University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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France, We'll Rebuild Your Towns for You

Title
France, We'll Rebuild Your Towns for You - Lyrics
Composer
Coogan, Jack  
Lyricist
Coogan, Jack  
Publisher
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Lyrics
France, we owe a debt to you, France, we’re going to pay it too, we can’t forget your Lafayette, the deed he did for Washington remains with us yet, France, to us you’ve been so true, so here’s what we will do: First we’ll send our sons and our mighty guns, then vict’ry will come from above, we will replant each field, so it will yield the fruits of our brotherly love, all your shattered dreams we’ll mend, in America you’ll find a friend, and we’ll send our gold across the ocean blue, France, we’ll rebuild your towns for you. France, you’ve put us to the test, France, you know we’ll do our best, nothing’s too small, give one and all, from pennies up to millions we will answer your call, France, we’ll gladly do our share, to help you “over there.”
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 14, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_208
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/f7252b50-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-2

Descriptive Information

Title
France, We'll Rebuild Your Towns for You
Composer
Coogan, Jack  
Lyricist
Coogan, Jack  
Publisher
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
1918-03-23
Physical Description
1 score ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
The recordings, and surviving copies of the sheet music, suggest some degree of popularity, though there was only one sheet music printing and almost no mention in trade papers.
Historical Note
Leo Feist evidently copyrighted the title, then sold it to Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., who obtained a second copyright. It was recorded on May 5, 1918, by the Peerless Quartet (Columbia mx 77807), with the third of three takes released on August 1 as Columbia A-2567. A second recording, by an unnamed male quartet (2 takes), was released in 1918 on Little Wonder 924.
Musical Note
This march song in 2/4, marked moderato, makes generous use of syncopation and the rat-a-tat-tat pattern, used as fill material. The second half of the chorus concatenates several quotations: “La Marseillaise,” followed by the second phrase of “America” and the penultimate phrase of “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean,” with the “Over There” figure reiterated as the final tag. A textual quote of “Over There” also occurs at the end of the second verse.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920.  
  • Postwar reconstruction -- Songs and music.  
  • Ruins, Modern -- France -- Pictorial works.  
  • Soldiers -- United States -- Pictorial works.  
Subject - Geographic
France  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] France, we owe a debt to you, / France, we’re going to pay it too, / We can’t forget Your Lafayette, / The deed he did for Washington remains with us yet, / France, to us you’ve been so true, / So here’s what we will do:
  • [refrain 1] First we’ll send our sons and our mighty guns, / Then vict’ry will come from above, / We will replant each field, So it will yield / The fruits of our brotherly love, / All your shattered dreams we’ll mend, / In America you’ll find a friend, / And we’ll send our gold across the ocean blue, / France, we’ll rebuild your towns for you.
  • [verse 2] France, you’ve put us to the test, / France, you know we’ll do our best, / Nothing’s too small, give one and all, / From pennies up to millions we will answer your call, / France, we’ll gladly do our share / To help you “over there.”
  • [refrain 2]
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Artist
Barbelle, Albert W.  
Cover Description
Soldiers marching in silhouette to the right, carrying picks and shovels instead of weapons; behind are the ruins of a church and town. Monochrome; black on yellowish paper; signed BR.
Back Cover Description
Framed advertisement, text at top, list of songs at bottom; in center, samples, promotional text, and drawings for four titles: “Long Boy” (© 1917 06 20); “One Day in June” (© 1917 10 23); “Chin-Chin Chinaman” (© 1917 10 08); “Liberty Bell” (© 1917 12 19).
Interior Description
P3, B: text advertising “Granada Waltz” (© 1917 03 29) and “Boogie Rag” (© 1917 02 21).
Performance Medium
Voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 14, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_208
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleFrance, We'll Rebuild Your Towns for You
ComposerCoogan, Jack  
LyricistCoogan, Jack  
PublisherShapiro, Bernstein & Co.  
Place of PublicationNew York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of Copyright1918-03-23
Physical Description1 score ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
CommentThe recordings, and surviving copies of the sheet music, suggest some degree of popularity, though there was only one sheet music printing and almost no mention in trade papers.
Historical NoteLeo Feist evidently copyrighted the title, then sold it to Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., who obtained a second copyright. It was recorded on May 5, 1918, by the Peerless Quartet (Columbia mx 77807), with the third of three takes released on August 1 as Columbia A-2567. A second recording, by an unnamed male quartet (2 takes), was released in 1918 on Little Wonder 924.
Musical NoteThis march song in 2/4, marked moderato, makes generous use of syncopation and the rat-a-tat-tat pattern, used as fill material. The second half of the chorus concatenates several quotations: “La Marseillaise,” followed by the second phrase of “America” and the penultimate phrase of “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean,” with the “Over There” figure reiterated as the final tag. A textual quote of “Over There” also occurs at the end of the second verse.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920.  
  • Postwar reconstruction -- Songs and music.  
  • Ruins, Modern -- France -- Pictorial works.  
  • Soldiers -- United States -- Pictorial works.  
Subject - GeographicFrance  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] France, we owe a debt to you, / France, we’re going to pay it too, / We can’t forget Your Lafayette, / The deed he did for Washington remains with us yet, / France, to us you’ve been so true, / So here’s what we will do:
  • [refrain 1] First we’ll send our sons and our mighty guns, / Then vict’ry will come from above, / We will replant each field, So it will yield / The fruits of our brotherly love, / All your shattered dreams we’ll mend, / In America you’ll find a friend, / And we’ll send our gold across the ocean blue, / France, we’ll rebuild your towns for you.
  • [verse 2] France, you’ve put us to the test, / France, you know we’ll do our best, / Nothing’s too small, give one and all, / From pennies up to millions we will answer your call, / France, we’ll gladly do our share / To help you “over there.”
  • [refrain 2]
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
ArtistBarbelle, Albert W.  
Cover DescriptionSoldiers marching in silhouette to the right, carrying picks and shovels instead of weapons; behind are the ruins of a church and town. Monochrome; black on yellowish paper; signed BR.
Back Cover DescriptionFramed advertisement, text at top, list of songs at bottom; in center, samples, promotional text, and drawings for four titles: “Long Boy” (© 1917 06 20); “One Day in June” (© 1917 10 23); “Chin-Chin Chinaman” (© 1917 10 08); “Liberty Bell” (© 1917 12 19).
Interior DescriptionP3, B: text advertising “Granada Waltz” (© 1917 03 29) and “Boogie Rag” (© 1917 02 21).
Performance MediumVoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 14, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_208
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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