| Title | Let's Keep the Glow in Old Glory and the Free in Freedom Too |
| Composer | Speroy, Robert |
| Lyricist | Nesbit, Wilbur D. |
| Publisher | Frank K. Root & Co. |
| Place of Publication | Chicago (Ill.) |
| Year of Publication | 1918 |
| Date of Copyright | 1918-04-08 |
| Physical Description | 1 score ([1], [2]–[3], [1] p.). Folio. |
| Comment | - The extended print run, the piano rolls and the recording, as well as a string of articles, reviews, and advertisements in trade journals, indicate that this song was very successful as early as June 1918 and remained in public favor at least through 1919. It persisted in America’s memory and was revived during World War II. At least five piano rolls were made. Three were released in August: one on Angelus, one on Rythmodik (Lew Pollack and Victor Arden), and one on Aeolian (W. H. Rees and Coats
- Universal 3019 and Duo Art 1595). The fourth was released in October on Connorized (6338, Sam A. Perry and Edwin Sheres), and the fifth in November by Musicnote Roll Co. (Song Roll 137, no performer given). Greek Evans recorded the song on Emerson 972, released in October 1918.
|
| Historical Note | - This title had at least three printings
- this is the third, released after November 1918, judging by the back cover. The original copyright registration identifies F. Henri Klickmann as the composer. Wilbur D. Nesbit coined the phrase “Let’s Keep the Glow in Old Glory” in March 1918 as a slogan for the Third Liberty Loan campaign
- he expanded it to a song lyric later that month, to which Klickmann immediately provided music. A January 1919 advertisement indicates that arrangements for orchestra and band were also issued. The cover image first appeared on the cover of the April issue of the Delineator, a women’s magazine issued by the Butterick Publishing Company. It was subsequently used on a Liberty Loan poster.
|
| Musical Note | A straightforward march in cut time, dotted with rat-a-tat-tat figures and chains of secondary dominants. Although the lyric evokes “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean,” there are no musical quotations. |
| Subject - Topic | - World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music
- Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.
- Flags -- United States -- Songs and music
- Liberty loans -- Songs and music
|
| Lyrics | - Let’s Keep the Glow in Old Glory and the Free in Freedom Too [Verse] Columbia calls to us all to day, Calls to day, she’s calling me and you. She calls to the boys who have marched away For the old red, white and blue. [Refrain] Let’s keep the glow in Old Glory, Let’s keep the flag floating high
- Let’s keep each star in the field of blue As clear as the stars in the sky. Let’s all stand shoulder to shoulder, Let’s keep our loyalty true
- Let’s keep the glow in Old Glory, And the free in freedom too. [Verse] O say, can you see, as they did of yore, Floating high, the emblem of the free? It sends us its call as it has before, And it sounds from sea to sea. [Refrain] [Verse] By day ev’ry thought has the same refrain, Dreams by night, they summon me and you To prove to the world there shall be no stain On the old red white and blue. [Refrain]
|
| Musical Genre | March song |
| Repository | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music |
| Rights | No Copyright - United States |
| Artist | Ker, William Balfour |
| Cover Description | - Allegorical woman (Columbia) carrying child, both looking forward
- a US flag is draped across her, becoming her robe
- the woman and child appear above mixed troops marching forward with rifles, bayonets afixed.
|
| Back Cover Description | - Advertisement for “Latest Song Successes”. Four rows of samples: Top row: samples and covers for You Can Have It, I Don’t Want It (© 1917 11 30) Sweet Hawaiian Moonlight (© 1917 10 08 as instrumental
- song advertised 1918 06 15) Second row: samples for E-Yip-Yow! Yankee Boys, Welcome Home Again! (© 1918, not located in copyright catalogs
- advertised 1919 03 29) Keep Your Face to the Sunshine (© 1918, not located in copyright catalogs
- piano roll © 1918 09 20) My Uncle Sammy Gals (© 1918, not located in copyright catalogs
- advertised 1918 10 02) Third row: samples for If a Mother’s Prayers Are Answered, Then I Know You’ll Come Back to Me (© 1918, not located in copyright catalogs) The Trench Trot (© 1918, not located in copyright catalogs
- advertised 1919 03 29) When the Pines of Alsace Whisper “Dixieland” (© 1918, not located in copyright catalogs) Fourth row: samples and covers for On the Sidewalks of Berlin (© 1918, not located in copyright catalogs
- piano roll © 1918 11 20) There’s an Angel Missing from Heaven (© 1918, not located in copyright catalogs
- advertised 1918 11 23)
|
| Performance Medium | voice and piano |
| Original Location | - Record Series 12/9/96
- Series 2, Box 17, Folder 4
|
| Local Identifier | 2014_12996_469 |
| Collection Title | James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986 |
| Collection | James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection |
