America, Here's My Boy
| "America, Here's My Boy" | |
|---|---|
 "America, Here's My Boy" cover | |
| Song | |
| Released | 1917 |
| Label | Joe Morris Music Co.; Victor Records |
| Composer | Arthur Lange |
| Lyricist | Andrew B. Sterling |
| Language | English |
| Recorded by | The Peerless Quartet, Josef Pasternack |
"America, Here's My Boy" is a World War I era song released in 1917. Andrew B. Sterling wrote the lyrics. Arthur Lange composed the music.[1] Joe Morris Music Co. of New York, New York published the song. André De Takacs designed the sheet music cover. It features a mother presenting her soldier son to viewers. Behind them is a map of the United States. There is another version with the same images, but accompanied by a photo of Manny Harvey. This edition was published by William W. Delaney of New York, New York.[2] The song was written for both voice and piano.[3][4][5] It was published in the aftermath of U.S. entry into the war in April 1917.[6]
The Peerless Quartet recorded the song on February 21, 1917. The tenor vocals were Albert Campbell and Henry Burr. The baritone vocal was Arthur Collins. The bass vocal was John H. Meyer. Josef Pasternack conducted the group. The song was released under the Victor record label.[7][8]
The song is introduced on the sheet music cover as "The sentiment of every American mother." It is told from the point of view of a soldier's mother. She has raised her son to fight for America, and is ready to offer him to the war, like millions of other mothers.[9] The chorus is as follows: [10]
- "America, I raised a boy for you
- America, you'll find him staunch and true
- Place a gun up on his shoulder
- He is ready to die or do
- America, he is my only one
- My hope, my pride and joy
- But if I had another
- He would march beside his brother
- America, here's my boy
The sheet music can be found at Pritzker Military Museum & Library.[11]
References
- ↑ Vogel, Frederick G. (1995). World War I Songs: A History and Dictionary of Popular American Patriotic Tunes, with Over 300 Complete Lyrics. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 150. ISBN 0-89950-952-5.
- ↑ Parker, Bernard S. (2007). World War I Sheet Music 1. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7864-2798-7.
- ↑ "America, Here's My Boy". Mississippi State University: University Libraries Digital Collections. Mississippi State University. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ↑ "The Sentiment of Every American Mother. America Here's My Boy.". JScholarship. JSchoarship. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ↑ "America here's my boy". Library of Congress. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ↑ Duffy, Michael (22 August 2009). "Vintage Audio- America Here's My Boy". First World War.com. First World War.com. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ↑ "Victor matrix B-19304. America, here's my boy / Peerless Quartet". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Discography of American Historical recordings. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ↑ "78 RPM Record". 45 Worlds. 45 Worlds. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ↑ "America Here's My Boy Sheet Music". The National Museum of American History. The National Museum of American History. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ↑ "America, here's my boy". Brown University Library. Brown University. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ↑ "America, here's my boy". OCLC WorldCat. OCLC WorldCat. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
External links
Listen to an MP3 of this song and see the sheet music