Evening star., 1934-05-10
BLUE UEEAGLEPOETS
SING OF LOVE CODE
Cupid Aids Writers Of
N. R. A. Lyrics Pouring
in Here.
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
There seems to have been consid-
cradle tearing Of the shirt when the
Nations song writers decided the Blue
Eagle Of N. r. A. must be put to
music.
Here was q national issue, and dear
old Cupid, their standby for years,
had to 60 into an eclipse, or If pos
sible find something in common with
codes and working hours.
For months new songs about N. r.
A. have been pouring in by the hun
dreds to President Roosevelt and to
Gen. Hugh s. johnson. The Govern
ments unlimited song business has
grown to such proportions that Ste
nographers have been divorced from
regular duties to write thank you"
notes.
The flood Of lyrics proved. however,
that Cupid still "gets his man." even
II 1t is a Blue Eagle clutching creased
lightning In one claw.
Love compliance"
One songster writes: "Oh, our love
is strictly in compliance with the
N. r. A., the N. r. A."
Another had a difficult time fitting
both into the pattern, but he did, even
If N. r. A. only made the grade in the
last line:
II have a dear little sweetie,
Full of dimples and charm,
Her complexion all velvet and peachie,
Can you wonder' She's from the
farm.
Heels over head did I fall for my
sweetie
When she said I'll be your bride of
the N. r. A., the N. r. A."
Another sees rosy horizons ahead
for the love affair which must have
run afoul of the depression shoals.
He writes:
You can be my baby now,
I've got work and money to spend"
Even the brain trust was put in the
shade by the pat manner in which
one writer stated the new economic
philosophy all wrapped up in the
sugar phraseology of the you and
Me" chatter. He said:
Let's go buy-buy with the N r. A.
If you buy-buy, and buy-buy,
Then you'll help me, and I'll help
you"
One young woman song writer from
the Ohio River Valley explained the
song should be transposed three notes
lower, but she wrote in the only key
she knew by ear. However. she was
sure Gen. johnson could arrange cas-
lily for the transposition.
Ask Publishers.
Several suggested President Roose-
welt could put in good word for them
with song publishers. Many were
willing to turn over all proceeds to the
United States Treasury, although one
said she could use per cent ito
good advantage"
One lyric was dashed of in such
fine fettle that the writer had to send
a letter weeks later saying he forgot
10 mention the song was to be sung
to the tune Of The Old Oaken
Bucket" -
For the most part poetic license"
was STAINED to the breaking point.
IN. r. A." and Eagle" are rather
difficult to match in rhyme, SO some
lyric writer's gayly disregard rhyming
except for the first and last lines, even
though dozen lines in between went
unblushingly without either rhyme or
meter.
View of Sentiment.
However, the collection is remark
able cross-section of public sentiment
which approaches new form Of folk
lore. The writer's live everywhere
from the heart Of New York to iso-
lated farms.
Wide horizons opened up for the
writer of The National Prayer"
He could see it entering 100000
American homes, and workers in
machine shops and Offices standing
to sing the prayer before they went
to work in the morning. He stated
he had 10000 copies ready. and could
have another million in two weeks.
AL he needed was the Presidents word
to 60.
Gen. johnson received one song
from q worker In California who ac-
companied it with a letter enlivened
by q brief social note. It seems the
manager of the writer's Office had
once known the general.
my manager was a major in the
National Guard" he writes. land he
had the pleasure of meeting you sew
eral years ago at the San Francisco
earthquake"