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There’s a million mothers knocking at the nation’s 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. 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. 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.
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
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
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
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.
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.
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.”
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
Marches (Voice with piano)
Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.
Soldiers -- Family relationships -- Songs and music.
Mothers of 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] 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 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 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.
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
BR: 5
Top: The sentiment of every American mother.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.”
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
Marches (Voice with piano)
Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music.
Soldiers -- Family relationships -- Songs and music.
Mothers of 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] 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 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 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.
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
BR: 5
Top: The sentiment of every American mother.
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.