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After the war is over

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/f82b3840-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-8

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
After the war is over - Lyrics
Composer
Casey, James W.  
Lyricist
Casey, James W.  
Publisher
Echo Music Pub. Co. (Seattle, WA)  
Place of Publication
  • New York  
  • Seattle (Wash.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Lyrics
A soldier boy in a foreign land, was lonely as could be, tho’ danger lurked on ev’ry hand, his thoughts were across the sea. Then in the din of the cannon’s roar, (back to the one he was longing for,) quickly he pencil’d a little note, this is the message he wrote. After the war is over, after the world’s at rest, I’m coming back to you, dear, the one I love the best. Then there will be no sorrow, sunshine will come once more, we’ll have a happy tomorrow, after the war is o’er. The weary days slowly dragged along, yet his heart knew no fear, his regiment kept fighting on, with victory seeming near. Back in the village someone doth yearn, praying each day for his safe return, press’d to her heart is his tender note, she loves each word that he wrote.
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 12, Folder 4
Local Identifier
2014_12996_009
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
After the war is over
Composer
Casey, James W.  
Lyricist
Casey, James W.  
Publisher
Seattle Echo Music Publishing Co.  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-08-21
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
Despite its reissue as part of Casey’s attempt to establish a Tin Pan Alley presence, this song does not appear to have attained much popularity in the East. However, scattered reports indicate some regional success in the West and some use in silent film accompaniments. At least six songs were issued in 1917 with similar or identical titles; Casey’s song probably suffered most by comparison with Harry Andrieu’s “After the War Is Over Will There Be Any Home Sweet Home?”, which had been issued four months earlier and was popular in the East in 1917 and nationally through most of 1918.
Historical Note
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found, but the song was briefly promoted. Shortly after the first printing appeared, a Seattle trade magazine reported that the song had “already become a great favorite with the soldier boys through the Northwest.” Once in New York, Casey plugged and advertised the song repeatedly; but that effort ended in January 1918, and thereafter it was mentioned only in motion picture trade journals.
  • This is the second printing of the first edition, the two printings distinguished by back covers and small variants in the cover. A second edition, with no changes to the music, was published in New York some time after October 1, 1917, when Casey and his firm moved there.
Musical Note
A formally conventional march song in duple time (marked “March Tempo”), this employs the usual devices: chains of secondary dominants, a deceptive cadence to the mediant in the antepenultimate phrase, and syncopation at the start of most phrases in the chorus. A rat-a-tat-tat fill closes the verse. The lyric structure of the refrain closely resembles “After the Ball,” but the music is wholly different.
Subject - Topic
  • Peace -- Songs and music.  
  • Homecoming -- Songs and music.  
  • Soldiers -- Songs and music.  
  • Separation (Psychology) -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] The weary days slowly dragged along, / Yet his heart knew no fear, / His regiment kept fighting on, / With victory seeming near. / Back in the village some one doth year, / Praying each day for his safe return, / Press’d to her heart is his tender note, / She loves each word that he wrote.
  • [refrain 1] After the war is over, / After the world’s at rest, / I’m coming back to you, dear, / The one I love the best. / Then there will be no sorrow, / Sunshine will come once more, / We’ll have a happy tomorrow, / After the war is o’er.
  • [verse 1] A soldier boy in a foreign land, / Was as lonely as could be, / Tho’ danger lurk’d on ev’ry hand, / His thoughts were across the sea. / Then in the din of the cannon’s roar, / (Back to the one he was longing for,) / Quickly he pencil’d a little note, / This is the message he wrote.
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Artist
Hager, George  
Cover Description
Small, somewhat abstract image below title, as a kind of medallion; art deco frame and design; woman (sweetheart), seated at low table in profile, facing left, holding letter. Red and blue on white paper; signed BR (in image).
Back Cover Description
  • Hawaiian Echoes (© 1917 03 05)
  • Bow Down to Uncle Sam (© 1917 08 13)
  • In the Heart of Hawaii (© 1917 07 12)
  • Come Along Ma Honey (© 1917 07 21)
  • My Hawaii (© 1917 01 29)
  • Incipits for five “Favorite Songs” in art deco border with vertical ornament:
Interior Description
  • Plate number: p. 3, BL: After The War 2
  • Back cover, BC: Echo Music Publishing Co. / 145 West 45th St., New York N. Y. / People’s Bank Bldg., Seattle, Wash.
