"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. Adjacent is an inset photo of singer Al Jolson.[2] It was written for both voice and piano.[3]
| "So Long, Mother" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song | |
| Released | 1917 |
| Composer(s) | Egbert Van Alstyne |
| Lyricist(s) | Raymond B. Egan, Gus Kahn |
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 see 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 edit
- ^ 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.
- ^ Parker, Bernard (2007). World War I Sheet music. Vol. 2. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 590. ISBN 978-0-7864-2799-4.
- ^ "So long, mother". Duke University libraries: Digital Collections. Duke University. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ "So long, mother". Library of Congress. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ So long, mother: Al Jolson's mother song. OCLC WorldCat. 1917. OCLC 19956744. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
External links edit
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