Sheet Music, 1910-1919
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ISBN
MUM00682, 0056
Description
Cover: drawing of a mother holding her son, as she visualizes a battle scene; photo inset of the American Comedy Four, four Caucasians, one in blackface; text at the top reads A Mothers Plea for Peace; Publisher: Leo Feist Inc. (New York)
Subject Headings (Library of Congress)
Songs -- United States -- 20th Century; Popular Music -- United States
Relational Format
music score
Original Format
scores
Original Collection
Sheldon Harris Collection (MUM00682), Archives and Special Collections, University of Mississippi Libraries
Finding Aid
Lyrics
Lyrics:
First verse
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, 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. I dier.
Second verse
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 swer In the years to be, Remember that my boy belongs to me!
(Chorus)
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Some of the images and language that appear in the digital collections depict prejudices that are not condoned by the University of Mississippi. This content is being presented as historical documentation to aid in the understanding of both American history and the history of the University of Mississippi. The University Creed speaks to our current deeply held values, and the availability of this content should not be taken as an endorsement of previous attitudes or behavior.