Lyr Req: I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier

Subject: Request:I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier
From:
Date: 04 Mar 98 - 03:07 PM

I creating a presentation on the information technologies of WWI and their effects on the way the story of the war was told. I would like the audio to the lyrics to "I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier". It would help me out a lot. Please reply or email me at [e-mail]. Thanks for your time.

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Click for lyrics and MIDI in the Digital Tradition

(added to DT Oct 98)

Subject: Lyr Add: I DIDN'T RAISE MY BOY TO BE A SOLDIER^^^
From: Gene
Date: 04 Mar 98 - 03:30 PM

Found this a few years back at the local library.

I DIDN'T RAISE MY BOY TO BE A SOLDIER
Words, Alfred Bryan. Music, Al Piantadosi.
New York: Leo Feist, Inc., 1915.

1. Ten million soldiers to the war have gone
Who may never return again;
Ten million mothers' hearts must break
For the ones who died in vain
Head bowed down in sorrow, in her lonely years,
I heard a mother murmur thro' her 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 darling 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."

2. 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's answer in the years to be,
"Remember that my boy belongs to me!"^^^

Subject: RE: Request:I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier
From: Dale Rose
Date: 04 Mar 98 - 05:06 PM

Slept through this one, didn't I, Gene? Additional info:

Recorded by Morton Harvey in 1915, and reissued on Pelican lp 119, 1973. I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier was the prevailing attitude in 1915, and Morton Harvey's recording was very popular that year. By 1917, however, things had changed, and President Wilson led the United States to war. The first casualty was Mr. Harvey, whose career was ruined because he was inseparably identified with his erstwhile hit song. For some reason the composers of I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier did not suffer the same fate as Mr. Harvey. Content to blow with the prevailing wind, Al Piantadosi turned out another hit in 1917, Send Me Away With A Smile. And Alfred Bryan, lyricist, went on to pen Oui, Oui, Marie and many other songs. (from the notes)

Another song with a similar theme was We Take Our Hats Off To You, Mr. Wilson from 1914. Interesting to me is the fact that Miss Bayes did not suffer Mr. Harvey's fate, either.

This is on your tape of WWI songs that I have not sent you yet, Gene. To flygirl, I really hate to say I will send you a copy of the song, then not follow through. Tell me more~~deadline, etc., and I will think about it. This would be a good place to apologize to Gene, Bill, Joe, and Clara. I am this close to getting done with the projects that I am doing for you. Sorry it has taken so long.

Subject: RE: Request:I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier
From: Karen
Date: 04 Mar 98 - 05:21 PM

Thank you both so very much, you have helped me immensely. I don't think you can do any more because the presentation is due on Friday. I can use the song lyrics and background a lot. Thank you again, Karen (flygirl)

Subject: RE: Request:I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier
From:
Date: 06 Nov 01 - 10:12 PM

thanks for the info.

Subject: RE: Request:I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 06 Nov 01 - 11:23 PM

both Lyrics and melody line are in DigiTrad. It's a good place to start looking.

Subject: RE: Request:I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 06 Nov 01 - 11:45 PM

Ahh, Dick ~~ but they weren't there when the question was asked! But you are right, most of the time.

Subject: RE: Request:I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier
From:
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 05:02 AM

'Was driving back from the ocean last week and remembered my Daddy singing this to me when I was a little boy about 1940.   He'd served in France in WW I when he was 17. He said the guys all sang it when they got a little drunk with confiscated French wine....'round the campfire he said!   I just wanted to see the words again to see if I remembered them all.   They also sang "Over There" and I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy....George M. Cohen's songs.   Tnx for your posting in the internet.

Subject: Credits: I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier
From: Genie
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 07:10 PM

The DT also does not credit Al Piantadosi as the composer; it lists Alfred Bryan as the sole songwriter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 05:33 AM

Sandra Kerr sings this song im the UK.
Derek

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 02:16 PM

And there's a fine recording of the song on Mick Moloney's recent CD "If it wasn't for the Irish and the Jews" on the Compass label, all of which is well worth hearing.