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If I'm Not at the Roll Call

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/e912a7b0-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-0

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
If I'm Not At the Roll Call Kiss Mother Good-Bye For Me - Lyrics
Composer
Boyden, George L.  
Lyricist
Boyden, George L.  
Publisher
Leo Feist Inc.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Lyrics
  • If I’m not at the Roll-Call (Kiss Mother Goodbye for Me) Verse: ‘Twas just before the battle boys, That day I’ll ne’er forget, A lad beside me in the trench as brave as I have met
  • Tho’ death was near, he had no fear, ‘Twas very plain to see, For just before the battle charge, He smilingly said to me: Refrain: “If I am not at the roll call, After the fighting is done, Won’t you be kind to my mother, Just for her soldier son? Tell her I know how she loves me, And prays for me constantly, May angels attend her, Brave comrade, befriend her, And kiss her goodbye for me.” Verse: We all felt glad our little lad, Came thru the fight all right. His courage in the battle gave us help to win the fight. It made his dear old mother’s heart, As proud as it could be
  • I wrote and told her the words, Her brave boy had said to me: Refrain
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 16, Folder 1
Local Identifier
2014_12996_355
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
If I'm Not at the Roll Call
Composer
Boyden, George L.  
Lyricist
Boyden, George L.  
Publisher
Leo Feist Inc.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
No copyright registered.
Lyrics
  • Tho’ death was near, he had no fear, ‘Twas very plain to see, For just before the battle charge, He smilingly said to me: Refrain: “If I am not at the roll call, After the fighting is done, Won’t you be kind to my mother, Just for her soldier son? Tell her I know how she loves me, And prays for me constantly, May angels attend her, Brave comrade, befriend her, And kiss her goodbye for me.” Verse: We all felt glad our little lad, Came thru the fight all right. His courage in the battle gave us help to win the fight. It made his dear old mother’s heart, As proud as it could be
  • If I’m not at the Roll-Call (Kiss Mother Goodbye for Me) Verse: ‘Twas just before the battle boys, That day I’ll ne’er forget, A lad beside me in the trench as brave as I have met
  • I wrote and told her the words, Her brave boy had said to me: Refrain
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 16, Folder 1
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_355
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleIf I'm Not at the Roll Call
ComposerBoyden, George L.  
LyricistBoyden, George L.  
PublisherLeo Feist Inc.  
Place of PublicationNew York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of CopyrightNo copyright registered.
Lyrics
  • Tho’ death was near, he had no fear, ‘Twas very plain to see, For just before the battle charge, He smilingly said to me: Refrain: “If I am not at the roll call, After the fighting is done, Won’t you be kind to my mother, Just for her soldier son? Tell her I know how she loves me, And prays for me constantly, May angels attend her, Brave comrade, befriend her, And kiss her goodbye for me.” Verse: We all felt glad our little lad, Came thru the fight all right. His courage in the battle gave us help to win the fight. It made his dear old mother’s heart, As proud as it could be
  • If I’m not at the Roll-Call (Kiss Mother Goodbye for Me) Verse: ‘Twas just before the battle boys, That day I’ll ne’er forget, A lad beside me in the trench as brave as I have met
  • I wrote and told her the words, Her brave boy had said to me: Refrain
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 16, Folder 1
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_355
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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If I'm Not At the Roll Call Kiss Mother Good-Bye For Me - Cover
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If I'm Not At the Roll Call Kiss Mother Good-Bye For Me - Page 2
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If I'm Not At the Roll Call Kiss Mother Good-Bye For Me - Lyrics
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