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A blinded Frenchman speaks to his son: “What is the cheering, little one? Oh! That my blinded eyes could see! Hasten, my boy, to the window run, and see what the noise in the street may be. I hear the drums and the marching feet
look and see what it’s all about! Who can it be that our people greet with cheer and laughter and joyous shout?” “There are men, my father, brown and strong, and they carry a banner of wondrous hue, with a mighty tread they swing along, now I see white stars on a field of blue!” “You say that you see white stars on blue? Look, are there stripes of red and white? It must be yes, it must be true! Oh, dear God, if I had my sight! Hasten son, fling the window wide, let me kiss the staff our flag swings from, and salute the Stars and Stripes with pride, for God be praised, the Americans come!”
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_033
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
A blinded Frenchman speaks to his son: / “What is the cheering, my little one? / Oh! That my blinded eyes could see! / Hasten, my boy, to the window run, / And see what the noise in the street may be. / I hear the drums and the marching feet; / Look and see what it’s all about! / Who can it be that our people greet / With cheer and laughter and joyous shout?" / "There are men, my father, brown and strong, / And they carry a banner of wondrous hue, / With a mighty tread they swing along; / Now I see white stars on a field of blue!” / “You say that you see white stars on blue? / Look, are there stripes of red and white? / It must be yes, it must be true! / Oh, dear God, if I had my sight! / Hasten son, fling the window wide; / Let me kiss the staff our flag swings from / And salute the Stars and Stripes with pride, / For, God be praised, the Americans come!”
Musical Genre
High-class ballad
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_033
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
A blinded Frenchman speaks to his son: / “What is the cheering, my little one? / Oh! That my blinded eyes could see! / Hasten, my boy, to the window run, / And see what the noise in the street may be. / I hear the drums and the marching feet; / Look and see what it’s all about! / Who can it be that our people greet / With cheer and laughter and joyous shout?" / "There are men, my father, brown and strong, / And they carry a banner of wondrous hue, / With a mighty tread they swing along; / Now I see white stars on a field of blue!” / “You say that you see white stars on blue? / Look, are there stripes of red and white? / It must be yes, it must be true! / Oh, dear God, if I had my sight! / Hasten son, fling the window wide; / Let me kiss the staff our flag swings from / And salute the Stars and Stripes with pride, / For, God be praised, the Americans come!”
Musical Genre
High-class ballad
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_033
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986