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My Little Service Flag Has Seven Stars

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/baf83e90-e8ed-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-b
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
My Little Service Flag Has Seven Stars
Composer
Tierney, Harry  
Lyricist
Murphy, Stanley  
Publisher
Jerome H. Remick and Co.  
Place of Publication
  • Detroit (Mich.)  
  • New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
1918-03-07
Physical Description
1 score ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Musical Note
A typical novelty in a brisk duple meter but with frequent pauses for comic effect. The refrain, as suits the lyrics, is very like a march song, with occasional walking bass, rat-a-tat-tat rhythms, and passing chromaticism.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Popular music  
  • Songs and music  
  • Soldiers  
  • Recruiting and enlistment  
  • Flags  
  • Songs and music  
  • Courtship  
  • Novelty songs  
  • Humorous songs  
  • Pictorial works  
  • Flags  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] When the cruel war came o’er us / I was in the Ziegfield chorus / With a “John” for ev’ry evening in the week / Ev’ry night some little Chappie / Did his best to make me happy / I was in the seventh heaven so to speak / But then the country called her boys to war / And all my “Johns” were true blue to the core
  • [refrain 1] Billy’s busy drillin’ in the infantry / Artie’s in the aviation corps / Freddie’s out there with the field artillery / Franky’s fighting on a foreign shore / Tommy’s on a tank out on the western front / Joe and Jerry both are jolly tars / I’m so lonesome it’s a pity / But I’ve done my little “bitty” / And my little service flag has seven stars
  • [verse 2] I don’t mind if days are meatless / But the subway’s always seatless / And on Johnless nights we all go home that way / Wineless meals of cheese and crackers / With a lot of spineless slackers / aren’t just the things to make a girlie gay / But when the cruel war is o’er you’ll see / My generals come marching home to me
  • [refrain 2]
Musical Genre
Novelty
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
Starmer [William and Frederick]  
Cover Description
Showgirl holding a service flag with seven stars; behind, in uniform, are five soldiers and two sailors. Brown, red, and blue on white; signed BR.
Back Cover Description
Sample and cover: I can’t get along without you (© 1918 03 20); lists of songs to either side of sample; cover framed with art deco vines.
Interior Description
  • p. 2, BL: 525-2
  • p. 2, BC: Wheat—The Golden Grains of Victory. Send our allies’ share “Over There” to win for us
  • p. 3, BL: My Little Service Flag etc. 2
  • p. 3, BC: Win the War with Bread and Lead
Performance Medium
Voice and piano  
Original Location
Box 166
Local Identifier
ndm166_065
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
TitleMy Little Service Flag Has Seven Stars
ComposerTierney, Harry  
LyricistMurphy, Stanley  
PublisherJerome H. Remick and Co.  
Place of Publication
  • Detroit (Mich.)  
  • New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of Copyright1918-03-07
Physical Description1 score ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Musical NoteA typical novelty in a brisk duple meter but with frequent pauses for comic effect. The refrain, as suits the lyrics, is very like a march song, with occasional walking bass, rat-a-tat-tat rhythms, and passing chromaticism.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Popular music  
  • Songs and music  
  • Soldiers  
  • Recruiting and enlistment  
  • Flags  
  • Songs and music  
  • Courtship  
  • Novelty songs  
  • Humorous songs  
  • Pictorial works  
  • Flags  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] When the cruel war came o’er us / I was in the Ziegfield chorus / With a “John” for ev’ry evening in the week / Ev’ry night some little Chappie / Did his best to make me happy / I was in the seventh heaven so to speak / But then the country called her boys to war / And all my “Johns” were true blue to the core
  • [refrain 1] Billy’s busy drillin’ in the infantry / Artie’s in the aviation corps / Freddie’s out there with the field artillery / Franky’s fighting on a foreign shore / Tommy’s on a tank out on the western front / Joe and Jerry both are jolly tars / I’m so lonesome it’s a pity / But I’ve done my little “bitty” / And my little service flag has seven stars
  • [verse 2] I don’t mind if days are meatless / But the subway’s always seatless / And on Johnless nights we all go home that way / Wineless meals of cheese and crackers / With a lot of spineless slackers / aren’t just the things to make a girlie gay / But when the cruel war is o’er you’ll see / My generals come marching home to me
  • [refrain 2]
Musical GenreNovelty
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.
ArtistStarmer [William and Frederick]  
Cover DescriptionShowgirl holding a service flag with seven stars; behind, in uniform, are five soldiers and two sailors. Brown, red, and blue on white; signed BR.
Back Cover DescriptionSample and cover: I can’t get along without you (© 1918 03 20); lists of songs to either side of sample; cover framed with art deco vines.
Interior Description
  • p. 2, BL: 525-2
  • p. 2, BC: Wheat—The Golden Grains of Victory. Send our allies’ share “Over There” to win for us
  • p. 3, BL: My Little Service Flag etc. 2
  • p. 3, BC: Win the War with Bread and Lead
Performance MediumVoice and piano  
Original LocationBox 166
Local Identifierndm166_065
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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