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America, Here's My Boy

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/971657d0-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-0

The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to the following terms and conditions: https://www.newberry.org/rights-and-reproductions

Descriptive Information

Title
America, Here's My Boy  
Alternative Title
p. 2, top: "America, Here's My Boy"  
Composer
Lange, Arthur  
Lyricist
Sterling, Andrew B. [Benjamin]  
Publisher
New York : Joe Morris Music Co.  
Year of Publication
1917
Date of Copyright
1917-02-16
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Type
Musical notation  
Comment
Appearing at the peak of the preparedness movement, as American entry into the war began to seem inevitable, this hugely popular song was widely endorsed as a reply to “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier.” After the country entered the war, it became a pervasive expression of commitment, especially in renditions by the troops themselves. Its success was bolstered by recordings and piano rolls, but widespread renditions in amateur shows and fund-raising events attest to its appeal among general citizens and among American troops.
Historical Note
  • Morris promoted this title heavily and issued nine printings of the title in its first nine months; but after a year its popularity began to fade, and by the summer of 1918 it had largely been supplanted in the entertainment industry, though it remained popular in performances by amateurs and at community events. At least nine piano rolls and ten recordings were released.
  • This is the fourth of nine printings, distinguished by the back covers and, in some cases, the printer’s imprint on p. 3.
  • The structure of the lyrics exactly mirrors the structure of “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier,” with descriptive verses in the third person followed by a refrain in the mother’s voice. The refrain also adheres to the rhyme scheme, with a double rhyme in the penultimate line, and certain lines are direct parallels: “Place a gun upon his shoulder,” for instance, replaces “Who dares to put a musket on his shoulder.”
Musical Note
The verse to this otherwise conventional march song is entirely in the relative minor key, and the vamp that leads into it consists of a minor-mode quotation of “Yankee Doodle,” echoed in the first line of the verse.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • Marches (Voice with piano).  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.  
  • Soldiers -- Family relationships -- 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] There’s a million mothers waiting by the fireside bright, / A million mothers, waiting for the call tonight. / And while within each heart there’ll be a tear, / She’ll watch her boy go marching with a cheer.
  • [refrain 1] “America, I raised a boy for you. / America, You’ll find him staunch and true, / Place a gun upon his shoulder, / He is ready to die or do. / America, he is my only one; / My hope, my pride and joy, / But if I had another, he would march beside his brother; / America, here’s my boy.”
  • [verse 1] There’s a million mothers knocking at the nations door, / A million mothers, yes and there’ll be millions more, / And while within each mother heart they pray, / Just hark what one brave mother has to say.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
Newberry Library
Conditions of Use
The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to the following terms and conditions: https://www.newberry.org/rights-and-reproductions
Artist
De Takacs, André C. [Chevalier]  
Printer
p. 3, BR, all upper-case: F. J. Lawson Co.  
Cover Description
  • BR: 5
  • Top: The sentiment of every American mother.
  • Grey-haired mother, in lace-bordered black dress, standing beside a soldier with a rifle, bayonet fixed; her hand is on his shoulder; in background is an outline map of the United States. Orange and black on white; signed BL.
Back Cover Description
At top, “Joe Morris Music Co’s Song Supreme,” in ornate frame with silhouette of fairy playing twin pipes, sample: My Lonely Lola Lo (© 1916 08 11). Signed BR: André C. de Takacs.
Interior Description
Plate numbers: pp. 2, 3, BL: J. M. Co. 569 – 2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_026
Collection
World War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
TitleAmerica, Here's My Boy  
Alternative Titlep. 2, top: "America, Here's My Boy"  
ComposerLange, Arthur  
LyricistSterling, Andrew B. [Benjamin]  
PublisherNew York : Joe Morris Music Co.  
Year of Publication1917
Date of Copyright1917-02-16
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
TypeMusical notation  
CommentAppearing at the peak of the preparedness movement, as American entry into the war began to seem inevitable, this hugely popular song was widely endorsed as a reply to “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier.” After the country entered the war, it became a pervasive expression of commitment, especially in renditions by the troops themselves. Its success was bolstered by recordings and piano rolls, but widespread renditions in amateur shows and fund-raising events attest to its appeal among general citizens and among American troops.
Historical Note
  • Morris promoted this title heavily and issued nine printings of the title in its first nine months; but after a year its popularity began to fade, and by the summer of 1918 it had largely been supplanted in the entertainment industry, though it remained popular in performances by amateurs and at community events. At least nine piano rolls and ten recordings were released.
  • This is the fourth of nine printings, distinguished by the back covers and, in some cases, the printer’s imprint on p. 3.
  • The structure of the lyrics exactly mirrors the structure of “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier,” with descriptive verses in the third person followed by a refrain in the mother’s voice. The refrain also adheres to the rhyme scheme, with a double rhyme in the penultimate line, and certain lines are direct parallels: “Place a gun upon his shoulder,” for instance, replaces “Who dares to put a musket on his shoulder.”
Musical NoteThe verse to this otherwise conventional march song is entirely in the relative minor key, and the vamp that leads into it consists of a minor-mode quotation of “Yankee Doodle,” echoed in the first line of the verse.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • Marches (Voice with piano).  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.  
  • Soldiers -- Family relationships -- 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] There’s a million mothers waiting by the fireside bright, / A million mothers, waiting for the call tonight. / And while within each heart there’ll be a tear, / She’ll watch her boy go marching with a cheer.
  • [refrain 1] “America, I raised a boy for you. / America, You’ll find him staunch and true, / Place a gun upon his shoulder, / He is ready to die or do. / America, he is my only one; / My hope, my pride and joy, / But if I had another, he would march beside his brother; / America, here’s my boy.”
  • [verse 1] There’s a million mothers knocking at the nations door, / A million mothers, yes and there’ll be millions more, / And while within each mother heart they pray, / Just hark what one brave mother has to say.
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryNewberry Library
Conditions of UseThe Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to the following terms and conditions: https://www.newberry.org/rights-and-reproductions
ArtistDe Takacs, André C. [Chevalier]  
Printerp. 3, BR, all upper-case: F. J. Lawson Co.  
Cover Description
  • BR: 5
  • Top: The sentiment of every American mother.
  • Grey-haired mother, in lace-bordered black dress, standing beside a soldier with a rifle, bayonet fixed; her hand is on his shoulder; in background is an outline map of the United States. Orange and black on white; signed BL.
Back Cover DescriptionAt top, “Joe Morris Music Co’s Song Supreme,” in ornate frame with silhouette of fairy playing twin pipes, sample: My Lonely Lola Lo (© 1916 08 11). Signed BR: André C. de Takacs.
Interior DescriptionPlate numbers: pp. 2, 3, BL: J. M. Co. 569 – 2
Performance MediumVoice and piano.
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_026
CollectionWorld War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

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