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When the Kaiser Does the Goose-step to a Good Old American Rag

Title
When The Kaiser Does The Goose-step To A Good Old American Rag - Lyrics
Composer
Neander, Harold  
Lyricist
Frost, Jack  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co.   
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Lyrics
  • When the Kaiser Does the Goose-Step to a Good Old American Rag Verse: There are lots of places where I’d like to be, and many, many sights that I would surely like to see
  • But the greatest thing in all the world to give a man a thrill, Is surely going to happen when the Yanks get Kaiser Bill. They’ll make him dance for fair, and I’d sure like to be there. Refrain: When the Kaiser does the goose-step to a good old American rag, They’ll play it jerky and make Bill “walk turkey” and salute our grand old flag. He’ll be wiser when he two-steps to the songs of Yankeeland, Or foxtrots to a good old Dixie tune (make it soon, make it soon). There’ll be a jazz band from Dixie, and Bill won’t dare say “Nixie,” When the Yankees say, “Come William, dance that drag!” Alexander’s band from Tennessee will be there to play the music for the jubilee, When Kaiser does the goose-step to a good old American rag. Verse: Sousa’s band will be right there to lead that dance, “The Stars and Stripes Forever” wil
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 22, Folder 3
Local Identifier
2014_12996_791
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/f03f8f00-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-1

