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Ah, Oui!

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/9675adb0-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-e
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Descriptive Information

Title
Ah, Oui!  
Alternative Title
  • Cover, below title: Elsie Janis and Her Gang  
  • p. 2, top: "Ah, Oui!  
Composer
Kernell, W. B. (William Bernard)  
Lyricist
Fechheimer, Richard  
Publisher
T. B. Harms and Francis, Day & Hunter  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication
1919  
Date of Copyright
1919-12-01
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-5, [1] p.)
Comment
Written for the postwar revue Elsie Janis and Her Gang, this song had no impact other than in the show. However, it was singled out by several reviewers for its effectiveness.
Historical Note
  • Vaudevillian Elsie Janis toured camps and the front extensively in 1917 and 1918, thereby acquiring the soubriquet “sweetheart of the A. E. F.” During those tours, or possibly before, she came to know the composer and the lyricist of “Ah, Oui!”, both of whom were serving in the U. S. Army Ambulance Service and who had created soldiers’ shows in both training camps and overseas. In 1919 Janis decided to create a revue using a company of ex-servicemen. She recruited Kernell and Fechheimer; rehearsals began October 27, and after out-of-town tryouts that started November 10, Elsie Janis and Her Gang opened at New York’s George M. Cohan Theatre on December 1. A nationwide tour into the following May was hugely successful.  
  • The revue, virtually without a plot, consisted of a series of loosely linked skits and solo numbers. “Ah, Oui!” introduced Jack Brant in the role of a military policeman who, among other things, confronts a drunken soldier (played by Charles Lawrence). The lyrics are larded with topical slang and dialect that establish the character as a New York Irish-American policeman, a comic stereotype at the time.  
  • This is the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings were made. The title is one of six songs from the show, listed on the cover, that use a single cover design, with the alternative title (the name of the show) prominently displayed and the individual titles in a smaller font above. On the cover, the title is misprinted as “Ah! Oui”.  
Musical Note
The ingenious jig-like music makes good use of chromatic harmony to set off comic moments in the text; in technique, character, and function it recalls similar songs by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Soldiers  
  • Songs and music  
  • United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces  
  • United States. Army--Military police  
  • Musical revues, comedies, etc.  
  • Excerpts  
  • Vocal scores with piano  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] In your sweet memories / of your days over seas, / You no doubt will oft think of me / I have added so much / in just giving that touch / of sunshine and sweet liberty / I grab all the fakes / on the Rue de la Paix / And I treat them almost brotherly / And if you should be one / you’ll have twice as much fun / In reading this war’s history.
  • [refrain 1] I’m the cold and relentless M. P. / As unreasonable as I can be / The cops in New York / at my methods would balk / I’m a connoseur of cruelty / I control the hotel de Bastille / Quaintly furnished in iron and steel / When A. W. O. L. it’s a fine place to dwell, / Take a “tip” from your friend the M. P. “Ah Oui!”
  • [verse 2] Now there’s lots of M. Ps. / who are softer than cheese, and / Who think that its rude to be rough / But bulieve me old dear, / dis M. P. you see here / won the “Gyp the Blood” cup for being tough / I arrest me best friends / and when this here war ends / My life will not be worth a “jit” / Though when I swing me club / on some misguided dub / I merely am doing me bit.
  • [refrain 2] I’m the harsh and relentless M. P. / Upholding the law’s majesty / I’ll give you old Harry / if I see you tarry / with dames of the Demi Mondee / I don’t care if yer have got a pass / Or if you have married the lass / If I like her mug / I’ll throw you in the jug, / And she’ll go with your friend the M. P. “Ah Oui!”
Musical Genre
Comic song
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.
Artist
R. F. [Richard Fechheimer]  
Cover Description
Stylish woman wearing spurred boots and a U. S. army dress cap, pulling a string with four toy figures on wheels: American, French, and Italian soldiers, and a cannon on which ride a British officer and an American sailor. TL: small inset portrait photograph of Elsie Janis, wearing an army helmet. Orange and black on white; signed BR.  
Back Cover Description
Sample: Yearning (© 1918 02 27).  
Interior Description
  • Cover, BR: list of six songs from the show, with prices  
  • Plate number: p. 2, BL: 5968-4  
  • Plate numbers: pp. 3, 4, 5, BL: 5968-4 Ah, Oui  
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_075  
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
TitleAh, Oui!  
