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Ain't you glad?

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/ed93cae0-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-2

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
Ain't you glad - Lyrics
Composer
  • Polk, Harry E.  
  • Wright, Jo  
Lyricist
Polk, Harry E.  
Publisher
Polk and Wolfe (Harrisonville, MO)  
Year of Publication
1919  
Lyrics
Ain’t you glad the war is over, ain’t you glad the victry’s won, glad the Allies drove forever, back the brutal, hellish Hun? Ain’t you glad you helped the Red Cross, glad you bought a bond or two, glad the service flag of slackers never had a star for you? Ain’t you glad, ain’t you glad, ain’t you glad for Uncle Sam, ain’t you glad, ain’t you glad? Glad I’ll say I am. Glad for the mothers and home folks so true, glad for the soldiers and sailors, too. Ain’t you glad the boys are home from the war across the foam? Ev’rybody say it, ain’t you glad, ain’t you glad? Ain’t you glad that you are living in an age that’ll have a name, glad the golden stars of glory will shine on in endless fame? Ain’t you glad that you’re a Yankee, glad you’re owned by Uncle Sam, where no one bows to kings or Kaisers, and we live for God and man.
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 5
Local Identifier
2014_12996_052
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
Ain't you glad?
Composer
  • Wright, Jo  
  • Polk, Harry E.  
Lyricist
Polk, Harry E.  
Publisher
Harrisonville, MO : Polk and Wolfe  
Year of Publication
1919  
Date of Copyright
No copyright registered
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
A self-published, exuberant response by a recently discharged band leader, this song was not copyrighted and was apparently never marketed, except possibly locally.
Historical Note
  • This was the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found, nor any performances or advertisements.
  • Harry E. Polk was a superintendent of schools in Willow City, ND, when he was inducted into the army on June 24, 1918. He served at Camp Dodge, IA, as director of the First Battalion band until his discharge on December 7, 1918. In January and February 1919, even after being discharged, the band toured the midwest under his direction. During the tour he also sang and recited a poem, which was probably the text to “Ain’t You Glad”. This was published on March 3 in the Junction City (KS) Daily Union; all the lyric verses are present in the publication, but there is no refrain. He probably went to his parents’ home in Harrisonville after the tour ended, and by May 29 he had returned to North Dakota to attend a college reunion. Hence the song was probably written and published between mid-March and late May, 1919, although it is possible that it dates from later that year, after Polk had reconnected with his friend Floyd E. Wolfe. Polk later became a newspaper publisher, and it is likely that he already had a good knowledge of printing and printers.
  • Jo Wright, credited as the arranger, has not been identified but possibly may have been associated with the Camp Dodge band in some way.
  • “Wolfe,” the co-publisher, may have been William Francis Wolfe, who moved to Harrisonville in 1919 from nearby Clinton, where he had run a dry-goods store. But “Wolfe” may also have been Floyd E. Wolfe, a college friend of Harry Polk who joined Polk in North Dakota for a college reunion after being discharged from service at Camp Grant, IN.
Musical Note
A march song in duple meter, with some typical characteristics (chromatic inflections, a walking bass), the change of tempo at the refrain (“much slower”) and the colloquial text makes this something of a novelty or even a march ballad. The tune is engaging and the accompaniment skilled, but there are odd errors in the notation, especially of rhythm.
Subject - Topic
  • Happiness -- Songs and music.  
  • Peace -- Songs and music.  
  • Veterans -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Armistices -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Ain’t you glad that you are living In an age that’ll have name, Glad the golden stars of glory Will shine on in endless fame? / Ain’t you glad that you’re a Yankee, Glad you’re owned by Uncle Sam, / Where no one bows to kings or kaisers, And we live for God and man.
  • [refrain 1] Ain’t you glad, ain’t you glad, Ain’t you glad for Uncle Sam, / Ain’t you glad, ain’t you glad? glad I’ll say I am. / Glad for the mothers and home folks so true, / Glad for the soldiers and sailors, too. / Ain’t you glad the boys are home from the war across the foam? / Ev’rybody say it, Ain’t you glad?
  • [verse 1] Ain’t you glad the war is over, Ain’t you glad the victry’s won, / Glad the Allies drove forever Back the brutal, hellish Hun? / Ain’t you glad you helped the Red Cross, Glad you bought a bond or two, / Glad the service flag of slackers Never had a star for you?
