A-M-E-R-I-C-A

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/97b293e0-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-1

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

A-M-E-R-I-C-A

Alternative Title

p. 2, top: A-M-E-R-I-C-A / America

Composer

Lang, Billy
Greene, May

Lyricist

Lang, Billy
Greene, May

Publisher

600 Washington St.
Boston, MA : D. W. Cooper Publishing Co.

Year of Publication

1917

Date of Copyright

1917-02-21

Physical Description

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

Type

Musical notation

Comment

This song is one of many that imitated “M-O-T-H-E-R,” the 1915 hit by Theodore Morse and Howard Johnson. Although D. W. Cooper plugged the song briefly at a local theatre and registered mechanical rights in 1918, it appears to have had very little impact.

Historical Note

There appears to have been only one printing, and there are no known recordings or piano rolls.
Dallin’s statue, pictured on the cover, was installed at the entry to Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts on January 23, 1912, and Coolidge’s photograph was taken about that time. The statue quickly became a symbol of Boston’s civic pride as well as an iconic image in American culture. There is no textual link to the song, and the motivation for the choosing this cover image remains obscure.

Musical Note

This spelling song is a march song in duple meter, with a slightly unusual 40-bar refrain that results from the extension of the third line and the interjected spelling of “America.” The verse is conventional, with ragtime rhythms used extensively in the first two phrases. Sequence is used prominently at the start of the verse and the in the penultimate phrase of the refrain.

Dedication

Dedication

Subject - Topic

English language -- Orthography and spelling -- Songs and music.
Patriotic music -- United States.
Popular music -- 1911-1920.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.

Subject - Geographic

United States

Lyrics

[refrain 2]
[verse 2] Ev’ry one has a love for his Country, / We are true to the land of our birth; / But America first and forever, / For we know it’s the finest on earth. / Altho’ far from its shores we may wander, / Thro’ other lanes we may roam, / Still we all agree, it’s the best place to be; / America, our Home.
[refrain 1] America! / From coast of Maine to California / All our hearts are true, / And beat with loyalty for dear old independence. / Our U. S. A. / Has given us our liberty, / All our hats are off to you, / And the Red, the White and Blue. / A-M-E-R-I-C-A! AMERICA!
[verse 1] We are proud of the stars in Old Glory! / We are proud of our great history! / It’s been told both by song and by story / Why they call us the “Land of the Free.” / So we know why our glorious Country / In all our hearts stands alone; / For you and for me, it always will be / America, our Home.

Musical Genre

March song

Repository

Newberry Library

Conditions of Use

Illustrator

Dallin, C. E. [Cyrus Edwin]
Cooledge [Coolidge], Baldwin

Artist

Swett, S. S.

Cover Description

Photograph of “The appeal to the Great Spirit” by C. E. Dallin; photo by Baldwin Coolidge; the statue depicts a native American on horseback. Monochrome; brown on white; signed “Swett” BL, with monogram above (“S S S” displayed on the three leaves of a clover).

Back Cover Description

Interior Description

P3, BL: A-M-E-R-I-C-A 2

Performance Medium

Voice and piano

Original Location

Box 163

Local Identifier

nda163_045

Collection

World War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

Title	A-M-E-R-I-C-A
Alternative Title	p. 2, top: A-M-E-R-I-C-A / America
Composer	Lang, Billy Greene, May
Lyricist	Lang, Billy Greene, May
Publisher	600 Washington St. Boston, MA : D. W. Cooper Publishing Co.
Year of Publication	1917
Date of Copyright	1917-02-21
Physical Description	1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Type	Musical notation
Comment	This song is one of many that imitated “M-O-T-H-E-R,” the 1915 hit by Theodore Morse and Howard Johnson. Although D. W. Cooper plugged the song briefly at a local theatre and registered mechanical rights in 1918, it appears to have had very little impact.
Historical Note	There appears to have been only one printing, and there are no known recordings or piano rolls. Dallin’s statue, pictured on the cover, was installed at the entry to Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts on January 23, 1912, and Coolidge’s photograph was taken about that time. The statue quickly became a symbol of Boston’s civic pride as well as an iconic image in American culture. There is no textual link to the song, and the motivation for the choosing this cover image remains obscure.
Musical Note	This spelling song is a march song in duple meter, with a slightly unusual 40-bar refrain that results from the extension of the third line and the interjected spelling of “America.” The verse is conventional, with ragtime rhythms used extensively in the first two phrases. Sequence is used prominently at the start of the verse and the in the penultimate phrase of the refrain.
Dedication	Dedication
Subject - Topic	English language -- Orthography and spelling -- Songs and music. Patriotic music -- United States. Popular music -- 1911-1920. World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.
Subject - Geographic	United States
Lyrics	[refrain 2] [verse 2] Ev’ry one has a love for his Country, / We are true to the land of our birth; / But America first and forever, / For we know it’s the finest on earth. / Altho’ far from its shores we may wander, / Thro’ other lanes we may roam, / Still we all agree, it’s the best place to be; / America, our Home. [refrain 1] America! / From coast of Maine to California / All our hearts are true, / And beat with loyalty for dear old independence. / Our U. S. A. / Has given us our liberty, / All our hats are off to you, / And the Red, the White and Blue. / A-M-E-R-I-C-A! AMERICA! [verse 1] We are proud of the stars in Old Glory! / We are proud of our great history! / It’s been told both by song and by story / Why they call us the “Land of the Free.” / So we know why our glorious Country / In all our hearts stands alone; / For you and for me, it always will be / America, our Home.
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
Illustrator	Dallin, C. E. [Cyrus Edwin] Cooledge [Coolidge], Baldwin
Artist	Swett, S. S.
Cover Description	Photograph of “The appeal to the Great Spirit” by C. E. Dallin; photo by Baldwin Coolidge; the statue depicts a native American on horseback. Monochrome; brown on white; signed “Swett” BL, with monogram above (“S S S” displayed on the three leaves of a clover).
Back Cover Description	Advertisement and samples for “When the Sun Sets in Galway” (© 1915 08 02) and “I’m Going Back to the Girl I Love” (© 1915 12 07).
Interior Description	P3, BL: A-M-E-R-I-C-A 2
Performance Medium	Voice and piano
Original Location	Box 163
Local Identifier	nda163_045
Collection	World War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

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