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America Hears the Call

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/96388890-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-9
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NoC-US

Descriptive Information

Title
America Hears the Call  
Alternative Title
Benny Havens, Oh!  
Composer
anonymous  
Lyricist
Howe, Rev. Reginald Heber  
Publisher
C. W. Thompson & Co.  
Place of Publication
Boston (Mass.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
No copyright registered.
Physical Description
1 score, mixed chorus and piano ([1], [1-2], [1]p.)
Comment
Both the content of the lyrics and the author's biography place this song in 1917. In both tune and text, Howe clearly sought to link America's entry into the war with the recruitment of troops in the Civil War: “Benny Havens, Oh!” was a popular Civil War tune, and Howe's text recalls “We Are Coming, Father Abraham,” a Civil War poem that was sometimes sung to the same tune.
Historical Note
  • The date is taken from Howe's own entry in Who's Who in America (1921). The immediate motivation for this song might have been a celebrated cartoon with the same title published by J. H. Cassel in the Evening World (New York, NY) on June 6, 1916.  
  • The imprint reads “for sale at” C. W. Thompson; Howe probably self-published the song, with Thompson acting as retailer.  
  • This was the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found, nor any performances or advertisements.  
Musical Note
A simple march ballad (“Moderato”) set for four-part chorus, with fermatas in the penultimate line, this song provides a new text for “The Wearing of the Green,” to which the text to “Benny Havens, Oh!” had been set in the early nineteenth century. The melody is quoted in full in a standard four-part arrangement that is nearly identical to that found in Songs That Never Grow Old (1913).
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Recruiting and enlistment  
  • Songs and music  
  • United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] We are coming, O my country! a half a million strong, / To champion the right we come, to overthrow the wrong, / We hear the cry of Belgium, we hear the voice of France, / From Italy and Serbia, they call us to advance.
  • [refrain 1] We are coming, O my country! a half a million strong, / We are coming, O my country! to overthrow the wrong. / We are coming, O my country! a half a million strong, / We are coming, O my country! to overthrow the wrong.
  • [verse 2] On! to repel the tyrant, to succour those in need, / America, we hail thine aid! thrice welcome if with speed, / For the worldwide cause of freedom we we draw our swords once more, / The God of nations praying to bless us as before.
  • [refrain 2]
Musical Genre
March ballad
Repository
Newberry Library
Rights
NoC-US
Rights Description
The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information.
Cover Description
Text only, with simple dividers.  
Back Cover Description
Blank.  
Interior Description
  • Cover, below title: A Patriotic Song / of / The Great War  
  • Plate number: p. [3], BL: America Hears the Call 2  
Performance Medium
Mixed voices and piano.  
Local Identifier
nda163_094  
Collection Title
James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
Collection
World War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
TitleAmerica Hears the Call  
Alternative TitleBenny Havens, Oh!  
Composeranonymous  
LyricistHowe, Rev. Reginald Heber  
PublisherC. W. Thompson & Co.  
Place of PublicationBoston (Mass.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of CopyrightNo copyright registered.
Physical Description1 score, mixed chorus and piano ([1], [1-2], [1]p.)
CommentBoth the content of the lyrics and the author's biography place this song in 1917. In both tune and text, Howe clearly sought to link America's entry into the war with the recruitment of troops in the Civil War: “Benny Havens, Oh!” was a popular Civil War tune, and Howe's text recalls “We Are Coming, Father Abraham,” a Civil War poem that was sometimes sung to the same tune.
Historical Note
  • The date is taken from Howe's own entry in Who's Who in America (1921). The immediate motivation for this song might have been a celebrated cartoon with the same title published by J. H. Cassel in the Evening World (New York, NY) on June 6, 1916.  
  • The imprint reads “for sale at” C. W. Thompson; Howe probably self-published the song, with Thompson acting as retailer.  
  • This was the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found, nor any performances or advertisements.  
Musical NoteA simple march ballad (“Moderato”) set for four-part chorus, with fermatas in the penultimate line, this song provides a new text for “The Wearing of the Green,” to which the text to “Benny Havens, Oh!” had been set in the early nineteenth century. The melody is quoted in full in a standard four-part arrangement that is nearly identical to that found in Songs That Never Grow Old (1913).
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Recruiting and enlistment  
  • Songs and music  
  • United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] We are coming, O my country! a half a million strong, / To champion the right we come, to overthrow the wrong, / We hear the cry of Belgium, we hear the voice of France, / From Italy and Serbia, they call us to advance.
  • [refrain 1] We are coming, O my country! a half a million strong, / We are coming, O my country! to overthrow the wrong. / We are coming, O my country! a half a million strong, / We are coming, O my country! to overthrow the wrong.
  • [verse 2] On! to repel the tyrant, to succour those in need, / America, we hail thine aid! thrice welcome if with speed, / For the worldwide cause of freedom we we draw our swords once more, / The God of nations praying to bless us as before.
  • [refrain 2]
Musical GenreMarch ballad
RepositoryNewberry Library
RightsNoC-US
Rights DescriptionThe organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information.
Cover DescriptionText only, with simple dividers.  
Back Cover DescriptionBlank.  
Interior Description
  • Cover, below title: A Patriotic Song / of / The Great War  
  • Plate number: p. [3], BL: America Hears the Call 2  
Performance MediumMixed voices and piano.  
Local Identifiernda163_094  
Collection TitleJames Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
CollectionWorld War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

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