So Long, Mother

"So Long, Mother"
Found at Pritzker Military Museum & Library "So Long, Mother" cover
Song
Released	1917
Label	Jerome H. Remick & Co.
Composer	Egbert Van Alstyne
Lyricist	Raymond B. Egan and Gus Kahn
Performed by	Al Jolson

"So Long, Mother" is a World War I era song released in 1917. Raymond B. Egan and Gus Kahn wrote the lyrics. Egbert Van Alstyne composed the music.^[1] The song was published by Jerome H. Remick & Co. of Detroit, Michigan. On the cover is a soldier and mother in an embrace. To the left is an inset photo of singer Al Jolson.^[2] It was written for both voice and piano.^[3]

The song is told from the soldier's point of view as he comforts his heavyhearted mother before he leaves for war. The chorus is as follows: ^[4]

So long my dear old lady

don't you cry

Just kiss your grown-up baby goodbye

Somewhere in France I'll be dreaming of you

You and your dear eyes of blue

Come let me you smile before we part

I'll throw a kiss to cheer your dear old heart

Dry the tear in your eye

Don't you sigh

Don't you cry

So long, mother

Kiss your boy goody-bye

The sheet music can be found at Pritzker Military Museum & Library.^[5]

References

1. 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. 236. ISBN 0-89950-952-5.
2. Parker, Bernard (2007). World War I Sheet music 2. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 590. ISBN 978-0-7864-2799-4.
3. "So long, mother". Duke University libraries: Digital Collections. Duke University. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
4. "So long, mother". Library of Congress. Library of Congress. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
5. "So long, mother: Al Jolson's mother song". OCLC WorldCat. OCLC WorldCat. Retrieved 25 February 2016.