University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

America Prepare

Title
America Prepare - Lyrics
Composer
Danmark, Ribé  
Lyricist
Childs, Elizabeth Herbert  
Publisher
Jerome H. Remick & Co. (Detroit, MI)  
Year of Publication
1916  
Lyrics
  • You’ve seen our soldiers drill on their parade grounds, you’ve watched them marching on the avenue, you know how gay the military band sounds, you thrill with love of country through and through
  • but now you like to know that we are neutral, you feel secure because you’re far away, but let a submarine appear, or a zeppelin near, you would realize the price we’d have to pay. Let ev’ry man know how to fight in battle, that does not mean that we will have a war, let ev’ry man know how to hold a weapon, a peace back’d by preparedness means more
  • we stand by what is right in ev’ry nation, we take no part in Europe’s deadly fights
  • we must show that we’re not scar’d of a war for we’re prepar’d to force the world to recognize our rights. Americans, you’re there when duty calls you, it is not this that causes us to fear
  • in case of need each man of you would answer unto your country’s call with “I am here.” What good would you be going into action, when few of you know how to hold a gun
  • you would take so long to train that so many would be slain, is it not a pity something can’t be done? The aeroplane and submarine and gases, have made of modern warfare one long hell, what chance would you men have against such forces, the loss of life we’d scarcely like to tell. So why not come out strong for preparation, in knowing how we have our greatest might, preparedness will show just what way to meet a foe, and perhaps keep us from getting in the fight.
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 3
Local Identifier
2014_12996_004
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/f3a1ff90-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-1

