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but America first and forever, for we know it’s the finest on earth. Altho’ far from its shore we may wander, thro’ other lanes we may roam, still we all agree, it’s the best place to be: America, our home.
for you and for me, it always will be America, our home. America! From coast of Maine to California, all our hearts are true, and beat with loyalty for dear old independence. Our U.S.A. has given us our liberty, all our hats are off to you, and the red, the white and blue. A-M-E-R-I-C-A! AMERICA! Ev’ry one has a love for his country, we are true to the land of our birth
We are proud of the stars in Old Glory! We are proud of our great history! It’s been told both by song and by story, why they call us the “Land of the Free.” So we know why our glorious country in all our hearts stands alone
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_048
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
This song is one of many that imitated “M-O-T-H-E-R,” the 1915 hit by Theodore Morse and Howard Johnson. Although D. W. Cooper plugged the song briefly at a local theatre and registered mechanical rights in 1918, it appears to have had very little impact.
Historical Note
There appears to have been only one printing, and there are no known recordings or piano rolls.
Dallin’s statue, pictured on the cover, was installed at the entry to Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts on January 23, 1912, and Coolidge’s photograph was taken about that time. The statue quickly became a symbol of Boston’s civic pride as well as an iconic image in American culture. There is no textual link to the song, and the motivation for the choosing this cover image remains obscure.
Musical Note
This spelling song is a march song in duple meter, with a slightly unusual 40-bar refrain that results from the extension of the third line and the interjected spelling of “America.” The verse is conventional, with ragtime rhythms used extensively in the first two phrases. Sequence is used prominently at the start of the verse and the in the penultimate phrase of the refrain.
Subject - Topic
English language -- Orthography and spelling -- Songs and music
Patriotic music -- United States.
Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music
Subject - Geographic
United States
Lyrics
[refrain 2]
[verse 2] Ev’ry one has a love for his Country, / We are true to the land of our birth; / But America first and forever, / For we know it’s the finest on earth. / Altho’ far from its shores we may wander, / Thro’ other lanes we may roam, / Still we all agree, it’s the best place to be; / America, our Home.
[refrain 1] America! / From coast of Maine to California / All our hearts are true, / And beat with loyalty for dear old independence. / Our U. S. A. / Has given us our liberty, / All our hats are off to you, / And the Red, the White and Blue. / A-M-E-R-I-C-A! AMERICA!
[verse 1] We are proud of the stars in Old Glory! / We are proud of our great history! / It’s been told both by song and by story / Why they call us the “Land of the Free.” / So we know why our glorious Country / In all our hearts stands alone; / For you and for me, it always will be / America, our Home.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Illustrator
Cooledge [Coolidge], Baldwin
Dallin, C. E. [Cyrus Edwin]
Artist
Swett, S. S.
Cover Description
Photograph of “The appeal to the Great Spirit” by C. E. Dallin; photo by Baldwin Coolidge; the statue depicts a native American on horseback. Monochrome; brown on white; signed “Swett” BL, with monogram above (“S S S” displayed on the three leaves of a clover).
This song is one of many that imitated “M-O-T-H-E-R,” the 1915 hit by Theodore Morse and Howard Johnson. Although D. W. Cooper plugged the song briefly at a local theatre and registered mechanical rights in 1918, it appears to have had very little impact.
Historical Note
There appears to have been only one printing, and there are no known recordings or piano rolls.
Dallin’s statue, pictured on the cover, was installed at the entry to Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts on January 23, 1912, and Coolidge’s photograph was taken about that time. The statue quickly became a symbol of Boston’s civic pride as well as an iconic image in American culture. There is no textual link to the song, and the motivation for the choosing this cover image remains obscure.
Musical Note
This spelling song is a march song in duple meter, with a slightly unusual 40-bar refrain that results from the extension of the third line and the interjected spelling of “America.” The verse is conventional, with ragtime rhythms used extensively in the first two phrases. Sequence is used prominently at the start of the verse and the in the penultimate phrase of the refrain.
Subject - Topic
English language -- Orthography and spelling -- Songs and music
Patriotic music -- United States.
Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music
Subject - Geographic
United States
Lyrics
[refrain 2]
[verse 2] Ev’ry one has a love for his Country, / We are true to the land of our birth; / But America first and forever, / For we know it’s the finest on earth. / Altho’ far from its shores we may wander, / Thro’ other lanes we may roam, / Still we all agree, it’s the best place to be; / America, our Home.
[refrain 1] America! / From coast of Maine to California / All our hearts are true, / And beat with loyalty for dear old independence. / Our U. S. A. / Has given us our liberty, / All our hats are off to you, / And the Red, the White and Blue. / A-M-E-R-I-C-A! AMERICA!
[verse 1] We are proud of the stars in Old Glory! / We are proud of our great history! / It’s been told both by song and by story / Why they call us the “Land of the Free.” / So we know why our glorious Country / In all our hearts stands alone; / For you and for me, it always will be / America, our Home.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Illustrator
Cooledge [Coolidge], Baldwin
Dallin, C. E. [Cyrus Edwin]
Artist
Swett, S. S.
Cover Description
Photograph of “The appeal to the Great Spirit” by C. E. Dallin; photo by Baldwin Coolidge; the statue depicts a native American on horseback. Monochrome; brown on white; signed “Swett” BL, with monogram above (“S S S” displayed on the three leaves of a clover).