University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

The items in the Digital Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library contain materials which represent or depict sensitive topics or were written from perspectives using outdated or biased language. The Library condemns discrimination and hatred on any grounds. As a research library that supports the mission and values of this land grant institution, it is incumbent upon the University Library to preserve, describe, and provide access to materials to accurately document our past, support learning about it, and effect change in the present. In accordance with the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read statement, we do not censor our materials or prevent patrons from accessing them.

If you have questions regarding this statement or any content in the Library’s digital collections, please contact digitalcollections@lists.illinois.edu

American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at the University Library

America Woke Up at Last

Permalink

https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/99109420-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-4
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 Woke Up at Last
Composer
Nomad (Harry Heine)  
Lyricist
Nomad (Harry Heine)  
Publisher
Nomad  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-04-26
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
  • Slightly awkward, but with a clever use of quotations, this song was later reported to have had a small role in Liberty Loan drives, probably in Brooklyn.
  • "Nomad"
  • 286 St. Anns Ave.
Historical Note
  • The publisher's address was Heine's home address. The slightly eccentric addition of a purple stamp, in a space clearly left open for it, is partly explained by Heine’s occupation: he was president of a company that manufactured rubber stamps.
  • M. Gunderson, the cover artist, has not been identified. A person of that name residing at 643 Vanderbilt St., Brooklyn, a sign-painter, inserted a classified advertisement in Popular Mechanics in December 1922. The linocut style of the image suggests that Gunderson may have been employed in Heine's business.
  • Harry Heine had a brief career in vaudeville, appearing as "Nomad, a Knight of the Road," which explains the pseudonym he used, but this appears to have been his first publication, written in response to the U. S. entry into World War I on April 6. He made a small effort to promote the song, but its success was largely local; Heine was a popular figure in his community, and his song was reportedly used in liberty loan campaigns.
  • This is the second of two printings, distinguished by the addition of the purple stamp.
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found, nor any documented performances. A small advertisement in The New York Clipper of April 25 positioned the song as an answer to Jack Glogau’s very successful preparedness song, "Wake Up, America!
Musical Note
A typical march song but with slightly awkward melodic writing, this makes generous use of quotations: the first and final phrases of "Reveille," elided, to open the introduction; "Dixie" as a piano fill in the refrain; and "Columbia the Gem of the Ocean" and "The Battle Cry of Freedom" as passing references in both music and text in the refrain.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Recruiting and enlistment  
  • Songs and music  
  • Preparedness  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] We've stood for Universal Peace / While Europe's been at war / We have not forgotten America, / Or the battles our fathers fought / Been patient till it burned our heart, / With laughter, scorn and shame. / But when it came to sink our ships, / They forced us in the game.
  • [refrain 1] Then America woke up at last / to the cause of Liberty / Still Columbia's the gem of the ocean / We pride in the freedom of the sea / So we'll rally round the flag, boys, / We'll rally once again, / As our forefathers did in days of yore / To defend our native land, / Just to fight for Uncle Sam, / When America goes to war.
  • [verse 2] Our hist'ry tells of Washington / and Perry at Fort George / And Dewey, still fresh in our memory, / Who all fought for our country's cause / But Wilson's been a diplomat, / Did what he thought was right. / We'll stand by him like patriots, / Wait for the call to fight.
  • [refrain 2] For America woke up [etc.]
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
M. Gunderson  
Cover Description
  • Title above, typefont containing stars and stripes; below, Uncle Sam, holding a U. S. flag, blowing a bugle in front of a tent at sunrise. Red and blue on white; signed BL.
  • BR, as a purple rubber-stamp overprint: The Latest Patriotic Song / Full of Spirit and Harmony / with inspring Lyrics and a dash of popular melodies.
Back Cover Description
Blank.
Interior Description
Plate number: p. 3, BL: America Woke etc. 2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_067
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 Woke Up at Last
ComposerNomad (Harry Heine)  
LyricistNomad (Harry Heine)  
PublisherNomad  
Place of PublicationNew York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-04-26
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
  • Slightly awkward, but with a clever use of quotations, this song was later reported to have had a small role in Liberty Loan drives, probably in Brooklyn.
  • "Nomad"
  • 286 St. Anns Ave.
Historical Note
  • The publisher's address was Heine's home address. The slightly eccentric addition of a purple stamp, in a space clearly left open for it, is partly explained by Heine’s occupation: he was president of a company that manufactured rubber stamps.
  • M. Gunderson, the cover artist, has not been identified. A person of that name residing at 643 Vanderbilt St., Brooklyn, a sign-painter, inserted a classified advertisement in Popular Mechanics in December 1922. The linocut style of the image suggests that Gunderson may have been employed in Heine's business.
  • Harry Heine had a brief career in vaudeville, appearing as "Nomad, a Knight of the Road," which explains the pseudonym he used, but this appears to have been his first publication, written in response to the U. S. entry into World War I on April 6. He made a small effort to promote the song, but its success was largely local; Heine was a popular figure in his community, and his song was reportedly used in liberty loan campaigns.
  • This is the second of two printings, distinguished by the addition of the purple stamp.
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found, nor any documented performances. A small advertisement in The New York Clipper of April 25 positioned the song as an answer to Jack Glogau’s very successful preparedness song, "Wake Up, America!
Musical NoteA typical march song but with slightly awkward melodic writing, this makes generous use of quotations: the first and final phrases of "Reveille," elided, to open the introduction; "Dixie" as a piano fill in the refrain; and "Columbia the Gem of the Ocean" and "The Battle Cry of Freedom" as passing references in both music and text in the refrain.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Recruiting and enlistment  
  • Songs and music  
  • Preparedness  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] We've stood for Universal Peace / While Europe's been at war / We have not forgotten America, / Or the battles our fathers fought / Been patient till it burned our heart, / With laughter, scorn and shame. / But when it came to sink our ships, / They forced us in the game.
  • [refrain 1] Then America woke up at last / to the cause of Liberty / Still Columbia's the gem of the ocean / We pride in the freedom of the sea / So we'll rally round the flag, boys, / We'll rally once again, / As our forefathers did in days of yore / To defend our native land, / Just to fight for Uncle Sam, / When America goes to war.
  • [verse 2] Our hist'ry tells of Washington / and Perry at Fort George / And Dewey, still fresh in our memory, / Who all fought for our country's cause / But Wilson's been a diplomat, / Did what he thought was right. / We'll stand by him like patriots, / Wait for the call to fight.
  • [refrain 2] For America woke up [etc.]
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.
ArtistM. Gunderson  
Cover Description
  • Title above, typefont containing stars and stripes; below, Uncle Sam, holding a U. S. flag, blowing a bugle in front of a tent at sunrise. Red and blue on white; signed BL.
  • BR, as a purple rubber-stamp overprint: The Latest Patriotic Song / Full of Spirit and Harmony / with inspring Lyrics and a dash of popular melodies.
Back Cover DescriptionBlank.
Interior DescriptionPlate number: p. 3, BL: America Woke etc. 2
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_067
Collection TitleJames Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
CollectionWorld War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

Download Options

  Zip of Original Files…   Zip of JPEGs PDF
nda163_067-001
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
nda163_067-002
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
nda163_067-003
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
nda163_067-004
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
Email Curator About This Item
for questions and to provide feedback.