  • P. 3, BR: title advertisement: Come Along Ma Honey (© 1917 07 21)
  • p. 3, BC: title advertisement: My Hawaii (© 1917 01 29)
  • p. 2, BR: title advertisement: In the Heart of Hawaii (© 1917 07 12)
  • p. 2, BL: title advertisement: Hawaiian Echoes (© 1917 03 05)
  • p. 2, TR, under composer’s name: Composer of / “Sing Me a Song of the South” / “Hawaiian Echoes” etc.
  • Cover, under Casey’s name: Composer of / Sing Me a Song of the South / Old Love Letters In the Heart of Hawaii / Etc., Etc.
  • Cover, CL: 5 [circled]
Performance Medium
Voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_009
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleAfter the war is over
ComposerCasey, James W.  
LyricistCasey, James W.  
PublisherSeattle Echo Music Publishing Co.  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-08-21
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
CommentDespite its reissue as part of Casey’s attempt to establish a Tin Pan Alley presence, this song does not appear to have attained much popularity in the East. However, scattered reports indicate some regional success in the West and some use in silent film accompaniments. At least six songs were issued in 1917 with similar or identical titles; Casey’s song probably suffered most by comparison with Harry Andrieu’s “After the War Is Over Will There Be Any Home Sweet Home?”, which had been issued four months earlier and was popular in the East in 1917 and nationally through most of 1918.
Historical Note
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found, but the song was briefly promoted. Shortly after the first printing appeared, a Seattle trade magazine reported that the song had “already become a great favorite with the soldier boys through the Northwest.” Once in New York, Casey plugged and advertised the song repeatedly; but that effort ended in January 1918, and thereafter it was mentioned only in motion picture trade journals.
  • This is the second printing of the first edition, the two printings distinguished by back covers and small variants in the cover. A second edition, with no changes to the music, was published in New York some time after October 1, 1917, when Casey and his firm moved there.
Musical NoteA formally conventional march song in duple time (marked “March Tempo”), this employs the usual devices: chains of secondary dominants, a deceptive cadence to the mediant in the antepenultimate phrase, and syncopation at the start of most phrases in the chorus. A rat-a-tat-tat fill closes the verse. The lyric structure of the refrain closely resembles “After the Ball,” but the music is wholly different.
Subject - Topic
  • Peace -- Songs and music.  
  • Homecoming -- Songs and music.  
  • Soldiers -- Songs and music.  
  • Separation (Psychology) -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] The weary days slowly dragged along, / Yet his heart knew no fear, / His regiment kept fighting on, / With victory seeming near. / Back in the village some one doth year, / Praying each day for his safe return, / Press’d to her heart is his tender note, / She loves each word that he wrote.
  • [refrain 1] After the war is over, / After the world’s at rest, / I’m coming back to you, dear, / The one I love the best. / Then there will be no sorrow, / Sunshine will come once more, / We’ll have a happy tomorrow, / After the war is o’er.
  • [verse 1] A soldier boy in a foreign land, / Was as lonely as could be, / Tho’ danger lurk’d on ev’ry hand, / His thoughts were across the sea. / Then in the din of the cannon’s roar, / (Back to the one he was longing for,) / Quickly he pencil’d a little note, / This is the message he wrote.
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
ArtistHager, George  
Cover DescriptionSmall, somewhat abstract image below title, as a kind of medallion; art deco frame and design; woman (sweetheart), seated at low table in profile, facing left, holding letter. Red and blue on white paper; signed BR (in image).
Back Cover Description
  • Hawaiian Echoes (© 1917 03 05)
  • Bow Down to Uncle Sam (© 1917 08 13)
  • In the Heart of Hawaii (© 1917 07 12)
  • Come Along Ma Honey (© 1917 07 21)
  • My Hawaii (© 1917 01 29)
  • Incipits for five “Favorite Songs” in art deco border with vertical ornament:
Interior Description
  • Plate number: p. 3, BL: After The War 2
  • Back cover, BC: Echo Music Publishing Co. / 145 West 45th St., New York N. Y. / People’s Bank Bldg., Seattle, Wash.
  • P. 3, BR: title advertisement: Come Along Ma Honey (© 1917 07 21)
  • p. 3, BC: title advertisement: My Hawaii (© 1917 01 29)
  • p. 2, BR: title advertisement: In the Heart of Hawaii (© 1917 07 12)
  • p. 2, BL: title advertisement: Hawaiian Echoes (© 1917 03 05)
  • p. 2, TR, under composer’s name: Composer of / “Sing Me a Song of the South” / “Hawaiian Echoes” etc.
  • Cover, under Casey’s name: Composer of / Sing Me a Song of the South / Old Love Letters In the Heart of Hawaii / Etc., Etc.
  • Cover, CL: 5 [circled]
Performance MediumVoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier2014_12996_009
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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