University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

America, Dear America

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/97cea970-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-0

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
America, Dear America  
Composer
Hyde, W. V. [William Vinton]  
Lyricist
Hyde, W. V. [William Vinton]  
Publisher
Boston : Liberty Music Co.  
Year of Publication
1917
Date of Copyright
1917-06-25
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Type
Musical notation  
Comment
Hyde’s piece was probably written shortly after the United States entered the war, though it took him two months to prepare a printed version. It appears to have gone entirely unnoticed.
Historical Note
  • This was the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found, nor any performances or advertisements.
  • The text of the second verse begins by paraphrasing the title words of “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean.”
  • An appeal for national unity, especially among recent immigrants, is made explicit in the dedication as well as the lyrics; it reflected a national concern as the United States entered the European war. W. V. Hyde had a minor career as a Democratic politician and surely endorsed whole-heartedly Wilson’s war message.
  • Liberty Music Co. was the self-publishing imprint of W. V. Hyde; the address on the cover was that of the clothing store at which Hyde worked.
Musical Note
A straightforward march song (marked “Marcia con Spirito”), this title makes good use of drumbeat rhythms, walking bass, and fanfare figures for fills. Both the verse and the refrain paraphrase “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” with the first phrase of the refrain being a nearly perfect quotation. In 1917 this melody was widely known as a college song, with lyrics proclaiming loyalty to alma mater, and this could well be the intended reference.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • Immigrants -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - Geographic
United States.  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Columbia, Dear Columbia, Gem of an ocean Free! / We are going to join our brothers who are fighting o’er the sea. / We’ll fight for all the Allies will fight for Liberty, / And when we fight for Uncle Sam We fight for Humanity.
  • [refrain 1] We will back up Mister Wilson, we’ll back him strong and true, / He is America’s President and he knows just what to do, / Now we are all true Patriots From Dixie to Kalamazoo, / And Yip! Yip! Yip! on land or ship we’re Americans True Blue.
  • [verse 1] America, Dear America The Homeland of the Free! / You were our hope and refuge when we sailed across the sea. / Now we have learn’d to love you, we are your children brave and true, / And now the Kaiser wants a scrap! We will fight! fight! fight! for you!
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
Cover Description
  • BR: Price / 25 cents
  • Columbia, in classical robes, holds aloft a banner that bears the title; to her left is a soldier, and to her right, a sailor, both in uniform and holding rifles; behind are rays streaming from a sun rising from the sea. Orange and black on white; unsigned.
Back Cover Description
Blank.
Interior Description
Plate number: p. 3, BL: America, Dear America 3
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_024
Collection
World War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
TitleAmerica, Dear America  
ComposerHyde, W. V. [William Vinton]  
LyricistHyde, W. V. [William Vinton]  
PublisherBoston : Liberty Music Co.  
Year of Publication1917
Date of Copyright1917-06-25
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
TypeMusical notation  
CommentHyde’s piece was probably written shortly after the United States entered the war, though it took him two months to prepare a printed version. It appears to have gone entirely unnoticed.
Historical Note
  • This was the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found, nor any performances or advertisements.
  • The text of the second verse begins by paraphrasing the title words of “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean.”
  • An appeal for national unity, especially among recent immigrants, is made explicit in the dedication as well as the lyrics; it reflected a national concern as the United States entered the European war. W. V. Hyde had a minor career as a Democratic politician and surely endorsed whole-heartedly Wilson’s war message.
  • Liberty Music Co. was the self-publishing imprint of W. V. Hyde; the address on the cover was that of the clothing store at which Hyde worked.
Musical NoteA straightforward march song (marked “Marcia con Spirito”), this title makes good use of drumbeat rhythms, walking bass, and fanfare figures for fills. Both the verse and the refrain paraphrase “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” with the first phrase of the refrain being a nearly perfect quotation. In 1917 this melody was widely known as a college song, with lyrics proclaiming loyalty to alma mater, and this could well be the intended reference.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • Immigrants -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - GeographicUnited States.  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Columbia, Dear Columbia, Gem of an ocean Free! / We are going to join our brothers who are fighting o’er the sea. / We’ll fight for all the Allies will fight for Liberty, / And when we fight for Uncle Sam We fight for Humanity.
  • [refrain 1] We will back up Mister Wilson, we’ll back him strong and true, / He is America’s President and he knows just what to do, / Now we are all true Patriots From Dixie to Kalamazoo, / And Yip! Yip! Yip! on land or ship we’re Americans True Blue.
  • [verse 1] America, Dear America The Homeland of the Free! / You were our hope and refuge when we sailed across the sea. / Now we have learn’d to love you, we are your children brave and true, / And now the Kaiser wants a scrap! We will fight! fight! fight! for you!
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryNewberry Library
Conditions of UseThe 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
Cover Description
  • BR: Price / 25 cents
  • Columbia, in classical robes, holds aloft a banner that bears the title; to her left is a soldier, and to her right, a sailor, both in uniform and holding rifles; behind are rays streaming from a sun rising from the sea. Orange and black on white; unsigned.
Back Cover DescriptionBlank.
Interior DescriptionPlate number: p. 3, BL: America, Dear America 3
Performance MediumVoice and piano.
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_024
CollectionWorld War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

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