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

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/97b293e0-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-1
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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
D. W. Cooper Publishing Co.  
Place of Publication
Boston (Mass.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-02-21
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
  • 600 Washington St.
  • D. W. Cooper Publishing Co.
  • 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
  • Songs and music  
  • Orthography and spelling  
  • English language  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Popular music  
  • Songs and music  
  • World War, 1914-1918  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
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
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
  • 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 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
TitleA-M-E-R-I-C-A
Alternative Titlep. 2, top: A-M-E-R-I-C-A / America
Composer
  • Lang, Billy  
  • Greene, May  
Lyricist
  • Lang, Billy  
  • Greene, May  
PublisherD. W. Cooper Publishing Co.  
Place of PublicationBoston (Mass.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-02-21
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
  • 600 Washington St.
  • D. W. Cooper Publishing Co.
  • 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 NoteThis 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.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • Songs and music  
  • Orthography and spelling  
  • English language  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Popular music  
  • Songs and music  
  • World War, 1914-1918  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
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 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.
Illustrator
  • Dallin, C. E. [Cyrus Edwin]  
  • Cooledge [Coolidge], Baldwin  
ArtistSwett, S. S.  
Cover DescriptionPhotograph 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 DescriptionAdvertisement 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 DescriptionP3, BL: A-M-E-R-I-C-A 2
Performance MediumVoice and piano  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_045
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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