Say a Prayer for the Boys "Out There"
| "Say a Prayer for the Boys "Out There"" | |
|---|---|
 Found at Pritzker Military Museum & Library; inset photo of Anna Kerwin  Inset photo of Florence Rayfield  Inset photo of Jeanette Yonge  Inset photo of Polly Russell  Inset photo of Irene Law "Say a Prayer for the Boys "Out There"" cover | |
| Song | |
| Released | 1917 |
| Label | Joe Morris Music, Co. |
| Composer | Alex Marr |
| Lyricist | Bernie Grossman |
| Recorded by | Bob Hall; Peerless Quartet |
"Say a Prayer for the Boys "Out There"" is a World War I era song released in 1917. Bernie Grossman wrote the lyrics. Alex Marr composed the music.[1] It was published by Joe Morris Music, Co. of New York, New York. The sheet music cover was designed by the Starmer Brothers. It features a family praying at the dinner table. Behind them is a sentry guarding a campground of tents. There is an inset photo on the left side that varies per edition.[2] The song was written for both voice and piano.[3][4][5][6]
It was recorded by artists Bob Hall [5] and the Peerless Quartet. [7]
The sheet music can be found at Pritzker Military Museum & Library.[8]
The lyrics ask listeners to say a prayer for the boys who were sent to war. Prayers are thought to "help the weaker ones along; and strengthen them when everything goes wrong." The chorus is as follows:[1]
- Won't you say a prayer for the boys out there,
- For our heroes o'er the sea,
- In that raging fray by night and day
- They're fighting for you and me;
- When they take their stand in No Man's Land,
- We know they'll do their share;
- So that we live,
- Their lives they give;
- Say a prayer for the boys out there.
References
- 1 2 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. pp. 234, 359.
- ↑ Parker, Bernard S. (2007). World War I Sheet Music 2. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 573. ISBN 978-0-7864-2799-4.
- ↑ "Say a Prayer for the Boys "Out There." The Greatest Patriotic Ballad of the Season.". JScholarship. JScholarship. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ↑ "Say a prayer for the boys "out there"". Duke University Libraries: Digital Collections. Duke University. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- 1 2 "Say a prayer for the boys "out there"". Brown University Library. Brown University. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ↑ "Say A Prayer For The Boys 'Out There'". Mississippi State University: University Libraries Digital Collections. Mississippi State University. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ↑ Bielsen, Kenneth (1999). The Lyrics of Civility: Biblical Images & Popular Music Lyrics in American Culture. Routledge. ISBN 9780815331933.
- ↑ "Say a prayer for the boys "out there"". OCLC WorldCat. OCLC WorldCat. Retrieved 1 March 2016.