University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

The items in the Digital Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library contain materials which represent or depict sensitive topics or were written from perspectives using outdated or biased language. The Library condemns discrimination and hatred on any grounds. As a research library that supports the mission and values of this land grant institution, it is incumbent upon the University Library to preserve, describe, and provide access to materials to accurately document our past, support learning about it, and effect change in the present. In accordance with the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read statement, we do not censor our materials or prevent patrons from accessing them.

If you have questions regarding this statement or any content in the Library’s digital collections, please contact digitalcollections@lists.illinois.edu

American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at the University Library

America To-day

Permalink

https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/976aaf70-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-2
No Copyright - United States (RightsStatements.org)

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.

Descriptive Information

Title
America To-day
Alternative Title
  • Don’t worry—Uncle Sam’s all right!
  • Liberty's Still Standing in the Bay.
Composer
Williams, W. R. (pseudonym for Will Rossiter)  
Lyricist
Moore, Herbert  
Publisher
Will Rossiter  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-03-24
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], [2]-[3], [1] p.)
Comment
Issued just as the country was sliding towards war, this title is both a late "preparedness" song and an early war song. Will Rossiter made a brief, vigorous attempt to promote it, but this appears to have had little effect. Possibly it was more successful in instrumental arrangements for the theatre and for player-piano.
Historical Note
  • The alternate titles, both of which can be found in the lyrics, appear on the cover but not on page [2].
  • This is the first of two printings, distinguished by their back covers. Advertisements indicate this title was available on February 5, though it was not copyrighted until seven weeks later. The song was also included in at least two Rossiter compilations, and in October Rossiter granted theatres the right to use it free of charge.
  • A piano roll was released on QRS in April 1917, but there are no documented performances or recordings.
Musical Note
This march ballad evidences the usual use of rubato, walking base, and fanfare figures, but its extended range and an unusual number of chromatic inflections make it rather difficult to sing, which may explain Rossiter's interest in instrumental versions.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Statue of Liberty (New York, N.Y.)  
  • Pictorial works  
  • Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] The hist'ry of America is wonderful, / It's chapters tell of men with hearts of gold; / Their names we'll always cherish, / Their fame will never perish, / Their splendid deeds will live for years untold, / But if we dwell on by gone days there's danger, / That we'll forget the qualities that last; / Place laurel on each great man's brow, / But don't forget the men of now, / Don't think that all the good lies in the past.
  • [refrain 1] Don't say that all the statesmen died with Lincoln, / Don't think that all the heroes died with Grant, / You'll find we've still the pow'r, / To produce men of the hour, / Because they've had no call, don't say they can't, / Remember we've a heritage of glory, / And Liberty's still standing in the bay, / As in his former days of might, / Don't worry Uncle Sam's all right! / We'll fight for America to-day.
  • [verse 2] We have the mem'ry of the Revolution, / And we've the memory of sixty-one; / We tell in song and story, / They battled for old Glory, / And we'll protect the Victories they won, / We're strong for peace if it is peace with honor, / But don't forget, we're stronger still for right; / Whatever future days may bring, / Our country first, that's the big thing, / United to a man we still can fight.
  • [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.
Illustrator
Batchelor, Clarence D.  
Artist
Starmer [William and Frederick]  
Cover Description
  • BR, above publisher: 5
  • Statue of Liberty, left, with sihouettes of battleships behind; inset photograph of Woodrow Wilson, right; above and center, eagle displayed, merged with a stylized U. S. shield. Black, red and blue on white; signed BL.
  • Top: Don't Worry—Uncle Sam's All Right!
  • Below inset photograph: President Wilson.
  • Bottom, with illustration: Liberty's Still Standing in the Bay.
  • BC: Published also for Band and Orchestra
Back Cover Description
Illustration by C. D. Batchelor from the Chicago Evening American depicting a French mother sitting outside her home, a village in the background, and a dead soldier appearing in her imagination above; with text advertisement: Somewhere, Somewhere in France (© 1917 01 22).
Interior Description
Plate number: p. [3], BR: America To day 2-2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_063
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 To-day
Alternative Title
  • Don’t worry—Uncle Sam’s all right!
  • Liberty's Still Standing in the Bay.
ComposerWilliams, W. R. (pseudonym for Will Rossiter)  
LyricistMoore, Herbert  
PublisherWill Rossiter  
Place of PublicationChicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-03-24
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], [2]-[3], [1] p.)
CommentIssued just as the country was sliding towards war, this title is both a late "preparedness" song and an early war song. Will Rossiter made a brief, vigorous attempt to promote it, but this appears to have had little effect. Possibly it was more successful in instrumental arrangements for the theatre and for player-piano.
Historical Note
  • The alternate titles, both of which can be found in the lyrics, appear on the cover but not on page [2].
  • This is the first of two printings, distinguished by their back covers. Advertisements indicate this title was available on February 5, though it was not copyrighted until seven weeks later. The song was also included in at least two Rossiter compilations, and in October Rossiter granted theatres the right to use it free of charge.
  • A piano roll was released on QRS in April 1917, but there are no documented performances or recordings.
Musical NoteThis march ballad evidences the usual use of rubato, walking base, and fanfare figures, but its extended range and an unusual number of chromatic inflections make it rather difficult to sing, which may explain Rossiter's interest in instrumental versions.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Statue of Liberty (New York, N.Y.)  
  • Pictorial works  
  • Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] The hist'ry of America is wonderful, / It's chapters tell of men with hearts of gold; / Their names we'll always cherish, / Their fame will never perish, / Their splendid deeds will live for years untold, / But if we dwell on by gone days there's danger, / That we'll forget the qualities that last; / Place laurel on each great man's brow, / But don't forget the men of now, / Don't think that all the good lies in the past.
  • [refrain 1] Don't say that all the statesmen died with Lincoln, / Don't think that all the heroes died with Grant, / You'll find we've still the pow'r, / To produce men of the hour, / Because they've had no call, don't say they can't, / Remember we've a heritage of glory, / And Liberty's still standing in the bay, / As in his former days of might, / Don't worry Uncle Sam's all right! / We'll fight for America to-day.
  • [verse 2] We have the mem'ry of the Revolution, / And we've the memory of sixty-one; / We tell in song and story, / They battled for old Glory, / And we'll protect the Victories they won, / We're strong for peace if it is peace with honor, / But don't forget, we're stronger still for right; / Whatever future days may bring, / Our country first, that's the big thing, / United to a man we still can fight.
  • [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.
IllustratorBatchelor, Clarence D.  
ArtistStarmer [William and Frederick]  
Cover Description
  • BR, above publisher: 5
  • Statue of Liberty, left, with sihouettes of battleships behind; inset photograph of Woodrow Wilson, right; above and center, eagle displayed, merged with a stylized U. S. shield. Black, red and blue on white; signed BL.
  • Top: Don't Worry—Uncle Sam's All Right!
  • Below inset photograph: President Wilson.
  • Bottom, with illustration: Liberty's Still Standing in the Bay.
  • BC: Published also for Band and Orchestra
Back Cover DescriptionIllustration by C. D. Batchelor from the Chicago Evening American depicting a French mother sitting outside her home, a village in the background, and a dead soldier appearing in her imagination above; with text advertisement: Somewhere, Somewhere in France (© 1917 01 22).
Interior DescriptionPlate number: p. [3], BR: America To day 2-2
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_063
Collection TitleJames Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
CollectionWorld 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_063-001
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
nda163_063-002
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
nda163_063-003
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
nda163_063-004
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
Email Curator About This Item
for questions and to provide feedback.