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Library contain materials which represent or depict sensitive topics or were written from perspectives using outdated or biased language.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

Let the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells

Permalink

https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/eb6ab030-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-b

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
Let the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells - Lyrics
Composer
Klickmann, F. Henri  
Lyricist
Armstrong, Paul B.  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co.  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Lyrics
Let the Chimes of Normandy be Our Wedding Bells Verse: Bells are ringing, birds are singing, dearie, So be bright and cheery, Just give me your loving promise true. And follow me across the sea, Goodbye, dear, Don’t you sigh or cry, dear, I’ll be watching for you. And when you come to me, In far off Normandy, Refrain: The birds will greet you with melodious song, And I will meet you, so come along, The sun is shining through the storm and the strife, dear, And I’ll be pining for the light of my life (Come away, don’t delay) We’ll come back home, dear, When the struggle is o’er, Just you and me, dear, perhaps one more, And we’ll be happy where peace and love dwells, Let the chimes of Normandy be our wedding bells. Verse: Stars are gleaming, moonlight beaming, dearie, I am sad and weary, Just to have you once more by my side. So come away and don’t delay, I’m waiting, Ev’rything is ready, Just to make you my bride. And when you come to me, In far off Normandy, 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 17, Folder 4
Local Identifier
2014_12996_460
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
Let the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells
Composer
Klickmann, F. Henri  
Lyricist
Armstrong, Paul B.  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co.  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
No copyright registered.
Physical Description
1 score ([1], 2–3, [1] p.). Folio.
Comment
Though McKinley promoted the song up through January 1919, minimal coverage in trade journals suggests only moderate popularity. Jack Wells and Alfred Bryan wrote a more successful ballad, “Chimes of Normandy,” (© 1917 11 19), but the title phrase was first introduced in Robert Planquette’s operetta Chimes of Normandy, which opened in New York in 1877 and was immensely popular for several decades.
Historical Note
  • and QRS, in July (Pete Wendling, roll 547).
  • Connorized, in June (player not known, 6223)
  • This is the second of two printings, distinguished by back covers. Accounts in trade journals and the advertising history both suggest the song was written in March or April 1918 and marketed in May. The lyrics were included in McKinley’s Army and Navy Song Folio No. 1, issued in August 1918. Three piano rolls were issued in 1918: Rhythmodik, copyrighted March 20 (Victor Arden, assisted by W. E. D., roll G101874)
Musical Note
A semi-high-class ballad with chromatic inflections, this is a skilled but conventional setting of a complex rhyme scheme, with gentle syncopation in the refrain. The first phrase of “Westminster Chimes” is quoted several times in the verse and the introduction, which concludes with a descriptive instrumental effect in the upper register of the piano, marked “chimes.” Instrumental versions were marketed as fox-trots.
Subject - Topic
  • Soldiers -- Family relationships -- Songs and music.  
  • Weddings -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Subject - Geographic
Normandy (France)  
Lyrics
Let the Chimes of Normandy be Our Wedding Bells [Verse] Bells are ringing, birds are singing, dearie, So be bright and cheery, Just give me your loving promise true. And follow me across the sea, Goodbye, dear, Don’t you sigh or cry, dear, I’ll be watching for you. And when you come to me, In far off Normandy, [Refrain] The birds will greet you with melodious song, And I will meet you, so come along, The sun is shining through the storm and the strife, dear, And I’ll be pining for the light of my life (Come away, don’t delay) We’ll come back home, dear, When the struggle is o’er, Just you and me, dear, perhaps one more, And we’ll be happy where peace and love dwells, Let the chimes of Normandy be our wedding bells. [Verse] Stars are gleaming, moonlight beaming, dearie, I am sad and weary, Just to have you once more by my side. So come away and don’t delay, I’m waiting, Ev’rything is ready, Just to make you my bride. And when you come to me, In far off Normandy, [Refrain]
Musical Genre
  • Semi-high-class ballad
  • Fox-trot
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Cover Description
  • lake and village in background, biplane in sky. Monochrome, unsigned.
  • Soldier and bride exiting church with wounded soldiers behind, French girls to right
Back Cover Description
