University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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The Red, White and Blue Is Calling You

Title
The Red, White and Blue Is Calling You - Lyrics
Composer
Johnson, Billy  
Lyricist
Johnson, Billy  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co.   
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Lyrics
  • Come and show your loyalty to the banner of the free, ‘twill always wave above the brave on land and sea. The blue and the gray, in joint array, March beneath one starry banner while the bands all play, “I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!” From pine clad hills of far off Maine to sunny Texas golden plain the red, white, and blue is calling you. Verse: Bare your head in veneration, lift your voice in salutation To the sacred banner that we love so well ‘Tis the flag our fathers followed ‘mid the scream of shell.
  • The Red, White and Blue is Calling You Verse: Can’t you hear the bugle chorus? See the flag that’s floating o’er us! ‘Tis the starry emblem of the U.S.A. ‘Tis the grandest flag that waves beneath the sun today. Can’t you hear the call ‘tis sending? Don’t you know it needs defending? Ev’ry true American will march with loyal pride beneath the flag of liberty for which our fathers fought and died. Refrain: The red, white, and blue is calling you! Come on and do your duty, too
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Original Location
  • Series 2, Box 19, Folder 5
  • Record Series 12/9/96
Local Identifier
2014_12996_608
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

Permalink

https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/fa612ea0-c556-0134-2373-0050569601ca-4

