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America Needs You Like a Mother

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/97f21980-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-e

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 Needs You Like a Mother  
Alternative Title
  • p. 2, top: America Needs You Like a Mother / (Would You Turn Your Mother Down?)  
  • Cover, top: America Needs You Like a Mother / Would You Turn Your Mother Down?  
Composer
Schwartz, Jean  
Lyricist
Clark [Clarke], Grant  
Publisher
  • 1570 Broadway  
  • New York : Kalmar Puck and Abrahams Consolidated, Inc.  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-03-06
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Type
Musical notation  
Comment
This song’s impact in vaudeville was short-lived, but it was followed by an arrangement for band that was made quite popular in the summer of 1917. However, professional performances did not persist past then, though a recording issued as late as spring, 1919, suggests some small enduring popularity.
Historical Note
  • The song was ballyhooed with a full-page advertisement in Variety, February 23, and was performed by several minor vaudevillians across the country during the following month. A band arrangement was introduced in June and widely played over the summer, but the song appeared only in amateur productions thereafter. Kalmar, Puck & Abrahams registered mechanical rights on May 29, 1917, and two piano rolls and one recording were issued.  
  • This is the second of three variants of the first of two printings; the printings are distinguished by their front covers, and the variants depict different performers. A version was published in Sydney, Australia, identical except that, in the title and lyrics, "America" was changed to "Britannia."   
  • Grant Clarke is printed without the final “e” on the cover of the first printing and the interior of both printings.  
Musical Note
This wholly conventional march song (marked “marcia”) employs limited use of syncopation and walking bass; as piano fills at the end of phrases, it quotes Yankee Doodle, Assembly (twice), and a rat-a-tat-tat figure.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • Immigrants -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.   
  • Mothers of soldiers -- 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] We know that there are diff'rent kinds of children, / There are some who love to roam / Then again there's some who love their mother, / They would rather stay at home / Still with all our many faults and failing's / She remains our only friend / Just like many loyal children / We should help her to the end.
  • [refrain 1] America has been a mother / To the children of the world / She has taken to her bosom / Ev'ry homeless boy and girl / Now we find that she's in trouble / Danger's lurking all around / America, she needs you like a mother / Would you turn your mother down?
  • [verse 1] I seem to see a picture of a mother, / With her children by her side / Some her own and some that she's adopted, / Still she looks at all with pride / Now it seems the mother is in trouble / And she need her children's aid / Some are coming forth to help her / But there's some who seem afraid.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
Newberry Library
Rights
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
Lumiere  
Printer
p. 3, BR: F. J. Lawson Co.  
Cover Description
Framed inset photograph of Lou Holtz, inscribed Lumiere, bracketed with eagles rousant on shields, in profile; sky with stars in background; publisher’s imprint (BC) rectangular, bracketed with lyres. Black, red, and blue on white; unsigned.  
Back Cover Description
In an elaborate frame, peacock at BR, text and sample: Rolling Stones (© 1917 01 09).  
Interior Description
Plate number: p. 3, BL: America Needs You 2  
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_042  
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 Needs You Like a Mother  
Alternative Title
  • p. 2, top: America Needs You Like a Mother / (Would You Turn Your Mother Down?)  
  • Cover, top: America Needs You Like a Mother / Would You Turn Your Mother Down?  
ComposerSchwartz, Jean  
LyricistClark [Clarke], Grant  
Publisher
  • 1570 Broadway  
  • New York : Kalmar Puck and Abrahams Consolidated, Inc.  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-03-06
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
TypeMusical notation  
CommentThis song’s impact in vaudeville was short-lived, but it was followed by an arrangement for band that was made quite popular in the summer of 1917. However, professional performances did not persist past then, though a recording issued as late as spring, 1919, suggests some small enduring popularity.
Historical Note
  • The song was ballyhooed with a full-page advertisement in Variety, February 23, and was performed by several minor vaudevillians across the country during the following month. A band arrangement was introduced in June and widely played over the summer, but the song appeared only in amateur productions thereafter. Kalmar, Puck & Abrahams registered mechanical rights on May 29, 1917, and two piano rolls and one recording were issued.  
  • This is the second of three variants of the first of two printings; the printings are distinguished by their front covers, and the variants depict different performers. A version was published in Sydney, Australia, identical except that, in the title and lyrics, "America" was changed to "Britannia."   
  • Grant Clarke is printed without the final “e” on the cover of the first printing and the interior of both printings.  
Musical NoteThis wholly conventional march song (marked “marcia”) employs limited use of syncopation and walking bass; as piano fills at the end of phrases, it quotes Yankee Doodle, Assembly (twice), and a rat-a-tat-tat figure.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • Immigrants -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.   
  • Mothers of soldiers -- 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] We know that there are diff'rent kinds of children, / There are some who love to roam / Then again there's some who love their mother, / They would rather stay at home / Still with all our many faults and failing's / She remains our only friend / Just like many loyal children / We should help her to the end.
  • [refrain 1] America has been a mother / To the children of the world / She has taken to her bosom / Ev'ry homeless boy and girl / Now we find that she's in trouble / Danger's lurking all around / America, she needs you like a mother / Would you turn your mother down?
  • [verse 1] I seem to see a picture of a mother, / With her children by her side / Some her own and some that she's adopted, / Still she looks at all with pride / Now it seems the mother is in trouble / And she need her children's aid / Some are coming forth to help her / But there's some who seem afraid.
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryNewberry Library
RightsThe 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
IllustratorLumiere  
Printerp. 3, BR: F. J. Lawson Co.  
Cover DescriptionFramed inset photograph of Lou Holtz, inscribed Lumiere, bracketed with eagles rousant on shields, in profile; sky with stars in background; publisher’s imprint (BC) rectangular, bracketed with lyres. Black, red, and blue on white; unsigned.  
Back Cover DescriptionIn an elaborate frame, peacock at BR, text and sample: Rolling Stones (© 1917 01 09).  
Interior DescriptionPlate number: p. 3, BL: America Needs You 2  
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_042  
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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