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America the land we love the best

Title
America the land we love the best - Lyrics
Composer
Woodworth, O. P.  
Lyricist
Woodworth, O. P.  
Publisher
The Max Clark Co. (Macomb, IL)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Lyrics
  • Our country tis for thee, cradle of liberty, America, the land we love the best, we’re sure to stand the test, tho’ we may be hard pressed, to war we now must go. To fight a foreign foe, our cause is just and fight we must, we’ll win so all the world may be at rest. Tramp tramp tramp our boys are marching, far away across the sea, fighting with their might, fighting for the right and the cause of liberty
  • they are our Yankee Doodle soldiers and they have gone to stay, they will never run from a German gun, they’re the pride of the U.S.A. Our soldier boys so true, dear land will fight for you, they’re ready now and waiting for the call, we trust that none will fall, they’re fighting for us all, where shot and shell will burst. We’ll always find them first, of them we’re proud, we’ll cheer them loud, the Stars and Stripes they will never let fall.
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_026
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/e86940b0-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-2

Descriptive Information

Title
America the land we love the best
Composer
Woodworth, O. P. [Oscar Perl]  
Lyricist
Woodworth, O. P. [Oscar Perl]  
Publisher
Macomb, IL : The Max Clark Co.  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
1918-05-11
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
Though this title was self-published, Woodworth went to considerable length and expense to promote it through advertisements in trade journals. In an arrangement for band, probably made by Harry L. Alford, it enjoyed modest success.
Historical Note
  • This was the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found. However, Harry L. Alford made a band arrangement and acted as a Chicago agent, according to an advertisement placed in The New York Clipper. Despite that and a notice and (moderately unfavorable) review in The Billboard, there are no documented performances of the song. The band arrangement, however, was played in Illinois and as as far away as Florida.
  • Woodworth, who had worked for newspapers and sold newsprint, was the actual publisher. The publisher's name (Max Clark) was compounded from O. P. Woodworth's wife's maiden name (Clark) and his son's given name (Max). Teresa Holden taught music in the Macomb public schools.
Musical Note
A typical march song, the chorus modulates to the dominant. An exceptionally large number of quotations appear in both text and music: “America,” “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys Are Marching,” “Yankee Doodle Boy,” “Reveille,” “Dixie,” and “Old Lang Syne.”
Subject - Topic
  • Soldiers -- Songs and music.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - Geographic
United States.  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Our soldier boys so true / Dear land will fight for you / They're ready now and waiting for the call / We trust that none will fall / they're fighting for us all / Where shot and shell will burst / We'll always find them first / Of them we're proud / we'll cheer them loud / The Stars and Stripes they never will let fall.
  • [refrain 1] Tramp tramp tramp our boys are marching / Far away across the sea / Fighting with their might / fighting for the right / and the cause of Liberty They are our Yankee Doodle soldiers / And they have gone to stay / They will never run / from a German gun / They're the pride of the U. S. A.
  • [verse 1] Our country tis for thee / Cradle of Liberty / America the land we love the best / We're sure to stand the test / tho we may be hard pressed / To war we now must go / To fight a foreign foe / Our cause is just / and fight we must / We'll win so all the world may be at rest.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Printer
p. 3, BR, in simple type: Raynor Dalheim & Co. / Music Printers & Engravers / Chicago, Ill.  
Cover Description
Troops marching with rifles, bayonets fixed; in the center a soldier carries the U. S. flag; silhouette of the Statue of Liberty and an exploding shell in the background, with trees and clouds; the publisher's name BR is printed over a lyre-like logo. BR a small inset photograph, text above and below: Successfully introduced by Teresa Holden. Red and blue on white; unsigned.
Back Cover Description
Sample: When You Will Always Be Near (no © registered).
Interior Description
Plate number: p. 3, BR: America The Land We Love The Best 2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_026
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleAmerica the land we love the best
ComposerWoodworth, O. P. [Oscar Perl]  
LyricistWoodworth, O. P. [Oscar Perl]  
PublisherMacomb, IL : The Max Clark Co.  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of Copyright1918-05-11
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
CommentThough this title was self-published, Woodworth went to considerable length and expense to promote it through advertisements in trade journals. In an arrangement for band, probably made by Harry L. Alford, it enjoyed modest success.
Historical Note
  • This was the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found. However, Harry L. Alford made a band arrangement and acted as a Chicago agent, according to an advertisement placed in The New York Clipper. Despite that and a notice and (moderately unfavorable) review in The Billboard, there are no documented performances of the song. The band arrangement, however, was played in Illinois and as as far away as Florida.
  • Woodworth, who had worked for newspapers and sold newsprint, was the actual publisher. The publisher's name (Max Clark) was compounded from O. P. Woodworth's wife's maiden name (Clark) and his son's given name (Max). Teresa Holden taught music in the Macomb public schools.
Musical NoteA typical march song, the chorus modulates to the dominant. An exceptionally large number of quotations appear in both text and music: “America,” “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys Are Marching,” “Yankee Doodle Boy,” “Reveille,” “Dixie,” and “Old Lang Syne.”
Subject - Topic
  • Soldiers -- Songs and music.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - GeographicUnited States.  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Our soldier boys so true / Dear land will fight for you / They're ready now and waiting for the call / We trust that none will fall / they're fighting for us all / Where shot and shell will burst / We'll always find them first / Of them we're proud / we'll cheer them loud / The Stars and Stripes they never will let fall.
  • [refrain 1] Tramp tramp tramp our boys are marching / Far away across the sea / Fighting with their might / fighting for the right / and the cause of Liberty They are our Yankee Doodle soldiers / And they have gone to stay / They will never run / from a German gun / They're the pride of the U. S. A.
  • [verse 1] Our country tis for thee / Cradle of Liberty / America the land we love the best / We're sure to stand the test / tho we may be hard pressed / To war we now must go / To fight a foreign foe / Our cause is just / and fight we must / We'll win so all the world may be at rest.
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Printerp. 3, BR, in simple type: Raynor Dalheim & Co. / Music Printers & Engravers / Chicago, Ill.  
Cover DescriptionTroops marching with rifles, bayonets fixed; in the center a soldier carries the U. S. flag; silhouette of the Statue of Liberty and an exploding shell in the background, with trees and clouds; the publisher's name BR is printed over a lyre-like logo. BR a small inset photograph, text above and below: Successfully introduced by Teresa Holden. Red and blue on white; unsigned.
Back Cover DescriptionSample: When You Will Always Be Near (no © registered).
Interior DescriptionPlate number: p. 3, BR: America The Land We Love The Best 2
Performance MediumVoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_026
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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