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A-M-E-R-I-C-A

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/ecc08840-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-9

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
A-M-E-R-I-C-A - Lyrics
Composer
  • Greene, May  
  • Lang, Billy  
Lyricist
  • Greene, May  
  • Lang, Billy  
Publisher
D. W. Cooper Pub. Co.  
Place of Publication
Boston (Mass.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Lyrics
  • 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
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
A-M-E-R-I-C-A
Alternative Title
p. 2, top: A-M-E-R-I-C-A / America
Composer
  • Lang, Billy  
  • Greene, May  
Lyricist
  • Lang, Billy  
  • Greene, May  
Publisher
D. W. Cooper Pub. Co.  
Place of Publication
Boston (Mass.)  
Publisher Address
600 Washington St.  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-02-21
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
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).
Back Cover Description
Advertisement and samples for “When the Sun Sets in Galway” (© 1915 08 02) and “I’m Going Back to the Girl I Love” (© 1915 12 07).
Interior Description
P3, BL: A-M-E-R-I-C-A 2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Local Identifier
2014_12996_048
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleA-M-E-R-I-C-A
Alternative Titlep. 2, top: A-M-E-R-I-C-A / America
Composer
  • Lang, Billy  
  • Greene, May  
Lyricist
  • Lang, Billy  
  • Greene, May  
PublisherD. W. Cooper Pub. Co.  
Place of PublicationBoston (Mass.)  
Publisher Address600 Washington St.  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-02-21
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
CommentThis 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 NoteThis 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 - GeographicUnited 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 GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
Illustrator
  • Cooledge [Coolidge], Baldwin  
  • Dallin, C. E. [Cyrus Edwin]  
ArtistSwett, S. S.  
Cover DescriptionPhotograph 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).
Back Cover DescriptionAdvertisement and samples for “When the Sun Sets in Galway” (© 1915 08 02) and “I’m Going Back to the Girl I Love” (© 1915 12 07).
Interior DescriptionP3, BL: A-M-E-R-I-C-A 2
Performance MediumVoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Local Identifier2014_12996_048
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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