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Do Your Little "Bitty-Bit" (Right Now!)

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/f87cc060-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-7

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
Do Your Little "Bitty-Bit" (Right Now!) - Lyrics
Composer
Braham, Edmund  
Lyricist
  • Belohlavek, Frances  
  • Perkins, S. S.  
Publisher
The Frances-Clifford Music Publishing Co.  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Lyrics
  • Do Your Little “Bitty-Bit” Right Now Verse: The battle’s on, “Somewhere in France,” our boys are over there
  • They are fighting for our own U.S. on land, on sea, in air. What are we doing here at home for our security? We each must do our little “Bit,” it’s up to you and me. Refrain: Do you little “Bitty Bit” right now, do your little “Bitty bit” somehow, Either buy a bond or fight, for all that’s just and right, and help your dear old Uncle Sam. Do your little “Bitty bit” right now, do your little “Bitty bit” somehow
  • With our Yankee “Pep” and “Vim,” we will pitch right in and win, do your little “Bitty bit” right now. Verse: The battle’s o’er, the cause is won, our boys are homeward bound. They fought the fight for liberty, with victory were crowned. We’ll greet them all when they return, and with them make a “Hit,” When they find out we didn’t “Slack,” but did our “Bit”. Refrain
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 8
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_130
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
Do Your Little "Bitty-Bit" (Right Now!)
Alternative Title
Do Your Little “Bitty-Bit” Right Now
Composer
Braham, Edmund  
Lyricist
  • Belohlavek, Frances  
  • Perkins, C. C. [Clifford Cifton]  
Publisher
The Frances-Clifford Music Publishing Co.  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-10-09
Physical Description
1 score ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
One of the first offerings from Frances-Clifford, this title remained profitable for nearly two years, buttressed by its association with Liberty Loan campaigns. Recordings and civic performances testify to its widespread popularity, especially in the midwest.
Historical Note
The manuscript was copyrighted on October 8, 1917, but a plug in The New York Clipper for September 19 announces that the song is “fast getting a hold with the singers and public in the Middle West.” Three printings can be distinguished by front and back covers; the music and lyrics are unchanged. This is the second printing, which appeared after November 2, 1917, when one of the songs advertised on the back cover was copyrighted. Braham’s song was timed to accompany the Second Liberty Loan campaign, which started on October 1, 1917. It was issued in arrangements for orchestra and band, and at least two piano rolls, two recordings, and a large number of performances attest to its enduring appeal to the end of the war and even afterwards.
Musical Note
A typical march song (marked “march moderato”), with occasional walking bass and rat-a-tat-tat figures, this title was designed to function well in both song and instrumental forms.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • War bonds & funds -- United States -- 1910-1920.  
  • Savings bonds -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • Liberty loans.  
Lyrics
  • [Verse 1] The battle’s on, “Somewhere in France,” our boys are over there; / They are fighting for our own U.S. / On land, on sea, in air. / What are we doing here at home / For our Security? / We each must do our little “Bit,” / It’s up to you and me.
  • [Refrain 1] Do your little “Bitty Bit” Right now, / Do your little “Bitty Bit” Somehow, / Either buy a Bond or fight, For all that’s just and right, / And help your dear old Uncle Sam. / Do your little “Bitty Bit” Right now, / Do your little “Bitty Bit” Somehow; / With our Yankee “Pep” and “Vim,” / We will pitch right in and win, / Do your little “Bitty Bit” Right now.
  • [Verse 2] The battle’s o’er, the cause is won, / Our boys are homeward bound. / They fought the fight for liberty, / With victory were crowned. / We’ll greet them all when they return, / And with them make a “Hit,” / When they find out we didn’t “Slack,” / But did our little “Bit.”
  • [Refrain 2]
Musical Genre
March song
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Printer
Rayner Dalheim & Co.  
Cover Description
Uncle Sam, standing in front of bags of money and right and above five representative civilians, to whom he is handing out Liberty Bonds; behind all is a background of clouds; above are three scenes inset in circles: a nurse tending a wounded soldier on a battlefield; fighting soldiers landing on a beach, with a battleship and airplane behind in the background; and a farmer plowing a field with a team of horses. First two printings: The background clouds wrap down on and below the insets, just above the citizens; the ground in the inset images is colored. Third printing: the background clouds end halfway down the lower inset, level with Uncle Sam’s hand; the ground in the inset images is white. A “stamp” is added advertising the Imperial piano roll, in two different colors and three slightly different locations; thus there are three variants of the third printing.
