University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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America, He's For You!

Title
America, He's For You - Lyrics
Composer
Sterling, Andrew B.  
Lyricist
Sterling, Andrew B.  
Publisher
Joe Morris Music Co.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Lyrics
  • This is just another story of a mother and three sons, how she gave them to Old Glory like a million other ones, and when she sits alone at night to pray, these are the words that mother has to say: One bears a gun, and is beating back the Hun on the banks of the river Marne, the next oldest brother will fight just like the other whatever battlefield he’s on, the third makes his stand out in No Man’s Land, just like the other two, there’s a baby in the cradle and as soon as he is able, America, He’s for you. Tho’ they may return with glory and the cross each hero wears, there may be another story of the cross that mother bears
  • with beating heart she heard her country call, she did not give them one, she gave them all:
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Local Identifier
2014_12996_027
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/e72d2dc0-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-7

Descriptive Information

Title
America, He's For You!
Composer
Sterling, Andrew B. [Benjamin]  
Lyricist
Sterling, Andrew B. [Benjamin]  
Publisher
Joe Morris Music Co.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Publisher Address
145 W. 45th St.  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
1918-07-09
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
This song was neither heavily marketed nor widely performed, but the four printings and the recordings and piano rolls do indicate some interest. Both lyric and music were derivative, and this title suffered in comparison with Sterling's "America, Here's My Boy," which had had considerable success a year earlier.
Historical Note
  • The dedicatees, James and Raymond Sterling, were Andrew B. Sterling's nephews, and they both enlisted in March 1918, serving as privates for about a year and never sent overseas. Possibly it is their photographs that appear on the cover.
  • This is the second of four printings, distinguished by back covers. An initial copyright for the manuscript was registered on June 24, with Alfred Doyle credited as the arranger.
  • At least five recordings and three piano rolls were released. A burst of advertising in July waned quickly after The Billboard printed a negative review on August 3. The handful of performances that followed were exclusively by amateurs.
Musical Note
This march song (marked "Tempo di marcia") is generously larded with syncopation, rat-a-tat-tat fills, and walking bass, but it has some characteristics of a ballad: a slower tempo concludes the verse, the harmony approaches full chromaticism, and rubato and fermatas (with an ossia high note) end the refrain.
Dedication
p. 2, top: Dedicated to Privates James and Raymond Sterling, U. S. A.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Mothers of soldiers -- Songs and music.  
  • Soldiers -- Songs and music.  
  • Families of military personnel -- Songs and music.  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.  
Subject - Geographic
United States.  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] This is just another story / of a mother and three sons, / How she gave them to Old Glory / like a million other ones / And when she sits alone at night to pray, / These are the words that mother has to say:
  • [refrain 1] One bears a gun, and is beating back the Hun / on the banks of the River Marne / The next oldest brother will fight just like the other / whatever battlefield he's on, / The third makes his stand out in No Man's Land / Just like the other two, / There's a baby in the cradle and as soon as he is able / America he's for you."
  • [verse 2] Tho' they may return with Glory / and the cross each hero wears, / There may be another story / of the cross that mother bears / With beating heart she heard her country call, / She did not give them one, she gave them all:
  • [refrain 2]
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Artist
Pfeiffer, E. H. [Edward Henry]  
Printer
p. 3, BR, all upper-case: F. J. Lawson Co.  
Cover Description
Uncle Sam (TR), holding a baby (TL); below are two inset photographs, of an adult soldier (BL), and of a youth in military dress, saluting (BR); the baby's head is also a photograph; the whole is encircled by a vine or necklace. Green and orange on white; signed BR.
Back Cover Description
At top, “Two songs that should be in every home”; samples and covers for After the war is over (© 1917 04 19) and There’s a Service Flag Flying at Our House (© 1917 12 22), with two lists of titles, the whole in an ornate frame with flowers and scrollwork. Unsigned.
Interior Description
Plate numbers: pp. 2, 3, BL: J. M. Co. 624 _ 2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Local Identifier
2014_12996_027
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleAmerica, He's For You!
ComposerSterling, Andrew B. [Benjamin]  
LyricistSterling, Andrew B. [Benjamin]  
PublisherJoe Morris Music Co.  
Place of PublicationNew York (N.Y.)  
Publisher Address145 W. 45th St.  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of Copyright1918-07-09
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
CommentThis song was neither heavily marketed nor widely performed, but the four printings and the recordings and piano rolls do indicate some interest. Both lyric and music were derivative, and this title suffered in comparison with Sterling's "America, Here's My Boy," which had had considerable success a year earlier.
Historical Note
  • The dedicatees, James and Raymond Sterling, were Andrew B. Sterling's nephews, and they both enlisted in March 1918, serving as privates for about a year and never sent overseas. Possibly it is their photographs that appear on the cover.
  • This is the second of four printings, distinguished by back covers. An initial copyright for the manuscript was registered on June 24, with Alfred Doyle credited as the arranger.
  • At least five recordings and three piano rolls were released. A burst of advertising in July waned quickly after The Billboard printed a negative review on August 3. The handful of performances that followed were exclusively by amateurs.
Musical NoteThis march song (marked "Tempo di marcia") is generously larded with syncopation, rat-a-tat-tat fills, and walking bass, but it has some characteristics of a ballad: a slower tempo concludes the verse, the harmony approaches full chromaticism, and rubato and fermatas (with an ossia high note) end the refrain.
Dedicationp. 2, top: Dedicated to Privates James and Raymond Sterling, U. S. A.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Mothers of soldiers -- Songs and music.  
  • Soldiers -- Songs and music.  
  • Families of military personnel -- Songs and music.  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.  
Subject - GeographicUnited States.  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] This is just another story / of a mother and three sons, / How she gave them to Old Glory / like a million other ones / And when she sits alone at night to pray, / These are the words that mother has to say:
  • [refrain 1] One bears a gun, and is beating back the Hun / on the banks of the River Marne / The next oldest brother will fight just like the other / whatever battlefield he's on, / The third makes his stand out in No Man's Land / Just like the other two, / There's a baby in the cradle and as soon as he is able / America he's for you."
  • [verse 2] Tho' they may return with Glory / and the cross each hero wears, / There may be another story / of the cross that mother bears / With beating heart she heard her country call, / She did not give them one, she gave them all:
  • [refrain 2]
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
ArtistPfeiffer, E. H. [Edward Henry]  
Printerp. 3, BR, all upper-case: F. J. Lawson Co.  
Cover DescriptionUncle Sam (TR), holding a baby (TL); below are two inset photographs, of an adult soldier (BL), and of a youth in military dress, saluting (BR); the baby's head is also a photograph; the whole is encircled by a vine or necklace. Green and orange on white; signed BR.
Back Cover DescriptionAt top, “Two songs that should be in every home”; samples and covers for After the war is over (© 1917 04 19) and There’s a Service Flag Flying at Our House (© 1917 12 22), with two lists of titles, the whole in an ornate frame with flowers and scrollwork. Unsigned.
Interior DescriptionPlate numbers: pp. 2, 3, BL: J. M. Co. 624 _ 2
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Local Identifier2014_12996_027
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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