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America First

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/97977b80-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-0
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 First
Composer
Langbecker, August  
Lyricist
Langbecker, August  
Publisher
August Langbecker  
Place of Publication
Ocean Springs (Miss.)  
Year of Publication
1916  
Date of Copyright
1916-06-07
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-5, [1] p.)
Comment
Written by a first-generation German immigrant, this song was probably in part a personal response to and affirmation of Wilson's "America First" speech. Some efforts were made to promote it, but there is no indication the song had any impact.
Historical Note
  • At the head of the music (p. 2), the composer's name is spelled “Langbeker.” On this particular copy, the printed "Ocean Springs, Miss." on the cover is crossed out and "Marksville, La." handwritten below in ink.
  • Copyright was registered for the manuscript, and Ocean Springs was the address used.
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found.
Musical Note
This is a formally conventional march song ("March Tempo Moderato") with straightforward harmonies and occasional syncopation. The melody, built using sequence, is slightly clumsy and probably predated the text, which is very clumsy, with false rhymes, misplaced accents and multiple syllables assigned to single notes.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Preparedness  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] America first and always, / Must our motto always be, / For our land is the land of liberty, / And the home of the brave and free / Let us stand by the flag we all love, / Be it either on land or sea. / Let us prove our love and loyalty, / By serving our country and flag.
  • [refrain 1] America first and always, / Must our motto always be, / For no other nation can rule us, / For our liberty we'll fight and die, / Every woman will give her loved ones, / Her sons and husband too, / When the call comes from Uncle Sammie, / To fight for the Red, White and Blue.
  • [verse 2] We must all be loyol to our country, / For old glory must always wave, / O'er the land our fathers fought for, / And we from invasion must save. / Let us all be prepared to fight men, / When the bugle sounds the call, / Let us defend our honor and liberty / And the stars and the stripes when we're called.
  • [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.
Cover Description
Columbia, draped in robes and the U. S. flag, wearing a crown labeled "U.S.", holding aloft a banner with the title. Black, red, and blue on white; unsigned.
Back Cover Description
Text and sample: How’d you like to be a soldier? (© 1916 05 08).
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_040
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 First
ComposerLangbecker, August  
LyricistLangbecker, August  
PublisherAugust Langbecker  
Place of PublicationOcean Springs (Miss.)  
Year of Publication1916  
Date of Copyright1916-06-07
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-5, [1] p.)
CommentWritten by a first-generation German immigrant, this song was probably in part a personal response to and affirmation of Wilson's "America First" speech. Some efforts were made to promote it, but there is no indication the song had any impact.
Historical Note
  • At the head of the music (p. 2), the composer's name is spelled “Langbeker.” On this particular copy, the printed "Ocean Springs, Miss." on the cover is crossed out and "Marksville, La." handwritten below in ink.
  • Copyright was registered for the manuscript, and Ocean Springs was the address used.
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found.
Musical NoteThis is a formally conventional march song ("March Tempo Moderato") with straightforward harmonies and occasional syncopation. The melody, built using sequence, is slightly clumsy and probably predated the text, which is very clumsy, with false rhymes, misplaced accents and multiple syllables assigned to single notes.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Preparedness  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] America first and always, / Must our motto always be, / For our land is the land of liberty, / And the home of the brave and free / Let us stand by the flag we all love, / Be it either on land or sea. / Let us prove our love and loyalty, / By serving our country and flag.
  • [refrain 1] America first and always, / Must our motto always be, / For no other nation can rule us, / For our liberty we'll fight and die, / Every woman will give her loved ones, / Her sons and husband too, / When the call comes from Uncle Sammie, / To fight for the Red, White and Blue.
  • [verse 2] We must all be loyol to our country, / For old glory must always wave, / O'er the land our fathers fought for, / And we from invasion must save. / Let us all be prepared to fight men, / When the bugle sounds the call, / Let us defend our honor and liberty / And the stars and the stripes when we're called.
  • [refrain 2]
Musical GenreMarch 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.
Cover DescriptionColumbia, draped in robes and the U. S. flag, wearing a crown labeled "U.S.", holding aloft a banner with the title. Black, red, and blue on white; unsigned.
Back Cover DescriptionText and sample: How’d you like to be a soldier? (© 1916 05 08).
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_040
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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