Back Cover Description
Sample: When It’s Rosebud Time In Red Bud (I’m Coming Back to You) (© 1917 09 10).
Interior Description
P3, BL: Do Your Little Bit - 2. P3, BR: Rayner Dalheim & Co. / Music Printers & Engravers / Chicago, Ill.
Performance Medium
Voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 13, Folder 8
Local Identifier
2014_12996_130
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleDo Your Little "Bitty-Bit" (Right Now!)
Alternative TitleDo Your Little “Bitty-Bit” Right Now
ComposerBraham, Edmund  
Lyricist
  • Belohlavek, Frances  
  • Perkins, C. C. [Clifford Cifton]  
PublisherThe Frances-Clifford Music Publishing Co.  
Place of PublicationChicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-10-09
Physical Description1 score ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
CommentOne of the first offerings from Frances-Clifford, this title remained profitable for nearly two years, buttressed by its association with Liberty Loan campaigns. Recordings and civic performances testify to its widespread popularity, especially in the midwest.
Historical NoteThe manuscript was copyrighted on October 8, 1917, but a plug in The New York Clipper for September 19 announces that the song is “fast getting a hold with the singers and public in the Middle West.” Three printings can be distinguished by front and back covers; the music and lyrics are unchanged. This is the second printing, which appeared after November 2, 1917, when one of the songs advertised on the back cover was copyrighted. Braham’s song was timed to accompany the Second Liberty Loan campaign, which started on October 1, 1917. It was issued in arrangements for orchestra and band, and at least two piano rolls, two recordings, and a large number of performances attest to its enduring appeal to the end of the war and even afterwards.
Musical NoteA typical march song (marked “march moderato”), with occasional walking bass and rat-a-tat-tat figures, this title was designed to function well in both song and instrumental forms.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • War bonds & funds -- United States -- 1910-1920.  
  • Savings bonds -- United States -- Songs and music.  
  • Liberty loans.  
Lyrics
  • [Verse 1] The battle’s on, “Somewhere in France,” our boys are over there; / They are fighting for our own U.S. / On land, on sea, in air. / What are we doing here at home / For our Security? / We each must do our little “Bit,” / It’s up to you and me.
  • [Refrain 1] Do your little “Bitty Bit” Right now, / Do your little “Bitty Bit” Somehow, / Either buy a Bond or fight, For all that’s just and right, / And help your dear old Uncle Sam. / Do your little “Bitty Bit” Right now, / Do your little “Bitty Bit” Somehow; / With our Yankee “Pep” and “Vim,” / We will pitch right in and win, / Do your little “Bitty Bit” Right now.
  • [Verse 2] The battle’s o’er, the cause is won, / Our boys are homeward bound. / They fought the fight for liberty, / With victory were crowned. / We’ll greet them all when they return, / And with them make a “Hit,” / When they find out we didn’t “Slack,” / But did our little “Bit.”
  • [Refrain 2]
Musical GenreMarch song
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
PrinterRayner Dalheim & Co.  
Cover DescriptionUncle Sam, standing in front of bags of money and right and above five representative civilians, to whom he is handing out Liberty Bonds; behind all is a background of clouds; above are three scenes inset in circles: a nurse tending a wounded soldier on a battlefield; fighting soldiers landing on a beach, with a battleship and airplane behind in the background; and a farmer plowing a field with a team of horses. First two printings: The background clouds wrap down on and below the insets, just above the citizens; the ground in the inset images is colored. Third printing: the background clouds end halfway down the lower inset, level with Uncle Sam’s hand; the ground in the inset images is white. A “stamp” is added advertising the Imperial piano roll, in two different colors and three slightly different locations; thus there are three variants of the third printing.
Back Cover DescriptionSample: When It’s Rosebud Time In Red Bud (I’m Coming Back to You) (© 1917 09 10).
Interior DescriptionP3, BL: Do Your Little Bit - 2. P3, BR: Rayner Dalheim & Co. / Music Printers & Engravers / Chicago, Ill.
Performance MediumVoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 13, Folder 8
Local Identifier2014_12996_130
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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