University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

America for Me!

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/992ea540-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
America for Me!  
Composer
Smith, E. L. (Ella Letitia), 1857-1928  
Lyricist
Van Dyke, Henry  
Publisher
Newark, NJ : A. K. DeLemos & Co.  
Year of Publication
1918
Date of Copyright
1918-03-11
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Type
Musical notation  
Comment
Smith published this in conjunction with "If You're Going to Join the Army, Play the Game!" on the same day and with very similar covers. Both songs are well made, but there is no indication that either attained any degree of public recognition.
Historical Note
  • This was the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found, nor any performances or advertisements.
  • Van Dyke’s poem appeared in his Poems (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1911), which is credited in the copyright note. The beginning and ending of the verses, as well as the opening of the refrain, recall but do not quote "Home Sweet Home."
  • The cover imprint reads "for sale by" A. K. DeLemos; the actual publisher may therefore be Ella Letitia Smith, to whom the copyright was registered.
Musical Note
This ballad in quadruple meter contains rhythms that suggest a march song. The beginning of the refrain quotes the penultimate melodic line of "Home Sweet Home" ("There's no place like home").
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Home -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Oh London is a man's town there's power in the air / And Paris is a woman's town with flowers in her hair / And it's sweet to dream of Venice and it's great to study Rome / But when it comes to living there's no place like home.
  • [refrain 1] So it's home again, and home again America for me! / My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be / In the land of youth and freedom, beyond the ocean bars / Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.
  • [verse 1] 'Tis fine to see the old world and travel up and down / Among the famous palaces and cities of renown / To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings, / But now I think I've had enough of antiquated things.
Musical Genre
Ballad
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
Printer
p. 3, BR: F. J. Lawson Co. N.Y.  
Cover Description
Text only, with a small art deco ornament around the word "song."
Back Cover Description
Blank.
Interior Description
Plate number: p. 3, BL: America for Me
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_041
Collection
World War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
TitleAmerica for Me!  
ComposerSmith, E. L. (Ella Letitia), 1857-1928  
LyricistVan Dyke, Henry  
PublisherNewark, NJ : A. K. DeLemos & Co.  
Year of Publication1918
Date of Copyright1918-03-11
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
TypeMusical notation  
CommentSmith published this in conjunction with "If You're Going to Join the Army, Play the Game!" on the same day and with very similar covers. Both songs are well made, but there is no indication that either attained any degree of public recognition.
Historical Note
  • This was the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found, nor any performances or advertisements.
  • Van Dyke’s poem appeared in his Poems (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1911), which is credited in the copyright note. The beginning and ending of the verses, as well as the opening of the refrain, recall but do not quote "Home Sweet Home."
  • The cover imprint reads "for sale by" A. K. DeLemos; the actual publisher may therefore be Ella Letitia Smith, to whom the copyright was registered.
Musical NoteThis ballad in quadruple meter contains rhythms that suggest a march song. The beginning of the refrain quotes the penultimate melodic line of "Home Sweet Home" ("There's no place like home").
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Home -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Oh London is a man's town there's power in the air / And Paris is a woman's town with flowers in her hair / And it's sweet to dream of Venice and it's great to study Rome / But when it comes to living there's no place like home.
  • [refrain 1] So it's home again, and home again America for me! / My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be / In the land of youth and freedom, beyond the ocean bars / Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.
  • [verse 1] 'Tis fine to see the old world and travel up and down / Among the famous palaces and cities of renown / To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings, / But now I think I've had enough of antiquated things.
Musical GenreBallad
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
Printerp. 3, BR: F. J. Lawson Co. N.Y.  
Cover DescriptionText only, with a small art deco ornament around the word "song."
Back Cover DescriptionBlank.
Interior DescriptionPlate number: p. 3, BL: America for Me
Performance MediumVoice and piano.
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_041
CollectionWorld War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

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