University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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There's a Little Blue Star in the Window

Title
There's A Little Blue Star In the Window And It Means All The World To Me - Lyrics
Composer
Klickmann, F. Henri  
Lyricist
Armstrong, Paul B.  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co.   
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Lyrics
  • There’s a little blue star in the window, and it means all the world to me. Verse: When the sun sinks to rest in the evening and the stars in the dark’ning sky, Shine with soft, tender light, till the heavens are bright, then a glorious sight greets the eye. But the brightest of stars in the heavens does not shine with the brillia
  • In the brightness of day, as the night wears away, it shines with its own holy light. Refrain: There are stars in the high heavens shining with a promise of hope in their light. There are stars in the field of Old Glory, the emblem of honor and right. But no star ever shone with more brightness, I know, than the one for my boy o’er the sea
  • There’s a Little Blue Star in the Window and it Means all the World to Me Verse: There’s a little blue star in the window and it means all the world to me. There’s a lad who is true to the Red, White and Blue and he’s serving his Flag o’er the sea. But it does not reflect golden sunshine, never gleams in the dead of night
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 21, Folder 1
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_703
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/f53c9550-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-c

Descriptive Information

Title
There's a Little Blue Star in the Window
Composer
Klickmann, F. Henri  
Lyricist
Armstrong, Paul B.  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co. [McKinley Music Co., Owners]  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
No copyright registered.
Physical Description
1 score ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
  • Copyright dates indicate that this song enjoyed immediate success at the start of 1918
  • successive printings, recordings, and arrangements all confirm that its popularity continued past the end of the war. A blue star service flag was hung in the window of families when one of their members was serving overseas.
Historical Note
This is the first of at least two printings, which had to be issued before the title was first advertised on January 16, 1918. The second printing followed the Victor and Columbia recordings, released on July 1, 1918. Arrangements for band and for orchestra appeared at least by 1919. The text was included in Feist’s “Songs the Soldiers and Sailors Sing” (© 1918 01 26).
Musical Note
A semi-high-class ballad, gently syncopated in the refrain, this has the usual characteristics: melodic sequence, chromatic inflections, extensive secondary dominants, modal borrowings, and a melodic ossia at the end that reaches for a climax.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920  
  • Flags -- United States -- Songs and music  
  • Soldiers -- Family relationships -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • There’s a Little Blue Star in the Window and it Means all the World to Me [Verse] There’s a little blue star in the window, And it means all the world to me
  • There’s a lad who is true To the Red, White and Blue, And he’s serving his Flag o’er the sea. But it does not reflect golden sunshine, Never gleams in the dead of night
  • In the brightness of day, As the night wears away, It shines with its own holy light. [Refrain] There are stars in the high heavens shining With a promise of hope in their light. There are stars in the field of Old Glory, The emblem of honor and right. But no star ever shone with more brightness, I know, Than the one for my boy o’er the sea
  • There’s a little blue star in the window, And it means all the world to me. [Verse] When the sun sinks to rest in the evening And the stars in the dark’ning sky Shine with soft, tender light, Till the heavens are bright, Then a glorious sight greets the eye. But the brightest of stars in the heavens Does not shine with the brilliancy As the little one there In the window--my pray'r For my laddie over the sea. [Refrain]
Musical Genre
Semi-high-class ballad
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover Description
  • Single blue star on white square on red field, as a flag, hanging down in the center of an open window
  • the top pane of each of the open shutters contains a heart
  • on the sill, right, is a potted geranium
  • below the window, curving up to the right, are flowering morning glory vines
  • simple red and blue border. Red and blue on white throughout (1st printing)
  • monochrome except for flag (2nd printing)
  • unsigned.
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) Avalon (© 1917, advertised 1917 02 07) Second row: samples for The Hour of Memory (© 1917 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
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 21, Folder 1
Local Identifier
2014_12996_703
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleThere's a Little Blue Star in the Window
ComposerKlickmann, F. Henri  
LyricistArmstrong, Paul B.  
PublisherFrank K. Root & Co. [McKinley Music Co., Owners]  
Place of PublicationChicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of CopyrightNo copyright registered.
Physical Description1 score ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
  • Copyright dates indicate that this song enjoyed immediate success at the start of 1918
  • successive printings, recordings, and arrangements all confirm that its popularity continued past the end of the war. A blue star service flag was hung in the window of families when one of their members was serving overseas.
Historical NoteThis is the first of at least two printings, which had to be issued before the title was first advertised on January 16, 1918. The second printing followed the Victor and Columbia recordings, released on July 1, 1918. Arrangements for band and for orchestra appeared at least by 1919. The text was included in Feist’s “Songs the Soldiers and Sailors Sing” (© 1918 01 26).
Musical NoteA semi-high-class ballad, gently syncopated in the refrain, this has the usual characteristics: melodic sequence, chromatic inflections, extensive secondary dominants, modal borrowings, and a melodic ossia at the end that reaches for a climax.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920  
  • Flags -- United States -- Songs and music  
  • Soldiers -- Family relationships -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • There’s a Little Blue Star in the Window and it Means all the World to Me [Verse] There’s a little blue star in the window, And it means all the world to me
  • There’s a lad who is true To the Red, White and Blue, And he’s serving his Flag o’er the sea. But it does not reflect golden sunshine, Never gleams in the dead of night
  • In the brightness of day, As the night wears away, It shines with its own holy light. [Refrain] There are stars in the high heavens shining With a promise of hope in their light. There are stars in the field of Old Glory, The emblem of honor and right. But no star ever shone with more brightness, I know, Than the one for my boy o’er the sea
  • There’s a little blue star in the window, And it means all the world to me. [Verse] When the sun sinks to rest in the evening And the stars in the dark’ning sky Shine with soft, tender light, Till the heavens are bright, Then a glorious sight greets the eye. But the brightest of stars in the heavens Does not shine with the brilliancy As the little one there In the window--my pray'r For my laddie over the sea. [Refrain]
Musical GenreSemi-high-class ballad
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover Description
  • Single blue star on white square on red field, as a flag, hanging down in the center of an open window
  • the top pane of each of the open shutters contains a heart
  • on the sill, right, is a potted geranium
  • below the window, curving up to the right, are flowering morning glory vines
  • simple red and blue border. Red and blue on white throughout (1st printing)
  • monochrome except for flag (2nd printing)
  • unsigned.
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) Avalon (© 1917, advertised 1917 02 07) Second row: samples for The Hour of Memory (© 1917 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
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 21, Folder 1
Local Identifier2014_12996_703
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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