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America Needs You Like a Mother

Title
America Needs You Like a Mother - Lyrics
Composer
Schwartz, Jean  
Lyricist
Clark, Grant  
Publisher
Kalmar Puck and Abrahams Con. inc.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Lyrics
  • I seem to see a picture of a mother, with her children by her side, some her own and some that she’s adopted, still she looks at all with pride. Now it seems the mother is in trouble, and she needs her children’s aid, some are coming forth to help her, but there’s some who seem afraid. America has been a mother to the children of the world, she has taken to her bosom ev’ry homeless boy and girl
  • now we find that she’s in trouble, danger’s lurking all around, America, she needs you like a mother, would you turn your mother down? We know that there are diff’rent kinds of children, there are some who love to roam, then again there’s some who love their mother, they would rather stay at home
  • still with all our many thoughts and failings, she remains our only friend, just like many loyal children, we should help her to the end.
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_025
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/4aa12e60-c0e6-0134-2373-0050569601ca-0

Descriptive Information

Title
America Needs You Like a Mother
Alternative Title
p. 2, top: America Needs You Like a Mother / (Would You Turn Your Mother Down?)
Composer
Schwartz, Jean  
Lyricist
Clarke, Grant  
Publisher
Kalmar Puck and Abrahams Consolidated, Inc.  
Place of Publication
New York  
Publisher Address
1570 Broadway  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-03-06
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
This song’s impact in vaudeville was short-lived, but it was followed by an arrangement for band that was made quite popular in the summer of 1917. However, professional performances did not persist past then, though a recording issued as late as spring, 1919, suggests some small enduring popularity.
Historical Note
  • The song was ballyhooed with a full-page advertisement in Variety, February 23, and was performed by several minor vaudevillians across the country during the following month. A band arrangement was introduced in June and widely played over the summer, but the song appeared only in amateur productions thereafter. Kalmar, Puck & Abrahams registered mechanical rights on May 29, 1917, and two piano rolls and one recording were issued.
  • This is the only variant of the second of two printings, distinguished only by their front covers. A version was published in Sydney, Australia, identical except that, in the title and lyrics, "America" was changed to "Britannia."
  • Grant Clarke is printed without the final “e” on p. 2.
Musical Note
This wholly conventional march song (marked “marcia”) employs limited use of syncopation and walking bass; as piano fills at the end of phrases, it quotes Yankee Doodle, Assembly (twice), and a rat-a-tat-tat figure.
Subject - Topic
  • Immigrants -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.   
  • Mothers of soldiers -- 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] We know that there are diff'rent kinds of children, / There are some who love to roam / Then again there's some who love their mother, / They would rather stay at home / Still with all our many faults and failing's / She remains our only friend / Just like many loyal children / We should help her to the end.
  • [refrain 1] America has been a mother / To the children of the world / She has taken to her bosom / Ev'ry homeless boy and girl / Now we find that she's in trouble / Danger's lurking all around / America, she needs you like a mother / Would you turn your mother down?
  • [verse 1] I seem to see a picture of a mother, / With her children by her side / Some her own and some that she's adopted, / Still she looks at all with pride / Now it seems the mother is in trouble / And she need her children's aid / Some are coming forth to help her / But there's some who seem afraid.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Artist
Barbelle  
Printer
p. 3, BR: F. J. Lawson Co.  
Cover Description
Soldier embracing mother; in back, separated by a veil of cloud, are American soldiers and a bugler on horseback; publisher’s imprint (BC) in a modified shield, bracketed by Pan playing pipes. Black, blue, brown, and red on white; signed BR.
Back Cover Description
In an elaborate frame, peacock at BR, text and sample: Rolling Stones (© 1917 01 09).
Interior Description
Plate number: p. 3, BL: America Needs You 2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_025
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleAmerica Needs You Like a Mother
Alternative Titlep. 2, top: America Needs You Like a Mother / (Would You Turn Your Mother Down?)
ComposerSchwartz, Jean  
LyricistClarke, Grant  
PublisherKalmar Puck and Abrahams Consolidated, Inc.  
Place of PublicationNew York  
Publisher Address1570 Broadway  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-03-06
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
CommentThis song’s impact in vaudeville was short-lived, but it was followed by an arrangement for band that was made quite popular in the summer of 1917. However, professional performances did not persist past then, though a recording issued as late as spring, 1919, suggests some small enduring popularity.
Historical Note
  • The song was ballyhooed with a full-page advertisement in Variety, February 23, and was performed by several minor vaudevillians across the country during the following month. A band arrangement was introduced in June and widely played over the summer, but the song appeared only in amateur productions thereafter. Kalmar, Puck & Abrahams registered mechanical rights on May 29, 1917, and two piano rolls and one recording were issued.
  • This is the only variant of the second of two printings, distinguished only by their front covers. A version was published in Sydney, Australia, identical except that, in the title and lyrics, "America" was changed to "Britannia."
  • Grant Clarke is printed without the final “e” on p. 2.
Musical NoteThis wholly conventional march song (marked “marcia”) employs limited use of syncopation and walking bass; as piano fills at the end of phrases, it quotes Yankee Doodle, Assembly (twice), and a rat-a-tat-tat figure.
Subject - Topic
  • Immigrants -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.   
  • Mothers of soldiers -- 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] We know that there are diff'rent kinds of children, / There are some who love to roam / Then again there's some who love their mother, / They would rather stay at home / Still with all our many faults and failing's / She remains our only friend / Just like many loyal children / We should help her to the end.
  • [refrain 1] America has been a mother / To the children of the world / She has taken to her bosom / Ev'ry homeless boy and girl / Now we find that she's in trouble / Danger's lurking all around / America, she needs you like a mother / Would you turn your mother down?
  • [verse 1] I seem to see a picture of a mother, / With her children by her side / Some her own and some that she's adopted, / Still she looks at all with pride / Now it seems the mother is in trouble / And she need her children's aid / Some are coming forth to help her / But there's some who seem afraid.
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
ArtistBarbelle  
Printerp. 3, BR: F. J. Lawson Co.  
Cover DescriptionSoldier embracing mother; in back, separated by a veil of cloud, are American soldiers and a bugler on horseback; publisher’s imprint (BC) in a modified shield, bracketed by Pan playing pipes. Black, blue, brown, and red on white; signed BR.
Back Cover DescriptionIn an elaborate frame, peacock at BR, text and sample: Rolling Stones (© 1917 01 09).
Interior DescriptionPlate number: p. 3, BL: America Needs You 2
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_025
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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