Alternative Title
  • Cover, below title: Elsie Janis and Her Gang  
  • p. 2, top: "Ah, Oui!  
ComposerKernell, W. B. (William Bernard)  
LyricistFechheimer, Richard  
PublisherT. B. Harms and Francis, Day & Hunter  
Place of PublicationNew York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication1919  
Date of Copyright1919-12-01
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-5, [1] p.)
CommentWritten for the postwar revue Elsie Janis and Her Gang, this song had no impact other than in the show. However, it was singled out by several reviewers for its effectiveness.
Historical Note
  • Vaudevillian Elsie Janis toured camps and the front extensively in 1917 and 1918, thereby acquiring the soubriquet “sweetheart of the A. E. F.” During those tours, or possibly before, she came to know the composer and the lyricist of “Ah, Oui!”, both of whom were serving in the U. S. Army Ambulance Service and who had created soldiers’ shows in both training camps and overseas. In 1919 Janis decided to create a revue using a company of ex-servicemen. She recruited Kernell and Fechheimer; rehearsals began October 27, and after out-of-town tryouts that started November 10, Elsie Janis and Her Gang opened at New York’s George M. Cohan Theatre on December 1. A nationwide tour into the following May was hugely successful.  
  • The revue, virtually without a plot, consisted of a series of loosely linked skits and solo numbers. “Ah, Oui!” introduced Jack Brant in the role of a military policeman who, among other things, confronts a drunken soldier (played by Charles Lawrence). The lyrics are larded with topical slang and dialect that establish the character as a New York Irish-American policeman, a comic stereotype at the time.  
  • This is the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings were made. The title is one of six songs from the show, listed on the cover, that use a single cover design, with the alternative title (the name of the show) prominently displayed and the individual titles in a smaller font above. On the cover, the title is misprinted as “Ah! Oui”.  
Musical NoteThe ingenious jig-like music makes good use of chromatic harmony to set off comic moments in the text; in technique, character, and function it recalls similar songs by Gilbert and Sullivan.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Soldiers  
  • Songs and music  
  • United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces  
  • United States. Army--Military police  
  • Musical revues, comedies, etc.  
  • Excerpts  
  • Vocal scores with piano  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] In your sweet memories / of your days over seas, / You no doubt will oft think of me / I have added so much / in just giving that touch / of sunshine and sweet liberty / I grab all the fakes / on the Rue de la Paix / And I treat them almost brotherly / And if you should be one / you’ll have twice as much fun / In reading this war’s history.
  • [refrain 1] I’m the cold and relentless M. P. / As unreasonable as I can be / The cops in New York / at my methods would balk / I’m a connoseur of cruelty / I control the hotel de Bastille / Quaintly furnished in iron and steel / When A. W. O. L. it’s a fine place to dwell, / Take a “tip” from your friend the M. P. “Ah Oui!”
  • [verse 2] Now there’s lots of M. Ps. / who are softer than cheese, and / Who think that its rude to be rough / But bulieve me old dear, / dis M. P. you see here / won the “Gyp the Blood” cup for being tough / I arrest me best friends / and when this here war ends / My life will not be worth a “jit” / Though when I swing me club / on some misguided dub / I merely am doing me bit.
  • [refrain 2] I’m the harsh and relentless M. P. / Upholding the law’s majesty / I’ll give you old Harry / if I see you tarry / with dames of the Demi Mondee / I don’t care if yer have got a pass / Or if you have married the lass / If I like her mug / I’ll throw you in the jug, / And she’ll go with your friend the M. P. “Ah Oui!”
Musical GenreComic song
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.
ArtistR. F. [Richard Fechheimer]  
Cover DescriptionStylish woman wearing spurred boots and a U. S. army dress cap, pulling a string with four toy figures on wheels: American, French, and Italian soldiers, and a cannon on which ride a British officer and an American sailor. TL: small inset portrait photograph of Elsie Janis, wearing an army helmet. Orange and black on white; signed BR.  
Back Cover DescriptionSample: Yearning (© 1918 02 27).  
Interior Description
  • Cover, BR: list of six songs from the show, with prices  
  • Plate number: p. 2, BL: 5968-4  
  • Plate numbers: pp. 3, 4, 5, BL: 5968-4 Ah, Oui  
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_075  
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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