America, Here's My Boy

Permalink

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

No Copyright - United States (RightsStatements.org)

NoC-US

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

Joe Morris Music Co.

Place of Publication

New York (N.Y.)

Year of Publication

1917

Date of Copyright

1917-02-16

Physical Description

1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)

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

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.”
This is the fourth of nine printings, distinguished by the back covers and, in some cases, the printer’s imprint on p. 3.
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.

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

World War, 1914-1918
Songs and music
Popular music
Patriotic music
Mothers of Soldiers
Soldiers
Family relationships
Songs and music
Recruiting and enlistment
Marches (Voice with piano)

Subject - Geographic

United States

Subject - Temporal

1911-1920

Lyrics

[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.
[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 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 2]

Musical Genre

March 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

De Takacs, André C. [Chevalier]

Printer

p. 3, BR, all upper-case: F. J. Lawson Co.

Cover Description

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.
Top: The sentiment of every American mother.
BR: 5

Back Cover Description

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 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

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	Joe Morris Music Co.
Place of Publication	New York (N.Y.)
Year of Publication	1917
Date of Copyright	1917-02-16
Physical Description	1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
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	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.” This is the fourth of nine printings, distinguished by the back covers and, in some cases, the printer’s imprint on p. 3. 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.
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	World War, 1914-1918 Songs and music Popular music Patriotic music Mothers of Soldiers Soldiers Family relationships Songs and music Recruiting and enlistment Marches (Voice with piano)
Subject - Geographic	United States
Subject - Temporal	1911-1920
Lyrics	[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. [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 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 2]
Musical Genre	March 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	De Takacs, André C. [Chevalier]
Printer	p. 3, BR, all upper-case: F. J. Lawson Co.
Cover Description	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. Top: The sentiment of every American mother. BR: 5
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 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

Download Options

Zip of Original Files… Zip of JPEGs PDF

	nda163_026-001	Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
	nda163_026-002	Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
	nda163_026-003	Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
	nda163_026-004	Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…

Email Curator About This Item

America, Here's My Boy

Permalink Copy

Descriptive Information

Download Options

Cite This Item

Permalink Copy

Permalink

Permalink