The Early Birds "Daddy's Land"

The Early Birds
"Daddy’s Land" – An Incident of the Great European War
World War I started in Europe in 1915. Of course at that time it was not called World War I because no one knew that it would be followed by another massive world-wide war. The war was often referred to as the "Great War" or the "Great European War." America did not enter the war until 1917. During the two years in-between, Americans were sharply divided, some were for the war, some were against it. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?
There was a group of people who felt so strongly about helping the allies, (England, France & Italy), that they went off to war before America officially declared war. They joined the foreign armies against the evil Kaiser of Germany. These people were called the "Early Birds". "Daddy’s Land" is a song written in 1915, it pleads with people to join the fight to save "Daddy’s Land". This song was published two years before America declared war. The lyrics are filled with sentiment and a sense of duty for saving the land of our forefathers. It’s strong pro-war message appealed to many men who became the war’s "Early Birds".
The Early Bird phenomena is also evident in the famous novel by Ernest Hemingway "A Farewell To Arms". The main character of this novel was an Early Bird fighting as part of the Italian army.

Don't Forget The Lyrics

It's night in the trenches

The fighting is done

The battle is stopped for the day

There 'mongst the wounded is somebody's son

Who's life blood is ebbing away

The Captain's surprise as he knelt by his side

Was a story he heard from the lad

How he came away from his dear U. S. A

To fight for the land of his dad.

Chorus

I fought for the land of my daddy

For Daddy fought for mine

When Lincoln called for volunteers

Why he was there in line

I've just one wish he whispered before the last command

May God help the United States

Bring peace to Daddy's land.

My dad left his birth place when only a boy

To fight for the land of the free

He fought with "Grant" said the lad with a sigh

Sherman he marched to the sea

Now I've done the same for his country and name

And its all that he'd me to do

Please tell them at home how I died here alone

And prayed for the Red, White and Blue.

Chorus

I fought for the land of my daddy

For Daddy fought for mine

When Lincoln called for volunteers

Why he was there in line

I've just one wish he whispered

Before the last command

May God help my United States

Bring peace to Daddy's land.