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I'll Return, Mother Darling, to You

Title
I'll Return, Mother Darling, to You - Lyrics
Composer
Keithley, E. Clinton  
Lyricist
Nathan, Casper  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co.   
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Lyrics
  • I’ll Return, Mother Darling, to You Verse: A mother was saying “Good-bye” to her boy, Who was ready to start for the war
  • She cried as she said, “You’re my pride and joy, Are we parting forevermore?” He whispered
  • “The war will be over some day, Though I know that your heart will yearn
  • Have cheer, mother dear, Soon the spring will be here, That’s the time when I will return.” Refrain: “When the roses of springtime are blooming, I’ll return, mother darling, some day
  • At the end of the winter of sadness, Then I’ll kiss all your tears away. Just forget that your boy is a soldier, To my country and home I’ll be true
  • When the birds sweetly sing, I’ll return in the Spring, I’ll return, mother darling, to you.” Verse: A mother was praying, alone, for her boy, As she prayed since that day long ago
  • She cried as she thought of the battlefield, “Something’s happened to him, I know.” The door of the cottage was opened at last, Soon a voice cheered her weary heart
  • Her boy cried with joy, “Days
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 16, Folder 1
Local Identifier
2014_12996_339
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/e8cf35f0-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-3

Descriptive Information

Title
I'll Return, Mother Darling, to You
Composer
  • Keithley, E. Clinton  
  • Alford, Harry L.  
  • Colby, Carleton L.  
Lyricist
Nathan, Casper  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co.   
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication
1915  
Date of Copyright
1915-04-08
Physical Description
1 score ([1], 3-5 [recte 2-4], [2] p.). Folio.
Comment
  • The extended run of printings, the recording, the arrangement, and the parodies and reprints of the lyrics all indicate substantial popularity, though the song does not appear to have been taken up on the stage. McKinley marketed it intensely at the outset as more optimistic than sad
  • after May 7, when the Lusitania was torpedoed, the song took on new poignancy.
Historical Note
  • This is the first of four printings of this title, identical except for their their back covers, by which they can be dated
  • the last was issued after April 10, 1918. The title was thus in print for at least three years, unusually long for Root imprints. An arrangement for band by Harry L. Alford and Carleton L. Colby was issued by July 19, 1915, when a performance took place in Lowville, NY. The song was recorded by Margaret O’Connell on Pathé 10030, probably in 1915. The lyrics were parodied or reprinted in several anthologies from 1915 to 1922. The cover photograph was reused on the cover of “When a Boy Says Good Bye to His Mother and She Gives Him to Uncle Sam”.
Musical Note
A march ballad (marked “marcia”), with repetitive phrases and a walking bass, suggesting a march, the refrain of this mother song takes on aspects of a ballad, with arching melodies, chromatic inflections, and rubato. The band arrangement was marketed as a one-step.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920  
  • Mothers of soldiers -- Songs and music  
  • Separation (Psychology) -- Songs and music  
  • Soldiers -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • I’ll Return, Mother Darling, to You [Verse] A mother was saying “Good-bye” to her boy, Who was ready to start for the war
  • She cried as she said, “You’re my pride and joy, Are we parting forevermore?” He whispered
  • “The war will be over some day, Though I know that your heart will yearn
  • Have cheer, mother dear, Soon the spring will be here, That’s the time when I will return.” [Refrain] “When the roses of springtime are blooming, I’ll return, mother darling, some day
  • At the end of the winter of sadness, Then I’ll kiss all your tears away. Just forget that your boy is a soldier, To my country and home I’ll be true
  • When the birds sweetly sing, I’ll return in the Spring, I’ll return, mother darling, to you.” [Verse] A mother was praying, alone, for her boy, As she prayed since that day long ago
  • She cried as she thought of the battlefield, “Something’s happened to him, I know.” The door of the cottage was opened at last, Soon a voice cheered her weary heart
  • Her boy cried with joy, “Days of sorrow are past, Mother dear, we will never part.“ [Refrain]
Musical Genre
  • March ballad
  • Mother song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover Description
Photogaph (staged): standing soldier, in uniform, embracing tearful mother, holding handkerchief.
