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American Boy

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/f945cf70-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-7

Supplementary Document

Title
American Boy (Swat the Kaiser) - Lyrics
Composer
Hunt, Ernest H.  
Lyricist
Howard, Walter  
Publisher
E. H. Hunt, People's Theatre (Portland, OR)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Local Identifier
2014_12996_031
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Descriptive Information

Title
American Boy
Alternative Title
  • p. [1]: “American Boy” (Swat the Kaiser)
  • Cover: American Boy / Swat the Kaiser!
Composer
Hunt, Ernest H.  
Lyricist
Howard, Walter  
Publisher
Portland, OR : E. H. Hunt  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-05-23
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1-2], 3-5, [1] p.)
Comment
Written by two Portland residents, this title was first performed on April 19, 1917, a month before it was copyrighted. Local performances continued at least through the end of 1917, but there is no indication the song enjoyed any wider success.
Historical Note
  • The copyright registration is for the manuscript. The registration indicates that D. H. McCash (rightly Dudley Huntington McCosh) arranged the music, although this name does not appear on the manuscript copy. McCosh appears in Portland city directories in the 1910s as a "musician." The copyright line, p. [1], assigns registration to "E. H. Hunt, People's Theatre, Portland, Ore."
  • Louis Hartt Compton was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Oregon National Guard in January 1914 and served in the American Expeditionary Force for two years, beginning March 26, 1917. In addition to his military career, Compton was very active in the Y. M. C. A. and served as a song leader in that organization. Very possibly he was a personal friend of either Ernest H. Hunt or Walter Howard; their song, dedicated to Compton, was copyrighted just three days before Compton's enlistment.
  • The members of the Ad Club Quartette, as pictured on the cover, were (clockwise from top left) Fred Bauer, first tenor; Dolph Thomas, baritone; H. W. Frost, bass and musical director; and Warren Erwin, second tenor.
  • The lyrics include several quotations referring to patriotic songs: Grand Old Flag, My Country, 'tis of Thee, and La Marseillaise. The phrase "swat the Kaiser" originated during the Spanish-American War and reappeared in 1914, even before the Great War started. After the United States declared war in April, 1917, it quickly became ubiquitous. Walter Howard's lyrics were the first use of the phrase in a song, but several more followed before the end of 1918.
  • The title was first performed by the Ad Club Quartette at a patriotic rally in Portland, Oregon, on April 19, 1917, though the manuscript was not copyrighted until a month later and publication probably occurred no earlier than June 1917. From the lyrics one would infer that this was intended as a recruiting song, but there is no indication that it was used that way. This was the only printing, and no recordings or piano rolls have been found.
Musical Note
A march song in compound duple meter (marked "Tempo di Marcia"), Hunt's music is heavily infused with fanfare figures, some of which approach but do not quote actual bugle calls. Although the lyrics reference several patriotic tunes, the only true quotation appears to be from La Marseillaise, appearing as usual in the penultimate phrase. However, a near-quotation of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" appears slightly earlier, apparently morphing into "The Girl I Left behind Me," and the lyrics reinforce that reading. The form is unusual but convincing: a verse of 28 bars (8+8+4+4+tag) with a refrain of 40 bars (8+8+4+4+2+2+4+4+tag). Brief modulations (to the relative minor, to the supertonic) are direct but effective.
Dedication
p. [1]: Respectfully dedicated to 1st Lieut. Louis H. Compton, 3rd Ore. Inf.
Back Cover Description
Text only: Here's the slogan / Swat the Kaiser
Local Identifier
2014_12996_031
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleAmerican Boy
Alternative Title
  • p. [1]: “American Boy” (Swat the Kaiser)
  • Cover: American Boy / Swat the Kaiser!
ComposerHunt, Ernest H.  
LyricistHoward, Walter  
PublisherPortland, OR : E. H. Hunt  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-05-23
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1-2], 3-5, [1] p.)
CommentWritten by two Portland residents, this title was first performed on April 19, 1917, a month before it was copyrighted. Local performances continued at least through the end of 1917, but there is no indication the song enjoyed any wider success.
Historical Note
  • The copyright registration is for the manuscript. The registration indicates that D. H. McCash (rightly Dudley Huntington McCosh) arranged the music, although this name does not appear on the manuscript copy. McCosh appears in Portland city directories in the 1910s as a "musician." The copyright line, p. [1], assigns registration to "E. H. Hunt, People's Theatre, Portland, Ore."
  • Louis Hartt Compton was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Oregon National Guard in January 1914 and served in the American Expeditionary Force for two years, beginning March 26, 1917. In addition to his military career, Compton was very active in the Y. M. C. A. and served as a song leader in that organization. Very possibly he was a personal friend of either Ernest H. Hunt or Walter Howard; their song, dedicated to Compton, was copyrighted just three days before Compton's enlistment.
  • The members of the Ad Club Quartette, as pictured on the cover, were (clockwise from top left) Fred Bauer, first tenor; Dolph Thomas, baritone; H. W. Frost, bass and musical director; and Warren Erwin, second tenor.
  • The lyrics include several quotations referring to patriotic songs: Grand Old Flag, My Country, 'tis of Thee, and La Marseillaise. The phrase "swat the Kaiser" originated during the Spanish-American War and reappeared in 1914, even before the Great War started. After the United States declared war in April, 1917, it quickly became ubiquitous. Walter Howard's lyrics were the first use of the phrase in a song, but several more followed before the end of 1918.
  • The title was first performed by the Ad Club Quartette at a patriotic rally in Portland, Oregon, on April 19, 1917, though the manuscript was not copyrighted until a month later and publication probably occurred no earlier than June 1917. From the lyrics one would infer that this was intended as a recruiting song, but there is no indication that it was used that way. This was the only printing, and no recordings or piano rolls have been found.
Musical NoteA march song in compound duple meter (marked "Tempo di Marcia"), Hunt's music is heavily infused with fanfare figures, some of which approach but do not quote actual bugle calls. Although the lyrics reference several patriotic tunes, the only true quotation appears to be from La Marseillaise, appearing as usual in the penultimate phrase. However, a near-quotation of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" appears slightly earlier, apparently morphing into "The Girl I Left behind Me," and the lyrics reinforce that reading. The form is unusual but convincing: a verse of 28 bars (8+8+4+4+tag) with a refrain of 40 bars (8+8+4+4+2+2+4+4+tag). Brief modulations (to the relative minor, to the supertonic) are direct but effective.
Dedicationp. [1]: Respectfully dedicated to 1st Lieut. Louis H. Compton, 3rd Ore. Inf.
Back Cover DescriptionText only: Here's the slogan / Swat the Kaiser
Local Identifier2014_12996_031
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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