University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

The items in the Digital Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library contain materials which represent or depict sensitive topics or were written from perspectives using outdated or biased language. The Library condemns discrimination and hatred on any grounds. As a research library that supports the mission and values of this land grant institution, it is incumbent upon the University Library to preserve, describe, and provide access to materials to accurately document our past, support learning about it, and effect change in the present. In accordance with the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read statement, we do not censor our materials or prevent patrons from accessing them.

If you have questions regarding this statement or any content in the Library’s digital collections, please contact digitalcollections@lists.illinois.edu

American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at the University Library

America, Here's My Boy

Permalink

https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/e8a56b80-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-1

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
America, Here's My Boy - Lyrics
Composer
Lange, Arthur  
Lyricist
Sterling, Andrew B.  
Publisher
Joe Morris Music Co.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Lyrics
  • my hope, my pride and joy, but if I had another, he would march beside his brother, America, here’s my boy. There’s a million mothers waiting by the fireside bright, a million mothers, waiting for the call tonight. And while within each heart there’ll be a tear, she’ll watch her boy go marching with a cheer.
  • and while within each mother heart they pray, just hark what one brave mother has to say. America, I raised a boy for you. America, you’ll find him staunch and true. Place a gun upon his shoulder, he is ready to die or do. America, he is my only one
  • There’s a million mothers knocking at the nation’s door, a million mothers, yes and there’ll be millions more
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_030
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
America, Here's My Boy
Alternative Title
p. 2, top: "America, Here's My Boy"
Composer
Lange, Arthur  
Lyricist
Sterling, Andrew B.  
Publisher
Joe Morris Music Co.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-02-16
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
Appearing at the peak of the preparedness movement, as American entry into the war began to seem inevitable, this hugely popular song was widely endorsed as a reply to “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier.” After the country entered the war, it became a pervasive expression of commitment, especially in renditions by the troops themselves. Its success was bolstered by recordings and piano rolls, but widespread renditions in amateur shows and fund-raising events attest to its appeal among general citizens and among American troops.
Historical Note
  • The structure of the lyrics exactly mirrors the structure of “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier,” with descriptive verses in the third person followed by a refrain in the mother’s voice. The refrain also adheres to the rhyme scheme, with a double rhyme in the penultimate line, and certain lines are direct parallels: “Place a gun upon his shoulder,” for instance, replaces “Who dares to put a musket on his shoulder.”
  • This is the seventh of nine printings, distinguished by the back covers and, in some cases, the printer’s imprint on p. 3. This printing was issued after June 18, 1917.
  • Morris promoted this title heavily and issued nine printings of the title in its first nine months; but after a year its popularity began to fade, and by the summer of 1918 it had largely been supplanted in the entertainment industry, though it remained popular in performances by amateurs and at community events. At least nine piano rolls and ten recordings were released.
Musical Note
The verse to this otherwise conventional march song is entirely in the relative minor key, and the vamp that leads into it consists of a minor-mode quotation of “Yankee Doodle,” echoed in the first line of the verse.
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 -- Family relationships -- Songs and music.  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.  
  • Marches (Voice with piano)  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] There’s a million mothers knocking at the nations door, / A million mothers, yes and there’ll be millions more, / And while within each mother heart they pray, / Just hark what one brave mother has to say.
  • [refrain 1] “America, I raised a boy for you. / America, You’ll find him staunch and true, / Place a gun upon his shoulder, / He is ready to die or do. / America, he is my only one; / My hope, my pride and joy, / But if I had another, he would march beside his brother; / America, here’s my boy.”
  • [verse 2] There’s a million mothers waiting by the fireside bright, / A million mothers, waiting for the call tonight. / And while within each heart there’ll be a tear, / She’ll watch her boy go marching with a cheer.
  • [refrain 2]
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Artist
