Close-up Of Break The News To Mother

This is a close up view of the photo and drum on the cover.

Break The News To Mother

If Overthere was the #1 Song of World War I, "Break the News to Mother" was #2.
The publisher placed this note on the cover of the music: This song was originally published in 1897 during the Spanish American War, when it was virtually taken up and sung by the entire nation.
The Author and Composer Mr Chas K Harris who is also Author of the world’s famous song "After the Ball", since the outbreak of the present war, has been beseiged by requests for copies of this one-time famous song, the human heart-appeal of which has kept it alive for these any years.
In response to this appeal he has issued the new edition.
The song remains unchanged with the exception of the title page and will undoubtedly take its place as an immortal classic with such song as "Home Sweet Home" and "The Vacant Chair."

Don't Forget The Lyrics

While the shot and shell were screaming upon the battle field
The boys in blue were fighting their noble flag to shield.
Came a cry from the brave Captain ""Look boys! Our flag is down;
Who’ll volunteer to save it from disgrace?
" I will, a young voice shouted, I’ll bring it back or die,"
Then sprang into the thickest of the fray;
Saved the flag but gave his young life
All for his country’s sake,
They brought him back and softly heard him say..

Chorus: Just break the news to mother
She knows how dear I love her
And tell her not to wait for me
For I’m not coming home;
Just say there is no other
Can take the place of mother,
Then kiss her dear sweet lips for me
And break the news to her.

From afar a noted Gen’ral had witnessed this brave deed,
Who saved our flag/ speak up lads,
Twas noble, brave indeed.
There he lies Sir said the Captain,
He’s sinking very fast,
Then slowly turned away to hide a tear.
The gen’ral in a moment,
Knelt down beside the boy,
Then gave a cry that touched the hearts that day;
It’s my son, my brave young hero, I thought you safe at home.
"Forgive me father for I ran away."

Chorus: Just break the news to mother,
She knows how dear I love her
And Tell her not to wait for me
For I’m not coming home;
Just say there is no other
Can take the place of mother,
Then kiss her dear sweet lips for me
And break the news to her.

America, Here's My Boy

America, Here's My Boy

Here is a song that is just the opposite of the previous song. A song with lyrics that indicates that a mother's willingness to give her son to the cause of war.

Don't Forget The Lyrics

There’s a million mothers knocking at the nations door,
A million mothers yes and there’ll be millions more,
And while within each mother heart they pray---
Just hark what one brave mother has to say

Chorus: 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.

There’s a million mothers waiting by the fireside bright,
A million mothers, waiting for the call tonight.
And while within each heart there’ll be a tear,
She’ll watch her boy go marching with a cheer.

I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier

A Protest Song


In the 1970’s we would have called this a "war protest song". It was meant to appeal to the millions of mothers who didn’t want to see their sons go to war. And, as the war progresses there are numerous songs meant to appeal to the support of women (mothers) for the war. We have to wonder, why the emphasis on the support of women? Or, was it just a marketing ploy targeting women because they were more likely to be the consumers of sheet music?
It’s good to remember that while this war-era music was often used to sway the political climate of the day, it’s real purpose was to make money. Music was then, and still is, an industry. Yes, singers and musicians will call themselves "artists", but the bottom line is money. And, song writers will write what people will buy. This song had a strong appeal to the anti-war crowd. Notice the illustration, a mother clutching her son while dreams of war swirl in her head.

Don't Forget the Lyrics

Ten million soldiers to the war have gone,
Who may never return again
Ten milllion mothers hearts must break
For the ones who died in vain.
Head bowed down in sorrow in her lonely years I hear a mother mumur thro’ the tears:

Chorus: I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier,
I brought him up to be my pride and joy
Who dares to place a musket on his shoulder
To shoot some other mother’s boy?
Let nations arbitrate their future troubles,
It’s time to lay the sword and gun away
There’d be no war today,
If mothers all would say, " I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier.

What victory can cheer a mother’s heart
When she looks at her blighted home?
What victory can bring her back
All she cared to call her own.
Let each mother answer In the years to be,
Remember that my boy belongs to me!

Wake Up America!

This song was written in 1916, one year before America entered World War I. It is a strong pro-war song. The illustration on the cover is a great depiction of how the country must get ready for war. We see Uncle Sam putting ships, submarines and supplies out to sea. Canons are being prepared. The airplane was invented 8 years ago, and yet it is already conceived as a weapon of war. Soldiers are marching, commanders are on horseback. This song was meant as a rallying cry. Read the lyrics and you will see that the lyrics try to shame people for not supporting the war, and not remembering the sacrifices of our forefathers.

Don't Forget the Lyrics
Have we forgotten America__ The battles our fathers fought?
Are we ashamed of our history___In the peace that fighting brought?
Must we be laughed at America__while our swords turn weak with rust?
Is the blood of our fathers wasted__And how have we treated their trust?
Is Columbia the Gem of the Ocean?__Is Old Glory the pride of the Free?
Let's forget every selfish emotion,__United let's forever be!
Chorus
Wake up, America
If we are called to war,
Are we prepared to give our lives
For our swethearts and our wives?
Are our mothers and our homes worth fighting for?
Let us pray, God, for peace, but peace with honor,
But let's get ready to answer duty's call,
So when Old Glory stands unfurled, Let it mean to all the worldd, America is ready, that's all!
Do you remember George Washington, __That winter at Valley Forge?
Jackson and Custer and Farragut, __ And Perry at Fort George
McKinley and Lincoln were fighting men, and the heroes our country knew
Simply crowd through our hist'ry pages__Just think what they've done all for you!
Made Columbia the Gem of the Ocean, made Old Glory the pride of the free,
Shall we fail in our test of devotion?__Oh! what is our history to be?

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.

My Sweetheart Went Down With The Ship

The Titantic

In 1912 the great ocean liner "The Titantic" struck an iceberg in the Atlantic ocean and within a few hours over a thousand people perished in the icy waters because there were not enough lifeboats to accommodate all of the passengers and crew members. It was a great tragedy.
It was common in the early 1900's to write songs to commemorate the events of the day. This song was inspired by the loss of the Titantic and the people on board.
The man's photo on the cover is unidentified but is most likely the "plugger". A plugger was a professional singer that would take the song to music halls, saloons and social gathering places and sing the song. In other words...give it a plug. Pluggers were an important part of the music industry. Their photo was often included on the cover of the music. A popular singer could increase the sales of a particular song.