Descriptive Information

Title
When the Kaiser Does the Goose-step to a Good Old American Rag
Composer
Neander, Harold  
Lyricist
Frost, Jack [Harold G.]  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co. [McKinley Music Co., Owners]  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-10-22
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2–3, [1] p.)
Comment
Although this song was advertised from December 1917 through March 1919, it had little impact in the entertainment world. In instrumental arrangements and amateur performances, however, it was moderately popular throughout this period.
Historical Note
The first of two printings, distinguished by back covers, issued by mid-December 1917, when the song was advertised. Arrangements for band and orchestra were published by the end of 1917, and the text was included in Feist’s “Songs the Soldiers and Sailors Sing” (© 1918 01 26).
Musical Note
Billed as a “one-step” in instrumental arrangements (but marked “allegretto” in the vocal score), this comic novelty incorporates ragtime and stop-time rhythms and extensive chromatic inflections. Textual references to Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever”, the Six Brown Brothers, “Alexander’s [ragtime] band”, and “Dixie” are not realized by musical quotations, though “Yankee Doodle” appears briefly in the refrain.
Subject - Topic
  • Ragtime music  
  • William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • But the greatest thing in all the world to give a man a thrill, Is surely going to happen when the Yanks get Kaiser Bill. They’ll make him dance for fair And I’d sure like to be there. [Refrain] When the Kaiser does the goose-step to a good old American rag, They’ll play it jerky and make Bill “walk turkey” and salute our grand old flag. He’ll be wiser when he two-steps to the songs of Yankeeland, Or foxtrots to a good old Dixie tune (make it soon, make it soon). There’ll be a jazz band from Dixie, And Bill won’t dare say “Nixie,” When the Yankees say, “Come William, dance that drag!” Alexander’s band from Tennessee Will be there to play the music for the jubilee, When Kaiser does the goose-step to a good old American rag. [Verse] Sousa’s band will be right there to lead that dance, “The Stars and Stripes Forever” will be played for Willie’s prance, Six Brown Brothers will fill the air with their big saxophones, Imagine William’s feelings when he hears their pleading tones! He’ll dance till they get thro’, And they’ll make him like it too. [Refrain]
  • When the Kaiser Does the Goose-Step to a Good Old American Rag [Verse] There are lots of places where I’d like to be And many, many sights that I would surely like to see
Musical Genre
  • Ragtime
  • One-step
  • Novelty song
  • Comic song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover Description
  • unsigned.
  • surrounded by monkey with drum UL, clowns with saxophones (resembling Six Brown Brothers) UR, bandmaster (resembling Sousa), music stand and music and brass player BR, and soldiers with rifles BL, bayonets affixed, poking Wilhelm. Blue (sometimes green), red, and black on white
  • Cartoon: Kaiser Wilhelm in center, with dachshund
Back Cover Description
Advertisement for “Late Popular Successes”. Four rows of samples: Top row: samples and covers for If You’ve Never Been in Dreamland You’ve Never Been in Love (© 1917, advertised 1917 06 14) Down the Sunset Trail to Avalon (© 1917, advertised 1917 02 07) Second row: samples for The Hour of Memory (© 1916 07 12) Sweet Cookie Mine (© 1917 04 19) Paradise Blues (© 1916 10 14) Third row: samples for I Ain’t Got Nobody (© 1914 04 08) Let’s Go Back to Dreamy Lotus Land (© 1917, advertised 1917 07 20) I Love That Loveable Melody (© 1917, piano roll announced 1917 02 24) Fourth row: samples and covers for Moonlight Blues (© 1916, advertised 1916 12 08) My Fox-trot Girl (© 1917, piano roll announced 1917 04 28)
Performance Medium
voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 22, Folder 3
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_791
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleWhen the Kaiser Does the Goose-step to a Good Old American Rag
ComposerNeander, Harold  
LyricistFrost, Jack [Harold G.]  
PublisherFrank K. Root & Co. [McKinley Music Co., Owners]  
Place of PublicationChicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-10-22
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2–3, [1] p.)
CommentAlthough this song was advertised from December 1917 through March 1919, it had little impact in the entertainment world. In instrumental arrangements and amateur performances, however, it was moderately popular throughout this period.
Historical NoteThe first of two printings, distinguished by back covers, issued by mid-December 1917, when the song was advertised. Arrangements for band and orchestra were published by the end of 1917, and the text was included in Feist’s “Songs the Soldiers and Sailors Sing” (© 1918 01 26).
Musical NoteBilled as a “one-step” in instrumental arrangements (but marked “allegretto” in the vocal score), this comic novelty incorporates ragtime and stop-time rhythms and extensive chromatic inflections. Textual references to Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever”, the Six Brown Brothers, “Alexander’s [ragtime] band”, and “Dixie” are not realized by musical quotations, though “Yankee Doodle” appears briefly in the refrain.
Subject - Topic
  • Ragtime music  
  • William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • But the greatest thing in all the world to give a man a thrill, Is surely going to happen when the Yanks get Kaiser Bill. They’ll make him dance for fair And I’d sure like to be there. [Refrain] When the Kaiser does the goose-step to a good old American rag, They’ll play it jerky and make Bill “walk turkey” and salute our grand old flag. He’ll be wiser when he two-steps to the songs of Yankeeland, Or foxtrots to a good old Dixie tune (make it soon, make it soon). There’ll be a jazz band from Dixie, And Bill won’t dare say “Nixie,” When the Yankees say, “Come William, dance that drag!” Alexander’s band from Tennessee Will be there to play the music for the jubilee, When Kaiser does the goose-step to a good old American rag. [Verse] Sousa’s band will be right there to lead that dance, “The Stars and Stripes Forever” will be played for Willie’s prance, Six Brown Brothers will fill the air with their big saxophones, Imagine William’s feelings when he hears their pleading tones! He’ll dance till they get thro’, And they’ll make him like it too. [Refrain]
  • When the Kaiser Does the Goose-Step to a Good Old American Rag [Verse] There are lots of places where I’d like to be And many, many sights that I would surely like to see
Musical Genre
  • Ragtime
  • One-step
  • Novelty song
  • Comic song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover Description
  • unsigned.
  • surrounded by monkey with drum UL, clowns with saxophones (resembling Six Brown Brothers) UR, bandmaster (resembling Sousa), music stand and music and brass player BR, and soldiers with rifles BL, bayonets affixed, poking Wilhelm. Blue (sometimes green), red, and black on white
  • Cartoon: Kaiser Wilhelm in center, with dachshund
Back Cover DescriptionAdvertisement for “Late Popular Successes”. Four rows of samples: Top row: samples and covers for If You’ve Never Been in Dreamland You’ve Never Been in Love (© 1917, advertised 1917 06 14) Down the Sunset Trail to Avalon (© 1917, advertised 1917 02 07) Second row: samples for The Hour of Memory (© 1916 07 12) Sweet Cookie Mine (© 1917 04 19) Paradise Blues (© 1916 10 14) Third row: samples for I Ain’t Got Nobody (© 1914 04 08) Let’s Go Back to Dreamy Lotus Land (© 1917, advertised 1917 07 20) I Love That Loveable Melody (© 1917, piano roll announced 1917 02 24) Fourth row: samples and covers for Moonlight Blues (© 1916, advertised 1916 12 08) My Fox-trot Girl (© 1917, piano roll announced 1917 04 28)
Performance Mediumvoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 22, Folder 3
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_791
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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