World War I Sheet Music

The World War I digital sheet music collection is drawn from the Sheet Music Collection at the John Hay Library. It is composed of over 1,800 titles that relate in some way to the events of World War I, and the impact of that war on American society. There are patriotic songs, songs relating to specific military units, romantic songs of love and loss, comic songs, and songs that look to the war’s end.
This collection is part of Brown University Library, hosted by Brown University.

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Items in this collection

Write home to Mother often, soldier boy

words & music by Emmett J. Welch. March for voice and piano. Caption title. Advertisement for other music: p. [4] Cover illustration: soldier writing letter in trench / Starmer.

Would you rather be a colonel with an eagle on your shoulder, or a private with a chicken on your knee?

words by Sidney D. Mitchell ; music by Archie Gottler. For voice and piano. Caption title. Successfully sung by: Eddie Cantor. From musical revue: Ziegfeld follies of 1918. Advertisement for other songs: p. [4] Cover illustration: photograph of Eddie Cantor; cover design / [rose symbol] Illustrator's name represented by a rose symbol on cover. Also published for: band, orchestra, quartette.

Won't you buy a war stamp: song

lyric by Harold Atteridge ; music by Ray Perkins. For voice and piano. Caption title. From musical revue: The passing show of 1918. Advertisement for "Oh you vampire girls" and other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: woman dancing on moon. Buy a war stamp bye and bye.

Won't you buy a war stamp: song

lyric by Harold Atteridge ; music by Ray Perkins. For voice and piano. Caption title. From musical revue: The passing show of 1918. Advertisement for "Oh you vampire girls" and other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: woman dancing on moon. Buy a war stamp bye and bye.

With the rose: (I send this heart of mine)

words by Ballard Macdonald ; music by Nat Osborne. For voice and piano. Caption title. From musical: Atta boy, produced by the soldier boys of Q.M.C. Camp Meigs, Washington, D.C. Advertisement for other songs: p. 3-[4] Cover illustration: two women with soldier / Barbelle.

Will the angels guard my daddy over there?

lyric by Paul B. Armstrong ; music by F. Henri Klickmann. For voice and piano. Caption title. Advertisement for other songs: p. [4] Cover illustration: photograph of girl at woman's knees with service star in window.

Who's afraid of the Kaiser?

by L. Wolfe Gilbert and Anatol Friedland. For voice and piano. Caption title. Advertisement for another song: p. [4] Cover illustration: drawing of soldiers trimming the Kaiser's moustache / Starmer.

While you're away: "pack up your cares in a bundle of joy"

by L. Wolfe Gilbert and Anatole Friedland. For voice and piano. Cover title. Advertisement for "Chimes of Normandy", printed in black ink: p. [4] Cover illustration: drawing of a soldier saying good-bye to his mother, printed in yellow and grey ink / De Takacs.

While you're away: "pack up your cares in a bundle of joy"

by L. Wolfe Gilbert and Anatole Friedland. For voice and piano. Cover title. Advertisement for "Chimes of Normandy", printed in black ink: p. [4] Cover illustration: drawing of a soldier saying good-bye to his mother, printed in yellow and grey ink / De Takacs.

Where is the girl I left behind: novelty song

words and music by George M. Cohan. For voice and piano. Cover title. Advertisement for "Dear little boy of mine": p. [4] "Get this song for your talking machine and player piano"--P. 2-3. Cover illustration: photograph of George M. Cohan; drawings of soldier and woman / S.

Where did you leave my daddy: song

words by Anthony Rossi ; music by Chris. Praetorius. Waltz for voice and piano. Cover title. Page 1 is unnumbered. Advertisement for another song: p. [4]

When your boy comes back to you

by Gordon V. Thompson. For voice and piano. Cover title. Advertisement for other songs: p. [4] Cover illustration: Soldier embracing woman in striped dress; photographs of Gordon V. Thompson and John Slatter. Also published for: orchestra and band, mixed or male quartette or chorus.

When your boy comes back to you

by Gordon V. Thompson. For voice and piano. Caption title. Cover illustration: Soldier embracing woman in white dress with bow.

When you come home: there'll be some celebrating

words by Val Trainor & Ed. Morton ; music by Dave Harris. For voice and piano. Cover title. Advertisements for other music: p. 3-[4] Cover illustration: soldier on ship and Statue of Liberty / Barbelle

When you come back: (one step)

words by Geo. Edwards ; music by Hugo Frey. For voice and piano. Cover title. "Made popular by Mr. Joe Smith's orchestra in the Grill Room, Plaza Hotel, New York." Advertisement for "Little Mother of Mine": p. [8] Cover illustration: ship at sea. Also published for: piano solo, song orchestration, cello and piano, and full orchestra.

When you come back: (one step)

words by Geo. Edwards ; music by Hugo Frey. For voice and piano. Cover title. "Made popular by Mr. Joe Smith's orchestra in the Grill Room, Plaza Hotel, New York." Advertisement for "Little Mother of Mine": p. [8] Cover illustration: ship at sea. Also published for: piano solo, song orchestration, cello and piano, and full orchestra.

When you come back my soldier boy

words and music by Karl R. Goetze with 158th Band. For voice and piano. Caption title. Dedicated to: officers and men of 40th Division. "As originally played by the 158th Inft. Band." Cover illustration: photographs of General Frederick S. Strong and the 158th Infanty Band.

When you answer to the call

[words by] Jack ; [music by] Gill. March for voice and piano. Caption title. "Dedicated to the hundreds of Americans that have been lost and the thousands of brave boys that are enlisting to an unknown fate, that we might have what our fathers fought for--freedom of land and sea."--Cover. Cover illustration: U.S. flag.

When Yankee Doodle sails upon the good ship Home Sweet Home

words by Addison Burkhardt ; music by Fred Fisher. For voice and piano. Caption title. Advertisement for another song: p. [4] Cover illustration: soldier riding ship / de Takacs. First line of chorsus: There's goin' to be a great big holiday.

When Yankee Doodle learns to parlez vous francais

words by Will Hart ; music by Ed. Nelson. March for voice and piano. Caption title. Page 1 is unnumbered. Variant advertisements. Cover illustration: soldier dancing with two women / Barbelle.

When Yankee Doodle learns to parlez vous francais

words by Will Hart ; music by Ed. Nelson. March for voice and piano. Caption title. Page 1 is unnumbered. Variant advertisements. Cover illustration: soldier dancing with two women / Barbelle.

When Yankee Doodle learns to parlez vous francais

words by Will Hart ; music by Ed. Nelson. March for voice and piano. Caption title. Page 1 is unnumbered. Variant advertisements. Cover illustration: soldier dancing with two women / Barbelle.