Descriptive Information

Title
America Prepare
Composer
Danmark, Ribé [pseudonym for J. Bodewalt Lampe]  
Lyricist
Childs, Elizabeth Hebert  
Publisher
Jerome H. Remick & Co.  
Place of Publication
New York  
Year of Publication
1916  
Date of Copyright
1916-09-16
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-5, [1] p.)
Comment
Although the song was not published until September 1916, the manuscript was copyrighted at the start of March, when the preparedness campaign was well under way. Remick did not plug or advertise the title, and the piano roll and recording appear only later and in very scattered advertisements. It is likely that the composer and lyricist provided early support for this title and for the recording, made in June, with Remick joining the effort six months later. There is some evidence of enduring interest, though not of great popularity.
Historical Note
  • This was the only printing, concurrent with the Columbia recording and followed by a piano roll issued by QRS in February 1917.
  • There must have been early performances from manuscript, because on April 9, a New York Tribune article refers to Childs as the author of the song. It would appear that Lampe actively promoted it; possibly it was his advocacy that resulted in the recording made for Columbia by the Broadway Quartette on June 20. And almost certainly it was he who persuaded Remick to bring out the published version three months later—six months after the manuscript was copyrighted, but coinciding with the release of the Columbia recording, and while preparedness was still a topic of great interest (Wilson was then very concerned about the politics of the upcoming November election).
  • Ribe, Denmark, was Lampe’s birthplace; he used the corresponding pseudonym primarily for arrangements or for music written or arranged for amateur composers or lyricists, presumably for a fee (Lampe headed the arranging department for Remick throughout the 1910s). On the cover, “Herbert” is an incorrect substitution for Hebert, the lyricist’s middle name. The artist, LPN, has not yet been identified.
Musical Note
A conventional but very skilled march song, quoting Reveille (a “wake-up” call strongly associated with preparedness) in the introduction and in the closing tag.
Subject - Topic
  • Preparedness  
  • Peace -- Songs and music  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music  
  • Patriotic music -- United States  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 3]
  • [verse 3] The aeroplane and submarine and gases, / Have made of modern warfare one long hell, / What chance would you men have against such forces, / The loss of life we'd scarcely like to tell. / So why not come out strong for Preparation / In knowing how, we have our greatest might, / Preparedness will show just what way to meet a foe, / And perhaps keep us from getting in the fight.
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Americans, you're there when duty calls you, / It is not this that causes us to fear; / In case of need each man of you would answer / Unto your country's call with "I am here." / What good would you be going into action / When few of you know how to hold a gun; / You would take so long to train That so many would be slain. / Is it not a pity something can't be done?
  • [refrain 1] Let ev'ry man know how to fight in battle / That does not mean that we will have a war, / Let ev'ry man know how to hold a weapon, / A peace back'd by Preparedness means more; / We stand by what is right in ev'ry nation, / We take no part in Europe's deadly fights; / We must show that we're not scar'd of a war for we're prepar'd / to force the world to recognize our rights.
  • [verse 1] You've seen our soldiers drill on their parade grounds, / You've watch'd them marching on the Avenue, / You know how gay the military band sounds, / You thrill with love of country through and through; / But now you like to know that we are neutral, / You feel secure because you're far away, / But let a submarine appear, Or a Zeppelin be near, / You would realize the price we'd have to pay.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Artist
LPN  
Cover Description
Soldier on a beach, playing bugle; behind are tents, artillery, battleships, and an airplane; backdrop of stars and stripes, as in the US shield. Red and blue on white; monogram BR.
Back Cover Description
Text and sample: Welcome Honey to Your Old Plantation Home (© 1916 08 08); sample cover above, in art deco frame with vines; two bordering lists below ("New Song Hits", top title: Mammy's Little Coal Black Rose; "New Instrumental Hits", top title: They Didn't Believe Me Fox Trot); most recent title listed: Mammy's Little Coal Black Rose (© 1916 08 29).
Interior Description
  • Plate numbers: pp. 3, 4, 5, BL: America Prepare 4
  • Plate number: p. 2, BL: 273-4
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 3
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_004
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleAmerica Prepare
ComposerDanmark, Ribé [pseudonym for J. Bodewalt Lampe]  
LyricistChilds, Elizabeth Hebert  
PublisherJerome H. Remick & Co.  
Place of PublicationNew York  
Year of Publication1916  
Date of Copyright1916-09-16
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-5, [1] p.)
CommentAlthough the song was not published until September 1916, the manuscript was copyrighted at the start of March, when the preparedness campaign was well under way. Remick did not plug or advertise the title, and the piano roll and recording appear only later and in very scattered advertisements. It is likely that the composer and lyricist provided early support for this title and for the recording, made in June, with Remick joining the effort six months later. There is some evidence of enduring interest, though not of great popularity.
Historical Note
  • This was the only printing, concurrent with the Columbia recording and followed by a piano roll issued by QRS in February 1917.
  • There must have been early performances from manuscript, because on April 9, a New York Tribune article refers to Childs as the author of the song. It would appear that Lampe actively promoted it; possibly it was his advocacy that resulted in the recording made for Columbia by the Broadway Quartette on June 20. And almost certainly it was he who persuaded Remick to bring out the published version three months later—six months after the manuscript was copyrighted, but coinciding with the release of the Columbia recording, and while preparedness was still a topic of great interest (Wilson was then very concerned about the politics of the upcoming November election).
  • Ribe, Denmark, was Lampe’s birthplace; he used the corresponding pseudonym primarily for arrangements or for music written or arranged for amateur composers or lyricists, presumably for a fee (Lampe headed the arranging department for Remick throughout the 1910s). On the cover, “Herbert” is an incorrect substitution for Hebert, the lyricist’s middle name. The artist, LPN, has not yet been identified.
Musical NoteA conventional but very skilled march song, quoting Reveille (a “wake-up” call strongly associated with preparedness) in the introduction and in the closing tag.
Subject - Topic
  • Preparedness  
  • Peace -- Songs and music  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music  
  • Patriotic music -- United States  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 3]
  • [verse 3] The aeroplane and submarine and gases, / Have made of modern warfare one long hell, / What chance would you men have against such forces, / The loss of life we'd scarcely like to tell. / So why not come out strong for Preparation / In knowing how, we have our greatest might, / Preparedness will show just what way to meet a foe, / And perhaps keep us from getting in the fight.
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Americans, you're there when duty calls you, / It is not this that causes us to fear; / In case of need each man of you would answer / Unto your country's call with "I am here." / What good would you be going into action / When few of you know how to hold a gun; / You would take so long to train That so many would be slain. / Is it not a pity something can't be done?
  • [refrain 1] Let ev'ry man know how to fight in battle / That does not mean that we will have a war, / Let ev'ry man know how to hold a weapon, / A peace back'd by Preparedness means more; / We stand by what is right in ev'ry nation, / We take no part in Europe's deadly fights; / We must show that we're not scar'd of a war for we're prepar'd / to force the world to recognize our rights.
  • [verse 1] You've seen our soldiers drill on their parade grounds, / You've watch'd them marching on the Avenue, / You know how gay the military band sounds, / You thrill with love of country through and through; / But now you like to know that we are neutral, / You feel secure because you're far away, / But let a submarine appear, Or a Zeppelin be near, / You would realize the price we'd have to pay.
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
ArtistLPN  
Cover DescriptionSoldier on a beach, playing bugle; behind are tents, artillery, battleships, and an airplane; backdrop of stars and stripes, as in the US shield. Red and blue on white; monogram BR.
Back Cover DescriptionText and sample: Welcome Honey to Your Old Plantation Home (© 1916 08 08); sample cover above, in art deco frame with vines; two bordering lists below ("New Song Hits", top title: Mammy's Little Coal Black Rose; "New Instrumental Hits", top title: They Didn't Believe Me Fox Trot); most recent title listed: Mammy's Little Coal Black Rose (© 1916 08 29).
Interior Description
  • Plate numbers: pp. 3, 4, 5, BL: America Prepare 4
  • Plate number: p. 2, BL: 273-4
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 3
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_004
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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