De Takacs, André C. [Chevalier]  
Printer
F. J. Lawson Co. (New York, NY)  
Cover Description
  • Grey-haired mother, in lace-bordered black dress, standing beside a soldier with a rifle, bayonet fixed; her hand is on his shoulder; in background is an outline map of the United States. Orange and black on white; signed BL.
  • Top: The sentiment of every American mother.
  • BR: 5
Back Cover Description
Back cover description: In frame with bells at the corners, left and above an illustration of ring and flowers, unsigned, sample: When the Parson Hands the Wedding Band from Me to Mandy Lee (© 1917 06 18).
Interior Description
Plate numbers: pp. 2, 3, BL: J. M. Co. 569 – 2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Local Identifier
2014_12996_030
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleAmerica, Here's My Boy
Alternative Titlep. 2, top: "America, Here's My Boy"
ComposerLange, Arthur  
LyricistSterling, Andrew B.  
PublisherJoe Morris Music Co.  
Place of PublicationNew York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-02-16
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
CommentAppearing at the peak of the preparedness movement, as American entry into the war began to seem inevitable, this hugely popular song was widely endorsed as a reply to “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier.” After the country entered the war, it became a pervasive expression of commitment, especially in renditions by the troops themselves. Its success was bolstered by recordings and piano rolls, but widespread renditions in amateur shows and fund-raising events attest to its appeal among general citizens and among American troops.
Historical Note
  • The structure of the lyrics exactly mirrors the structure of “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier,” with descriptive verses in the third person followed by a refrain in the mother’s voice. The refrain also adheres to the rhyme scheme, with a double rhyme in the penultimate line, and certain lines are direct parallels: “Place a gun upon his shoulder,” for instance, replaces “Who dares to put a musket on his shoulder.”
  • This is the seventh of nine printings, distinguished by the back covers and, in some cases, the printer’s imprint on p. 3. This printing was issued after June 18, 1917.
  • Morris promoted this title heavily and issued nine printings of the title in its first nine months; but after a year its popularity began to fade, and by the summer of 1918 it had largely been supplanted in the entertainment industry, though it remained popular in performances by amateurs and at community events. At least nine piano rolls and ten recordings were released.
Musical NoteThe verse to this otherwise conventional march song is entirely in the relative minor key, and the vamp that leads into it consists of a minor-mode quotation of “Yankee Doodle,” echoed in the first line of the verse.
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 -- Family relationships -- Songs and music.  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.  
  • Marches (Voice with piano)  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] There’s a million mothers knocking at the nations door, / A million mothers, yes and there’ll be millions more, / And while within each mother heart they pray, / Just hark what one brave mother has to say.
  • [refrain 1] “America, I raised a boy for you. / America, You’ll find him staunch and true, / Place a gun upon his shoulder, / He is ready to die or do. / America, he is my only one; / My hope, my pride and joy, / But if I had another, he would march beside his brother; / America, here’s my boy.”
  • [verse 2] There’s a million mothers waiting by the fireside bright, / A million mothers, waiting for the call tonight. / And while within each heart there’ll be a tear, / She’ll watch her boy go marching with a cheer.
  • [refrain 2]
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
ArtistDe Takacs, André C. [Chevalier]  
PrinterF. J. Lawson Co. (New York, NY)  
Cover Description
  • Grey-haired mother, in lace-bordered black dress, standing beside a soldier with a rifle, bayonet fixed; her hand is on his shoulder; in background is an outline map of the United States. Orange and black on white; signed BL.
  • Top: The sentiment of every American mother.
  • BR: 5
Back Cover DescriptionBack cover description: In frame with bells at the corners, left and above an illustration of ring and flowers, unsigned, sample: When the Parson Hands the Wedding Band from Me to Mandy Lee (© 1917 06 18).
Interior DescriptionPlate numbers: pp. 2, 3, BL: J. M. Co. 569 – 2
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Local Identifier2014_12996_030
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Download Options

  Zip of Original Files…   Zip of JPEGs PDF
America, Here's My Boy - Cover
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
America, Here's My Boy - Page 2
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
America, Here's My Boy - Page 3
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
America, Here's My Boy - Back Cover
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
America, Here's My Boy - Lyrics
Original File (PDF)
Email Curator About This Item
for questions and to provide feedback.