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Cover Description
  • BR: Arranged by Jo Wright
  • Uncle Sam in center with arms around a sailor (left) and a soldier (right), both carrying rifles; the whole in front of a U. S. shield (or flag hanging vertically). Black, red and blue on white; unsigned.
Back Cover Description
Blank.
Interior Description
  • Plate number: p. 3, BL: Ain’t You Glad 2
  • p. [2], TR: Arranged by Jo Wright
Performance Medium
Voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 5
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_052
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleAin't you glad?
Composer
  • Wright, Jo  
  • Polk, Harry E.  
LyricistPolk, Harry E.  
PublisherHarrisonville, MO : Polk and Wolfe  
Year of Publication1919  
Date of CopyrightNo copyright registered
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
CommentA self-published, exuberant response by a recently discharged band leader, this song was not copyrighted and was apparently never marketed, except possibly locally.
Historical Note
  • This was the only printing, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found, nor any performances or advertisements.
  • Harry E. Polk was a superintendent of schools in Willow City, ND, when he was inducted into the army on June 24, 1918. He served at Camp Dodge, IA, as director of the First Battalion band until his discharge on December 7, 1918. In January and February 1919, even after being discharged, the band toured the midwest under his direction. During the tour he also sang and recited a poem, which was probably the text to “Ain’t You Glad”. This was published on March 3 in the Junction City (KS) Daily Union; all the lyric verses are present in the publication, but there is no refrain. He probably went to his parents’ home in Harrisonville after the tour ended, and by May 29 he had returned to North Dakota to attend a college reunion. Hence the song was probably written and published between mid-March and late May, 1919, although it is possible that it dates from later that year, after Polk had reconnected with his friend Floyd E. Wolfe. Polk later became a newspaper publisher, and it is likely that he already had a good knowledge of printing and printers.
  • Jo Wright, credited as the arranger, has not been identified but possibly may have been associated with the Camp Dodge band in some way.
  • “Wolfe,” the co-publisher, may have been William Francis Wolfe, who moved to Harrisonville in 1919 from nearby Clinton, where he had run a dry-goods store. But “Wolfe” may also have been Floyd E. Wolfe, a college friend of Harry Polk who joined Polk in North Dakota for a college reunion after being discharged from service at Camp Grant, IN.
Musical NoteA march song in duple meter, with some typical characteristics (chromatic inflections, a walking bass), the change of tempo at the refrain (“much slower”) and the colloquial text makes this something of a novelty or even a march ballad. The tune is engaging and the accompaniment skilled, but there are odd errors in the notation, especially of rhythm.
Subject - Topic
  • Happiness -- Songs and music.  
  • Peace -- Songs and music.  
  • Veterans -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Armistices -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Ain’t you glad that you are living In an age that’ll have name, Glad the golden stars of glory Will shine on in endless fame? / Ain’t you glad that you’re a Yankee, Glad you’re owned by Uncle Sam, / Where no one bows to kings or kaisers, And we live for God and man.
  • [refrain 1] Ain’t you glad, ain’t you glad, Ain’t you glad for Uncle Sam, / Ain’t you glad, ain’t you glad? glad I’ll say I am. / Glad for the mothers and home folks so true, / Glad for the soldiers and sailors, too. / Ain’t you glad the boys are home from the war across the foam? / Ev’rybody say it, Ain’t you glad?
  • [verse 1] Ain’t you glad the war is over, Ain’t you glad the victry’s won, / Glad the Allies drove forever Back the brutal, hellish Hun? / Ain’t you glad you helped the Red Cross, Glad you bought a bond or two, / Glad the service flag of slackers Never had a star for you?
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
Cover Description
  • BR: Arranged by Jo Wright
  • Uncle Sam in center with arms around a sailor (left) and a soldier (right), both carrying rifles; the whole in front of a U. S. shield (or flag hanging vertically). Black, red and blue on white; unsigned.
Back Cover DescriptionBlank.
Interior Description
  • Plate number: p. 3, BL: Ain’t You Glad 2
  • p. [2], TR: Arranged by Jo Wright
Performance MediumVoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 5
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_052
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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