Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-27
SONGS OF THE WAR.
THEY ARE OF ALL SORTS AND IN
GREAT ABUNDANCE.
GOOD, BAD, AND INDIFFERENT
Our Exploits ON Land and Sen Uax.
Been Celebrated In Verse mud
Music--"Oid Glory" the Freaue.,
Theme.
(New York SUM
Theme.

Writers of popular songs began N
Remember the Maine" as soon as ts.
papers printed the news OF the disaster
and within two weeks probably dozen
ballads bearing that title were put uoe,
the market. Then the title was are-a,
somewhat and we heard Of "Avenge fs.
Lost Maine" do Not Forget the Maine. .
"Our Noble Battleship." and a little later
when word came OF the affair az Mann,
the variety stage songsters began 10 ton
us that 1--WE Have Remembered tb.
Maine" THE Maine Has Been Ayeneat.
and 1--WE Have Not Forgotten Our I.e.t
Maine" Very few Of these songs mss.
any money for their publishers or author,
but they had certain popularity and
their stage success was immediate.
Break the News TO Mother" who,
nearly every one thinks is one OF tt.
many songs called forth by the vs-
curiously enough was copyrighted dur...
the latter part OF 1897. and first sung ot..
month before the Maine disaster. HOW.
ever, most people disregard such facts
and persist In calling IL one OF the soma.
inspired by the war It's author Who fs
responsible for after the Ball" wr6fs
shortly after Dewey's victory a PATRON,
song entitled There's No Flag Like fb.
Red White and Blue" but II was Hot 4s
popular as Break the News"
For Old Glory" written and COM
posed by Cheever Goodwin and William
Furst was one Of the first songs to ss
sung while the sinking OF the Maine
was awakening patriotism. The chou,
goes:
For wen know no North or South
And Wen know no East or West:
But Wen all know the one land
OF all lands the best;
And the Blue and Gray together,
As in auld lang sync.
VIII stand shoulder 10 shoulder
For Old Glory.
Many attempts were made 10 write a
song that could take the place OF "Ths
Star-Spangled Banner" which has 8t
last conquered all criticism and is rec0g.
nized as our national anthem. but "a
might have been expected. the aspiring
writer's failed. In THE Flag Has Never
known Defeat" however. there IS some
respectable verse. The words We're writ
ten by Charles Love BENJAMIN ana
George Davidson Sutton. and the music
was composed by Mary Bowling sue
ton. Here is the chorus
Uncover when the flag goes by. boys
It's freedoms starry banner that you
greet:
Flag famed in song and story
Long may II wave, Old Glory,
The flag that has never known def58ti
There is Room for One More star"
by two previously unknown authors. enc
joyed much popularity when the war Doe
gan. The idea of the song will be- seen from
this quotation: I'm Old GlOrys starry.
gemmed azure there's room for one m0rs
star" Equally popular at the time was
Uncle Sam. Tell Us Why Are You Walt
ing; or for the Honor OF Our Country
and our Flag" From severe point OK
view there may be little in the words %
commend but the music is martial dg-
nified, and stirring, and the song was
sung all over the country. The chorus .s.
Down with the foes that slew our heroes.
Down with the spies Of treachcrous
Spain,
Down with their ships in shell and fire.
Let's aVenge our gallant Maine.
Though we die upon the field OF battle
Let our courage never lag,
And strike! strike IN freedoms name.
For the honor Of our country and our
fagl
In dramatic and lyric incident the war
was not lacking, and every feat OF arms
had its tribute Of song Dewey was
eulogized a score Of times, and we heard
of "Our Nations Hero" Brave Dewey
and His Men," and Yankee Doodle
Dewey" Some one had the questionable
taste TO write "The Death " ks.
sign Bagley," and 1t is gratifying 10
learn that it was only sung a few times
and met with no success. There was zoo
least one Hobson song-"Brave H0bsll
and His Gallant Little Crew'-and there
may have been others.
The author Of "On the Banks OF the
Wabash Far Away" began 20 express
his patriotic emotion through the medium
OF song long before Manila bay was
entered. and turned out I'VE Are Com
ing. Cuba, Coming" "On the Shores of
Habana." and "Our Country. May She
Fer Be Right" Then he wrote I'VE
Fight Tomorrow. Mother" which. music
cally, is a good. patriotic song and
your God Comes First. Your Country
Next, Then Mother, Dear" In the chorus
OF the latter song a mother bids her son
farewell in these words:
You are going 10 the war my boy. and
while you are away
Remember that a mothers prayers are
with you night and day.
In battle lad. remember there is no sueh
word as fear
Your God comes first. your country next
then mother dear
T. Brigham Bishop. who wrote "Waen
Johnny Comes Marching Home" might
have been counted upon 20 give us a
patriotic song. thoroughly American 90
words and music. and with the dash
and fire Of his rebellion songs, but W5
were not so fortunate. The song Do
wrote entitled 1T Takes a Man 90 BE a
Soldier" had these trivial and common
place words. set 10 music that u school
girl could have improvised:
IN go dressed up in my suit Of blue
For I've a heart that is brave and rrlc.
As any dog. in fact cat. can Doe
government diplomat.
That's SO. you know, so on TN 90.
For IL takes man 10 be a soldier.
When we had gained our first land vice
tories I'm Cuba the author OF "Tucie sam.
Why Are You Waiting" published 'Gooi
Boy. Uncle Sam IL Didn't TAKE Won
Long" and added another 90 the long Dose
OF patriotic songs. He told how tle t1F
was grandly won IN 1.-THE fight OF might
for right" by those fearless ones. our
Yankee sons with Yankee guns" and
said in the chorus.
Good boy. Uncle Sam. it didn't take you
long
Good boy. Uncle Sam. you never set were
wrong:
We DO not like 10 brag. Sam
But We have got the flag sam.
The flag the fiag The banner Of the free
Such are the more unusual Of the SONGS
NJ the war. Among others which might
be mentioned are: Fighting Side by Side.
the Blue and Gray" "She Never Heard