Descriptive Information

Title
The Red, White and Blue Is Calling You
Composer
Johnson, Billy  
Lyricist
Johnson, Billy  
Publisher
Frank K. Root & Co. [McKinley Music Co., Owners]  
Place of Publication
Chicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication
1916  
Date of Copyright
No copyright registered.
Physical Description
1 score ([1], 2–5, [1] p.)
Comment
Judging by newspaper accounts, this song never reached much beyond the midwest and had no impact in the entertainment industry.
Historical Note
  • Scattered newspaper reports establish that this song was in use at least from June 23, 1916, when it was played as a one-step by Perry’s saxophone orchestra at a dance in Madison, Indiana, through at least the end of 1917. There is no mention of it in trade journals and very few copies survive
  • however, copyright registrations establish that the back cover on this item must date from 1917, so this is probably a second printing.
Musical Note
Marked “marcia,” this march song more resembles a brisk one-step, with frequent syncopation, some in double-time. The chorus quotes the refrain of “Dixie” (first phrase) in its penultiumate phrase.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920  
  • Flags -- United States -- Songs and music  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • The Red, White and Blue is Calling You [Verse] Can’t you hear the bugle chorus? See the flag that’s floating o’er us! ‘Tis the starry emblem of the U.S.A. ‘Tis the grandest flag that waves beneath the sun today. Can’t you hear the call ‘tis sending? Don’t you know it needs defending? Ev’ry true American will march with loyal pride Beneath the flag of liberty for which our fathers fought and died. [Refrain] The red, white, and blue is calling you! Come on and do your duty, too
  • Come and show your loyalty To the banner of the free, ‘Twill always wave above the brave on land and sea. The blue and the gray, in joint array, March beneath one starry banner while the bands all play, “I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!” From pine clad hills of far off Maine To sunny Texas golden plain The red, white, and blue is calling you. [Verse] Bare your head in veneration, Lift your voice in salutation To the sacred banner that we love so well ‘Tis the flag our fathers followed ‘mid the scream of shell. Ev’ry foe has learned to fear it, For they know that we revere it
  • Know that we will rally when we hear our country’s call Beneath the starry spangled flag that in defeat shall never fall. [Refrain]
Musical Genre
One-step
Repository
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover Description
  • Shield (US) containing 14 stars on a blue field with 9 vertical red-and-white stripes below, held by an eagle, wings outstretched, on a background of 49 red, white, and blue stars. Red and blue on white paper
  • unsigned.
Back Cover Description
Advertisement for “Our Latest Popular Successes”. Four rows of samples: Top row: samples and covers for Moonlight Blues (© 1916, advertised 1916 12 08) I Ain’t Got Nobody (© 1914 04 08) Second row: samples for The Hour of Memory (© 1916 07 12) When the Moon Shines Down in Old Alaska (© 1916 05 04) Paradise Blues (© 1916 10 14) Third row: samples for Avalon (© 1917, advertised 1917 02 07) Just Because You Won My Heart (© 1916, advertised 1917 02 07) Pussyfoot (© 1916 07 20) Fourth row: samples and covers for When Shadows Fall (© 1916 06 30) Darlin’ (© 1916, advertised 1916 08 19)
Performance Medium
voice and piano  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 19, Folder 5
Local Identifier
2014_12996_608
Collection Title
James Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
Collection
James Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection
TitleThe Red, White and Blue Is Calling You
ComposerJohnson, Billy  
LyricistJohnson, Billy  
PublisherFrank K. Root & Co. [McKinley Music Co., Owners]  
Place of PublicationChicago (Ill.)  
Year of Publication1916  
Date of CopyrightNo copyright registered.
Physical Description1 score ([1], 2–5, [1] p.)
CommentJudging by newspaper accounts, this song never reached much beyond the midwest and had no impact in the entertainment industry.
Historical Note
  • Scattered newspaper reports establish that this song was in use at least from June 23, 1916, when it was played as a one-step by Perry’s saxophone orchestra at a dance in Madison, Indiana, through at least the end of 1917. There is no mention of it in trade journals and very few copies survive
  • however, copyright registrations establish that the back cover on this item must date from 1917, so this is probably a second printing.
Musical NoteMarked “marcia,” this march song more resembles a brisk one-step, with frequent syncopation, some in double-time. The chorus quotes the refrain of “Dixie” (first phrase) in its penultiumate phrase.
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music  
  • Popular music -- 1911-1920  
  • Flags -- United States -- Songs and music  
  • Recruiting and enlistment -- Songs and music  
Lyrics
  • The Red, White and Blue is Calling You [Verse] Can’t you hear the bugle chorus? See the flag that’s floating o’er us! ‘Tis the starry emblem of the U.S.A. ‘Tis the grandest flag that waves beneath the sun today. Can’t you hear the call ‘tis sending? Don’t you know it needs defending? Ev’ry true American will march with loyal pride Beneath the flag of liberty for which our fathers fought and died. [Refrain] The red, white, and blue is calling you! Come on and do your duty, too
  • Come and show your loyalty To the banner of the free, ‘Twill always wave above the brave on land and sea. The blue and the gray, in joint array, March beneath one starry banner while the bands all play, “I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!” From pine clad hills of far off Maine To sunny Texas golden plain The red, white, and blue is calling you. [Verse] Bare your head in veneration, Lift your voice in salutation To the sacred banner that we love so well ‘Tis the flag our fathers followed ‘mid the scream of shell. Ev’ry foe has learned to fear it, For they know that we revere it
  • Know that we will rally when we hear our country’s call Beneath the starry spangled flag that in defeat shall never fall. [Refrain]
Musical GenreOne-step
RepositoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Cover Description
  • Shield (US) containing 14 stars on a blue field with 9 vertical red-and-white stripes below, held by an eagle, wings outstretched, on a background of 49 red, white, and blue stars. Red and blue on white paper
  • unsigned.
Back Cover DescriptionAdvertisement for “Our Latest Popular Successes”. Four rows of samples: Top row: samples and covers for Moonlight Blues (© 1916, advertised 1916 12 08) I Ain’t Got Nobody (© 1914 04 08) Second row: samples for The Hour of Memory (© 1916 07 12) When the Moon Shines Down in Old Alaska (© 1916 05 04) Paradise Blues (© 1916 10 14) Third row: samples for Avalon (© 1917, advertised 1917 02 07) Just Because You Won My Heart (© 1916, advertised 1917 02 07) Pussyfoot (© 1916 07 20) Fourth row: samples and covers for When Shadows Fall (© 1916 06 30) Darlin’ (© 1916, advertised 1916 08 19)
Performance Mediumvoice and piano  
Original Location
  • Record Series 12/9/96
  • Series 2, Box 19, Folder 5
Local Identifier2014_12996_608
Collection TitleJames Edward Myers Sheet Music Collection, 1836-1986
CollectionJames Edward Myers World War I Sheet Music Collection

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