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America, Make the World Safe for Democracy

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/97a17490-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-9
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, Make the World Safe for Democracy
Composer
Levy, Sol P. (Paul)  
Lyricist
De Vivo, Rudolph E. (Edward)  
Publisher
Times Music Pub. Co.  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
1918-02-01
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
  • The title is adapted from a phrase President Wilson uttered in his war message in April 1917. De Vivo first printed his lyric as a broadside; then, with music by Levy, it became the first title issued by De Vivo’s short-lived publishing firm. Despite massive advertising and limited use in vaudeville, the song was not successful.
  • Times Music Pub. Co.
  • 145 W. 45th St.
Historical Note
  • This is the second of two printings, distinguished by back covers.
  • An expensive marketing campaign began with a full-page advertisement in Variety on February 1st; plugs and smaller advertisements in trade journals followed, culminating in a two-page spread in the Clipper on March 6. Despite this, the only performances seem to have been by the minor vaudevillian Reine Davis.
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found.
Musical Note
A conventional but somewhat awkward march song, this makes effective use quotations: the lyrics refer to “Over There,” with the phrase placed in quotes, and the last melodic phrase in the verse paraphrases Cohan’s melody. The penultimate phrase of the refrain quotes the opening of “La Marseillaise,” continuing directly into the second phrase of “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean.”
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Democracy  
  • Songs and music  
  • Marches (Voice with piano)  
  • Statue of Liberty (New York, N.Y.)  
  • Pictorial works  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] America, you’ve taken a big task / To you all Nations, for freedom ask, / From coast to coast, Across the plains, / Our boys are mustered to make our claims; / And when they get going “Over There” / You’ll hear the good news flashed ev’rywhere.
  • [refrain 1] America, you’ll make the world safe for democracy, And down autocracy / With ninety millions true, All fighting for you, Under the Red, White and Blue. / Thro’ shot and shell they’ll conquer as in days of long ago and vanquish ev’ry foe; / When Old Glory rises o’er the top, Our boys “Over There” will never stop / ’Til America, has made the world the wide world safe for democracy!
  • [verse 2] America, you see it’s up to you, / Our boys are going to see it through, / In France they’ll fight, And have no fear, / They’re fighting for all that they hold dear; / And when they return with vict’ry won / You’ll welcome your heroes one by one.
  • [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
Pfeiffer, E. H. [Edward Henry]  
Cover Description
The Statue of Liberty, above the clouds, facing forward, light rays and stars streaming from her torch; below and at her sides are two globes, one picturing the northwestern hemisphere, the other the southeastern. Blue and red on white; signed BL.
Back Cover Description
In ornate frame, with logo, sample: That’s my girl (© 1918 02 16).
Interior Description
Plate number: p. 3, BL: America, Make the World etc. 2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_054
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, Make the World Safe for Democracy
ComposerLevy, Sol P. (Paul)  
LyricistDe Vivo, Rudolph E. (Edward)  
PublisherTimes Music Pub. Co.  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of Copyright1918-02-01
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
  • The title is adapted from a phrase President Wilson uttered in his war message in April 1917. De Vivo first printed his lyric as a broadside; then, with music by Levy, it became the first title issued by De Vivo’s short-lived publishing firm. Despite massive advertising and limited use in vaudeville, the song was not successful.
  • Times Music Pub. Co.
  • 145 W. 45th St.
Historical Note
  • This is the second of two printings, distinguished by back covers.
  • An expensive marketing campaign began with a full-page advertisement in Variety on February 1st; plugs and smaller advertisements in trade journals followed, culminating in a two-page spread in the Clipper on March 6. Despite this, the only performances seem to have been by the minor vaudevillian Reine Davis.
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found.
Musical NoteA conventional but somewhat awkward march song, this makes effective use quotations: the lyrics refer to “Over There,” with the phrase placed in quotes, and the last melodic phrase in the verse paraphrases Cohan’s melody. The penultimate phrase of the refrain quotes the opening of “La Marseillaise,” continuing directly into the second phrase of “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean.”
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Democracy  
  • Songs and music  
  • Marches (Voice with piano)  
  • Statue of Liberty (New York, N.Y.)  
  • Pictorial works  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] America, you’ve taken a big task / To you all Nations, for freedom ask, / From coast to coast, Across the plains, / Our boys are mustered to make our claims; / And when they get going “Over There” / You’ll hear the good news flashed ev’rywhere.
  • [refrain 1] America, you’ll make the world safe for democracy, And down autocracy / With ninety millions true, All fighting for you, Under the Red, White and Blue. / Thro’ shot and shell they’ll conquer as in days of long ago and vanquish ev’ry foe; / When Old Glory rises o’er the top, Our boys “Over There” will never stop / ’Til America, has made the world the wide world safe for democracy!
  • [verse 2] America, you see it’s up to you, / Our boys are going to see it through, / In France they’ll fight, And have no fear, / They’re fighting for all that they hold dear; / And when they return with vict’ry won / You’ll welcome your heroes one by one.
  • [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.
ArtistPfeiffer, E. H. [Edward Henry]  
Cover DescriptionThe Statue of Liberty, above the clouds, facing forward, light rays and stars streaming from her torch; below and at her sides are two globes, one picturing the northwestern hemisphere, the other the southeastern. Blue and red on white; signed BL.
Back Cover DescriptionIn ornate frame, with logo, sample: That’s my girl (© 1918 02 16).
Interior DescriptionPlate number: p. 3, BL: America, Make the World etc. 2
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_054
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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