consistent with the "America First" campaign, and the final line of text is a paraphrase of the Wilson quotation.
  • This is the second of two editions; the first, for piano alone and substantially longer, was copyrighted on March 7, 1916. The original cover was reprinted for the second edition, though the word “song” was added; hence Menown, who was the professional manager for Buck and Lowney, is not credited except on the interior, and the phrase "Military March" remains on the cover. The music was newly engraved. The lyric, clearly a response to America’s declaration of war, was surely written in April 1917, and the new edition rapidly made ready for publication.
Musical Note
The second edition adapts the first strain and the trio from the first edition, omitting the remainder but retaining the modulation at the trio (now the "chorus"). Formerly a march in 2/4, the piece makes idiomatic use of melodic sequence, walking bass, and occasional syncopation.
Dedication
Cover, TR, and p. 2, TC: Dedicated to all true Americans
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Soldiers -- United States -- Pictorial works.  
  • Marches (Voice with piano)  
Lyrics
  • [verse] Now comes the first call to arms (brave soldiers) / Our county stands now in need / Here come the youth from the farms (and cities) / To fill the ranks elders lead / Men from the East bugles blare (some fighters) / They do and dare each his share (no blighters) / Then from the West comes the call we'll show them / With God's own from North and South so strong / Train'd to fight and to die / Death now to foes eye for eye / We stood for peace while your war kill'd good men / Much stronger sword than the pen / We stood for law while the law ruled your play / But now at last it has come time to say / We stand to fight / If to fight means right.
  • [refrain] Come one and all the bugle sounds its call / War has come and tho we fall / Our country's flag must not be trail'd in dust / For honor we'll fight die if we must / March step by step united for our land / Side by side we'll stand / America first and last and always.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover Description
Sailor, left, and soldier, right holding ropes to a standard flying the US flag, topped by an eagle displayed, as in the Great Seal. In the background is the US Capitol building, topped with clouds; in the foreground but behind the soldiers is a large eagle displayed and gripping a ribbon-and-lyre design containing the publisher’s name. The title letters are filled with stars and stripes; an "Uncle Sam" top hat is perched on the first "A." Red, blue, and beige on white; unsigned.
Back Cover Description
Text, illustration, and sample: Blue, Just Blue (© 1916 09 29).
Interior Description
p. [3], BL: America First, 2.
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_024
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleAmerica First
ComposerKocian, Howard  
LyricistMenown, John  
PublisherSt. Louis : Buck & Lowney  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-05-11
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], [2]-[3], [1] p.)
CommentNo performances, advertisements, or recordings have been found for either edition, and there are very few surviving copies. This publication seems to have had almost no effect.
Historical Note
  • Howard Kocian has not been identified; it is likely the name was a pseudonym, possibly for Lynden S. Buchanan, the publisher.
  • "America First" was a prominent slogan in the first part of 1916, extracted from a speech by President Wilson which asked immigrant Americans to set aside their national allegiances. The dedication is consistent with the "America First" campaign, and the final line of text is a paraphrase of the Wilson quotation.
  • This is the second of two editions; the first, for piano alone and substantially longer, was copyrighted on March 7, 1916. The original cover was reprinted for the second edition, though the word “song” was added; hence Menown, who was the professional manager for Buck and Lowney, is not credited except on the interior, and the phrase "Military March" remains on the cover. The music was newly engraved. The lyric, clearly a response to America’s declaration of war, was surely written in April 1917, and the new edition rapidly made ready for publication.
Musical NoteThe second edition adapts the first strain and the trio from the first edition, omitting the remainder but retaining the modulation at the trio (now the "chorus"). Formerly a march in 2/4, the piece makes idiomatic use of melodic sequence, walking bass, and occasional syncopation.
DedicationCover, TR, and p. 2, TC: Dedicated to all true Americans
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Soldiers -- United States -- Pictorial works.  
  • Marches (Voice with piano)  
Lyrics
  • [verse] Now comes the first call to arms (brave soldiers) / Our county stands now in need / Here come the youth from the farms (and cities) / To fill the ranks elders lead / Men from the East bugles blare (some fighters) / They do and dare each his share (no blighters) / Then from the West comes the call we'll show them / With God's own from North and South so strong / Train'd to fight and to die / Death now to foes eye for eye / We stood for peace while your war kill'd good men / Much stronger sword than the pen / We stood for law while the law ruled your play / But now at last it has come time to say / We stand to fight / If to fight means right.
  • [refrain] Come one and all the bugle sounds its call / War has come and tho we fall / Our country's flag must not be trail'd in dust / For honor we'll fight die if we must / March step by step united for our land / Side by side we'll stand / America first and last and always.
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover DescriptionSailor, left, and soldier, right holding ropes to a standard flying the US flag, topped by an eagle displayed, as in the Great Seal. In the background is the US Capitol building, topped with clouds; in the foreground but behind the soldiers is a large eagle displayed and gripping a ribbon-and-lyre design containing the publisher’s name. The title letters are filled with stars and stripes; an "Uncle Sam" top hat is perched on the first "A." Red, blue, and beige on white; unsigned.
Back Cover DescriptionText, illustration, and sample: Blue, Just Blue (© 1916 09 29).
Interior Descriptionp. [3], BL: America First, 2.
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_024
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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