Back Cover Description
Advertisement for “Our Latest Song Successes”. Four rows of samples and covers. Top row: One Wonderful Night (© 1914 02 14) The Kiss That Made You Mine (© 1915 01 30) 2nd row: Roll Along, Harvest Moon (© 1915 01 07) In the Evening by the Moonlight (© 1914 10 06) 3rd row: Sue of the Cumberlands (© 1914 12 15) In the Gloaming I Hear You Calling Me (© 1915 01 07) 4th row: The Hours I Spent with Thee (© 1914 11 10) Sing Me “The Rosary” (© 1913 02 18)
Interior Description
p[5]: refrain arranged for “Quartet for Mixed or Male Voices” by [Harry L.] Alford and [Carleton L.] Colby
Performance Medium
voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 16, Folder 1
Local Identifier
2014_12996_339
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleI'll Return, Mother Darling, to You
Composer
  • Keithley, E. Clinton  
  • Alford, Harry L.  
  • Colby, Carleton L.  
LyricistNathan, Casper  
PublisherFrank K. Root & Co.   
Place of PublicationChicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication1915  
Date of Copyright1915-04-08
Physical Description1 score ([1], 3-5 [recte 2-4], [2] p.). Folio.
Comment
  • The extended run of printings, the recording, the arrangement, and the parodies and reprints of the lyrics all indicate substantial popularity, though the song does not appear to have been taken up on the stage. McKinley marketed it intensely at the outset as more optimistic than sad
  • after May 7, when the Lusitania was torpedoed, the song took on new poignancy.
Historical Note
  • This is the first of four printings of this title, identical except for their their back covers, by which they can be dated
  • the last was issued after April 10, 1918. The title was thus in print for at least three years, unusually long for Root imprints. An arrangement for band by Harry L. Alford and Carleton L. Colby was issued by July 19, 1915, when a performance took place in Lowville, NY. The song was recorded by Margaret O’Connell on Pathé 10030, probably in 1915. The lyrics were parodied or reprinted in several anthologies from 1915 to 1922. The cover photograph was reused on the cover of “When a Boy Says Good Bye to His Mother and She Gives Him to Uncle Sam”.
Musical NoteA march ballad (marked “marcia”), with repetitive phrases and a walking bass, suggesting a march, the refrain of this mother song takes on aspects of a ballad, with arching melodies, chromatic inflections, and rubato. The band arrangement was marketed as a one-step.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920  
  • Mothers of soldiers -- Songs and music  
  • Separation (Psychology) -- Songs and music  
  • Soldiers -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • I’ll Return, Mother Darling, to You [Verse] A mother was saying “Good-bye” to her boy, Who was ready to start for the war
  • She cried as she said, “You’re my pride and joy, Are we parting forevermore?” He whispered
  • “The war will be over some day, Though I know that your heart will yearn
  • Have cheer, mother dear, Soon the spring will be here, That’s the time when I will return.” [Refrain] “When the roses of springtime are blooming, I’ll return, mother darling, some day
  • At the end of the winter of sadness, Then I’ll kiss all your tears away. Just forget that your boy is a soldier, To my country and home I’ll be true
  • When the birds sweetly sing, I’ll return in the Spring, I’ll return, mother darling, to you.” [Verse] A mother was praying, alone, for her boy, As she prayed since that day long ago
  • She cried as she thought of the battlefield, “Something’s happened to him, I know.” The door of the cottage was opened at last, Soon a voice cheered her weary heart
  • Her boy cried with joy, “Days of sorrow are past, Mother dear, we will never part.“ [Refrain]
Musical Genre
  • March ballad
  • Mother song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover DescriptionPhotogaph (staged): standing soldier, in uniform, embracing tearful mother, holding handkerchief.
Back Cover DescriptionAdvertisement for “Our Latest Song Successes”. Four rows of samples and covers. Top row: One Wonderful Night (© 1914 02 14) The Kiss That Made You Mine (© 1915 01 30) 2nd row: Roll Along, Harvest Moon (© 1915 01 07) In the Evening by the Moonlight (© 1914 10 06) 3rd row: Sue of the Cumberlands (© 1914 12 15) In the Gloaming I Hear You Calling Me (© 1915 01 07) 4th row: The Hours I Spent with Thee (© 1914 11 10) Sing Me “The Rosary” (© 1913 02 18)
Interior Descriptionp[5]: refrain arranged for “Quartet for Mixed or Male Voices” by [Harry L.] Alford and [Carleton L.] Colby
Performance Mediumvoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 16, Folder 1
Local Identifier2014_12996_339
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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