Advertisement for “Late Patriotic Successes”. Four rows of samples: Top row: samples and covers for There’s a Little Blue Star in the Window (© 1918, advertised 1918 01 16) I’m Hitting the Trail to Normandy (© 1917 09 15) Second row: samples for Old Glory Goes Marching On (© 1918 04 10) Will the Angels Guard My Daddy Over There? (© 1918 04 10) When a Boy Says Good Bye to His Mother and She Gives Him To Uncle Sam (© 1917 09 04) Third row: samples for When It Comes to a Lovingless Day (© 1918 01 23) Let the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells (© 1918, not located in copyright catalogs) When the Kaiser Does the Goose-step to a Good Old American Rag (© 1917 10 22) Fourth row: samples and covers for A-M-E-R-I-C-A (© 1917 06 22) Giddy Giddap! Go on, Go on (© 1917 09 04)
Performance Medium
voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 17, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_460
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleLet the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells
ComposerKlickmann, F. Henri  
LyricistArmstrong, Paul B.  
PublisherFrank K. Root & Co.  
Place of PublicationChicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of CopyrightNo copyright registered.
Physical Description1 score ([1], 2–3, [1] p.). Folio.
CommentThough McKinley promoted the song up through January 1919, minimal coverage in trade journals suggests only moderate popularity. Jack Wells and Alfred Bryan wrote a more successful ballad, “Chimes of Normandy,” (© 1917 11 19), but the title phrase was first introduced in Robert Planquette’s operetta Chimes of Normandy, which opened in New York in 1877 and was immensely popular for several decades.
Historical Note
  • and QRS, in July (Pete Wendling, roll 547).
  • Connorized, in June (player not known, 6223)
  • This is the second of two printings, distinguished by back covers. Accounts in trade journals and the advertising history both suggest the song was written in March or April 1918 and marketed in May. The lyrics were included in McKinley’s Army and Navy Song Folio No. 1, issued in August 1918. Three piano rolls were issued in 1918: Rhythmodik, copyrighted March 20 (Victor Arden, assisted by W. E. D., roll G101874)
Musical NoteA semi-high-class ballad with chromatic inflections, this is a skilled but conventional setting of a complex rhyme scheme, with gentle syncopation in the refrain. The first phrase of “Westminster Chimes” is quoted several times in the verse and the introduction, which concludes with a descriptive instrumental effect in the upper register of the piano, marked “chimes.” Instrumental versions were marketed as fox-trots.
Subject - Topic
  • Soldiers -- Family relationships -- Songs and music.  
  • Weddings -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Subject - GeographicNormandy (France)  
LyricsLet the Chimes of Normandy be Our Wedding Bells [Verse] Bells are ringing, birds are singing, dearie, So be bright and cheery, Just give me your loving promise true. And follow me across the sea, Goodbye, dear, Don’t you sigh or cry, dear, I’ll be watching for you. And when you come to me, In far off Normandy, [Refrain] The birds will greet you with melodious song, And I will meet you, so come along, The sun is shining through the storm and the strife, dear, And I’ll be pining for the light of my life (Come away, don’t delay) We’ll come back home, dear, When the struggle is o’er, Just you and me, dear, perhaps one more, And we’ll be happy where peace and love dwells, Let the chimes of Normandy be our wedding bells. [Verse] Stars are gleaming, moonlight beaming, dearie, I am sad and weary, Just to have you once more by my side. So come away and don’t delay, I’m waiting, Ev’rything is ready, Just to make you my bride. And when you come to me, In far off Normandy, [Refrain]
Musical Genre
  • Semi-high-class ballad
  • Fox-trot
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
Cover Description
  • lake and village in background, biplane in sky. Monochrome, unsigned.
  • Soldier and bride exiting church with wounded soldiers behind, French girls to right
Back Cover DescriptionAdvertisement for “Late Patriotic Successes”. Four rows of samples: Top row: samples and covers for There’s a Little Blue Star in the Window (© 1918, advertised 1918 01 16) I’m Hitting the Trail to Normandy (© 1917 09 15) Second row: samples for Old Glory Goes Marching On (© 1918 04 10) Will the Angels Guard My Daddy Over There? (© 1918 04 10) When a Boy Says Good Bye to His Mother and She Gives Him To Uncle Sam (© 1917 09 04) Third row: samples for When It Comes to a Lovingless Day (© 1918 01 23) Let the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells (© 1918, not located in copyright catalogs) When the Kaiser Does the Goose-step to a Good Old American Rag (© 1917 10 22) Fourth row: samples and covers for A-M-E-R-I-C-A (© 1917 06 22) Giddy Giddap! Go on, Go on (© 1917 09 04)
Performance Mediumvoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 17, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_460
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
Let the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells - Cover
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
Let the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells - Page 2
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
Let the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells - Page 3
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
Let the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells - Back Cover
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
Let the Chimes of Normandy Be Our Wedding Bells - Lyrics
Original File (PDF)
Email Curator About This Item