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University of Illinois I-Mark

America for Me!

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/992ea540-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-1
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NoC-US

Descriptive Information

Title
America for Me!  
Composer
Smith, E. L. (Ella Letitia), 1857-1928  
Lyricist
Van Dyke, Henry  
Publisher
A. K. DeLemos & Co.  
Place of Publication
Newark (N.J.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
1918-03-11
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
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
  • 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.  
  • 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 The beginning and ending of the verses, as well as the opening of the refrain, recall but do not quote "Home Sweet Home."  
  • This was the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found, nor any performances or advertisements.  
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
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Home  
  • Songs and music  
  • Patriotic music  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [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.
  • [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 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 2]
Musical Genre
Ballad
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.
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 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 for Me!  
ComposerSmith, E. L. (Ella Letitia), 1857-1928  
LyricistVan Dyke, Henry  
PublisherA. K. DeLemos & Co.  
Place of PublicationNewark (N.J.)  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of Copyright1918-03-11
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
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
  • 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.  
  • 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."  
  • This was the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found, nor any performances or advertisements.  
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
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Home  
  • Songs and music  
  • Patriotic music  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [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.
  • [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 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 2]
Musical GenreBallad
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.
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  
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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