My Sweetheart Is Somewhere in France

"My Sweetheart Is Somewhere in France" is a World War I era song first released in 1917.[1] Mary Earl composed the music and wrote the lyrics.[2][3][4] Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. Inc. of New York City published the song. Elizabeth Spencer performed a version of the song that was released by the Victor record label.[1][4]

"My Sweetheart Is Somewhere in France"
Sheet music cover
Song
Released1917
Songwriter(s)Mary Earl

It was written for voice and piano.[5] On the cover is a woman looking down at a soldier writing a letter. Between them are the moon and stars.[3][6]

The song is told from the point of view of a person whose significant other is in France, fighting the war. The chorus is as follows:[3]

My sweetheart is far across the ocean
My sweetheart is somewhere in France
When he whispered "Good-Bye"
I tried not to cry
Because he said,
"I'm taking a soldier's chance"
Could I see him, I'd tell him that I love him
And I'd put all my heart in one fond glance
Ev'ry night I say a pray'r
For the boy who's over there
My sweetheart is somewhere in France

The sheet music can be found at Pritzker Military Museum & Library.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "my sweetheart is somewhere in France". Library of Congress National Jukebox. Library of Congress. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  2. ^ 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. 213. ISBN 0-89950-952-5.
  3. ^ a b c "My Sweetheart is Somewhere in France. A Song Gem". JScholarship. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Robert King (composer) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu.
  5. ^ "My sweetheart is somewhere in France/[notated music]". The Library of Congress. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  6. ^ Parker, Bernard S. (2007). World War I Sheet Music. Vol. 1. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 441. ISBN 978-0-7864-2798-7.
  7. ^ my sweetheart is somewhere in France. OCLC WorldCat. OCLC 18770845. Retrieved 3 February 2016.