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Aloha, Soldier Boy

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/f8c972e0-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-1

Rights Information

No Copyright - United States

Supplementary Document

Title
Aloha, Soldier Boy - Lyrics
Composer
Smith, Walter Wallace  
Lyricist
Carter, Sidney  
Publisher
Daniels & Wilson Inc. Music Pub. (San Francisco, CA)  
Year of Publication
1918  
Lyrics
  • “Dearie,” he is saying, “Greet me with a kiss, I have not forgotten that you told me this.”
  • there’s a soldier quickly walking down the moonlit sand, she is waiting there
  • slowly walking, softly talking, hear her tender plea as she whispered low: “Dearie, don’t forget me when you’re over there, France is full of girlies, and you must beware. So when you see a little, naughty, Frenchy maiden near you, just to cheer you, dear, be sure to look away, because you know that I adore you, longing for you here, in dear old Waikiki, there’s little lonesome me, and I’ll be lonely, very lonely, waiting for you only, aloha, soldier boy.” Same old moon and stars are shining by the silver strand, on the shore, as of yore
  • Stars are blinking, moon is winking, by the silver sea, lovers there, just a pair
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_023
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
Aloha, Soldier Boy
Composer
Smith, Walter Wallace  
Lyricist
Carter, Sidney  
Publisher
San Francisco : Daniels & Wilson Incorporated Music Publishers  
Year of Publication
1918  
Date of Copyright
1918-08-30
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], [2]-3, [1] p.)
Comment
This ballad, a late addition to the Hawaiian craze, and written near the close of the War, had only limited success, largely on the West Coast, though the two piano rolls reached a somewhat wider audience. A New York Dramatic Mirror reviewer characterized the music and words as "commonplace."
Historical Note
  • This is the first of two printings, distinguished by the back covers. A postwar version titled “Aloha, Honey Boy,” with identical music but with the lyrics rewritten to remove all references to soldiers and France, was copyrighted April 5, 1919.
  • Two piano rolls were issued in 1918: by QRS in November and by Rythmodik in December. Only one performance has been identified.
Musical Note
This Hawaiian ballad follows the conventions of the genre: oscillating (swaying) dotted figures, gentle syncopation, glissandi and grace notes, upward leaps of a sixth.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Soldiers -- Songs and music.  
  • Love songs.  
  • Hawaii -- Songs and music.  
Subject - Geographic
  • Hawaii  
  • France  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] Stars are blinking, moon is winking, By the silver sea, / Lovers there, just a pair; / Slowly walking, softly talking, Hear her tender plea / as she whispered low: / "Dearie, don't forget me when you're over there, / France is full of girlies, and you must beware.”
  • [refrain 1] "So when you see a little, naughty Frenchy maiden near you, Just to cheer you, dear, / Be sure to look away, because you know that I adore you, Longing for you here, / In dear old Waikiki, There’s little lonesome me, / And I’ll be loney, very lonely, Waiting for you only, Aloha, soldier boy.
  • [verse 2] Same old moon and stars are shining By the silver strand, / On the shore, as of yore; / There's a soldier quickly walking Down the moonlit sand, / she is waiting there; / "Dearie," he is saying, "Greet me with a kiss, / I have not forgotten that you told me this:"
  • [refrain 2]
Musical Genre
Hawaiian ballad
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Artist
Cameron, W. R. [William Ross]  
Printer
Back cover, bottom: Alex. Dulfer Printing Co., S. F.  
Cover Description
Soldier and sweetheart, wearing a lei, walking together, facing right; palm trees, sea, mountain, and moon in background; in simple window-like art deco frame; orange and blue, signed BR.
Back Cover Description
Sample, in simple art deco frame: Dreamy moon (© 1917 11 15)
Interior Description
Plate number: p. 3, BL: Aloha, Soldier Boy 2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Local Identifier
2014_12996_023
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleAloha, Soldier Boy
ComposerSmith, Walter Wallace  
LyricistCarter, Sidney  
PublisherSan Francisco : Daniels & Wilson Incorporated Music Publishers  
Year of Publication1918  
Date of Copyright1918-08-30
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], [2]-3, [1] p.)
CommentThis ballad, a late addition to the Hawaiian craze, and written near the close of the War, had only limited success, largely on the West Coast, though the two piano rolls reached a somewhat wider audience. A New York Dramatic Mirror reviewer characterized the music and words as "commonplace."
Historical Note
  • This is the first of two printings, distinguished by the back covers. A postwar version titled “Aloha, Honey Boy,” with identical music but with the lyrics rewritten to remove all references to soldiers and France, was copyrighted April 5, 1919.
  • Two piano rolls were issued in 1918: by QRS in November and by Rythmodik in December. Only one performance has been identified.
Musical NoteThis Hawaiian ballad follows the conventions of the genre: oscillating (swaying) dotted figures, gentle syncopation, glissandi and grace notes, upward leaps of a sixth.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Soldiers -- Songs and music.  
  • Love songs.  
  • Hawaii -- Songs and music.  
Subject - Geographic
  • Hawaii  
  • France  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] Stars are blinking, moon is winking, By the silver sea, / Lovers there, just a pair; / Slowly walking, softly talking, Hear her tender plea / as she whispered low: / "Dearie, don't forget me when you're over there, / France is full of girlies, and you must beware.”
  • [refrain 1] "So when you see a little, naughty Frenchy maiden near you, Just to cheer you, dear, / Be sure to look away, because you know that I adore you, Longing for you here, / In dear old Waikiki, There’s little lonesome me, / And I’ll be loney, very lonely, Waiting for you only, Aloha, soldier boy.
  • [verse 2] Same old moon and stars are shining By the silver strand, / On the shore, as of yore; / There's a soldier quickly walking Down the moonlit sand, / she is waiting there; / "Dearie," he is saying, "Greet me with a kiss, / I have not forgotten that you told me this:"
  • [refrain 2]
Musical GenreHawaiian ballad
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
RightsNo Copyright - United States
ArtistCameron, W. R. [William Ross]  
PrinterBack cover, bottom: Alex. Dulfer Printing Co., S. F.  
Cover DescriptionSoldier and sweetheart, wearing a lei, walking together, facing right; palm trees, sea, mountain, and moon in background; in simple window-like art deco frame; orange and blue, signed BR.
Back Cover DescriptionSample, in simple art deco frame: Dreamy moon (© 1917 11 15)
Interior DescriptionPlate number: p. 3, BL: Aloha, Soldier Boy 2
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 12, Folder 4
Local Identifier2014_12996_023
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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