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The Deserter

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/f793b730-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-1

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
The Deserter - Lyrics
Composer
Arthur, C. M.  
Lyricist
Lanham, Lora  
Publisher
C. L. Partee Music Pub. Co.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Lyrics
  • The Deserter Verse: On a gory field of battle, fought a soldier young and brave, he loved his country and its flag so well
  • He gave no thought to danger and his own life would not save, for any of his comrades there who fell. At night there came a message when the battle’s roar had stilled, “Your mother, boy,” is said, “is sure to die
  • ” His head sank on his bosom and his eyes with tears were filled, as he said, “I must bid mother dear goodbye.” Refrain: That’s how he became a deserter, and left the field of strife
  • He was neither coward nor traitor, but willing to give up his life
  • When he got that fatal message, that his mother dear must die
  • Although he was true to the red, white, and blue, he went home to bid her goodbye. Verse: Then his comrades came and found him, he must answer for the crime, of desertion which is penalized by death
  • And the boy said, I am willing, take me back and lose no time, for I kissed my mother ere her parting breath. The gen’ral heard the story and he lis
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 13, Folder 7
Local Identifier
2014_12996_117
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
The Deserter
Composer
Arthur, C. M.  
Lyricist
Lanham, Lora  
Publisher
C. L. Partee Music Pub. Co.  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication
1914  
Date of Copyright
1914-02-18
Lyrics
  • And the boy said, I am willing, take me back and lose no time, for I kissed my mother ere her parting breath. The gen’ral heard the story and he lis
  • Although he was true to the red, white, and blue, he went home to bid her goodbye. Verse: Then his comrades came and found him, he must answer for the crime, of desertion which is penalized by death
  • When he got that fatal message, that his mother dear must die
  • He was neither coward nor traitor, but willing to give up his life
  • ” His head sank on his bosom and his eyes with tears were filled, as he said, “I must bid mother dear goodbye.” Refrain: That’s how he became a deserter, and left the field of strife
  • He gave no thought to danger and his own life would not save, for any of his comrades there who fell. At night there came a message when the battle’s roar had stilled, “Your mother, boy,” is said, “is sure to die
  • The Deserter Verse: On a gory field of battle, fought a soldier young and brave, he loved his country and its flag so well
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 13, Folder 7
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_117
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleThe Deserter
ComposerArthur, C. M.  
LyricistLanham, Lora  
PublisherC. L. Partee Music Pub. Co.  
Place of PublicationNew York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication1914  
Date of Copyright1914-02-18
Lyrics
  • And the boy said, I am willing, take me back and lose no time, for I kissed my mother ere her parting breath. The gen’ral heard the story and he lis
  • Although he was true to the red, white, and blue, he went home to bid her goodbye. Verse: Then his comrades came and found him, he must answer for the crime, of desertion which is penalized by death
  • When he got that fatal message, that his mother dear must die
  • He was neither coward nor traitor, but willing to give up his life
  • ” His head sank on his bosom and his eyes with tears were filled, as he said, “I must bid mother dear goodbye.” Refrain: That’s how he became a deserter, and left the field of strife
  • He gave no thought to danger and his own life would not save, for any of his comrades there who fell. At night there came a message when the battle’s roar had stilled, “Your mother, boy,” is said, “is sure to die
  • The Deserter Verse: On a gory field of battle, fought a soldier young and brave, he loved his country and its flag so well
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 13, Folder 7
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_117
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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The Deserter - Cover
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The Deserter - Back Cover
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The Deserter - Lyrics
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