My collection of vintage sheet music from a hundred years ago includes many songs written about WWI. Today I am sharing songs set in France--in particular songs about women. It is hard to consider the horrors of war that lurks behind these sentimental songs.
Memories of France by Al Dubin and J. Russet Robinson, 1928 has this dedication:
"To our pals in the American Legion
We dedicate this refrain
If it makes but one of you happy
It was not written in vain."
I can blow away my troubles
Dreaming of my romance
With a pretty little daughter
Of a land across the water
I dream that I'm back in France
Someone whispers to me
"I love you, my cherie"
In my memories of France
And we stroll once again
By the old River Seine
In my memories of France
And I see her still placing roses
Where many an old pal reposes
And we laugh and we cry
Then a kiss, then goodbye
In my memories of France
And I see her still placing roses
Where many an old pal reposes
And we laugh and we cry
Then a kiss, then goodbye
In my memories of France
The back cover of the sheet music features this Recitation:
The war has long been forgotten,
And it's best that we should forget,--
It's an old story now, but still, somehow,
There are dreams that linger yet.
It's not the dream of the battle
And it's not the shot and the shell,--
It's the mem'ry of a doughboy in love
And a sweet little Mademoiselle,
You can blot out the mem'ry of bullets
When the years roll by like this,
But you can't erase a beautiful face
And the mem'ry of a kiss.
You ca even forgive the enemy,--
Forgive them as time goes by,
But a long as you live you'll enver forgive
Yourself,--For saying goodboye.
Maybe she was'nt your sweetheart,--
You considered her only a toy,
But when God made her kind, He had in mind
A homesick soldier boy:
She would laugh, she would cry,
Then a kiss, then "goodbye,"
In my memories of France.
***
Somewhere in France is the Lily by Jos. E. Howard and Philander Johnson, 1917, sung by Howard, has a fantastic cover by Starmer. The image of the French 'lily' is central, but the bombs bursting in air and men in trenches remind this is a war song. Listen to Henry Burr sing it here. It has a definite martial sound.
Across the eastern sky
A boy and girl in accents low in a garden said “Goodbye!”
She said “Remember as you stray,
When each must do his share,
The flowers blooming here today
Are emblems over there!”
[Refrain]
Somewhere in France is the Lily,
Close by the English Rose;
Somewhere in France is a sweetheart,
Facing the battle’s chance,
For the flow’r of our youth fights for freedom and truth
Somewhere in France
Each morning in that garden fair,
Where sweetest perfumes dwell,
The lassie whispers low a pray’r
For the flowr’s she loves so well.
And over there as night draws near,
Amid the shot and flame,
Unto the flag he holds so dear,
A soldier breathes her name.
[Refrain]
***
Not all the women that soldiers met in France were love interests.
Written as a tribute to the Red Cross nurses, Rose of No Man's Land by Jack Caddigan and James A. Brennan, 1917, features an illustration is of a Red Cross nurse looking into a ray of light. This Patriotic War Edition that was printed on smaller paper to help the war effort. Hear it sung by Henty Burr here along with WWI photos.
Grow in life's garden fair
I've spent some wonderful hours
Lost in their fragrance rare
But I have found another
Wondrous beyond compare....
There's a rose that grows in no-man's land
And it's wonderful to see
Though its sprayed with tears, it will live for years
In my garden of memory
It's the one red rose the soldier knows
It's the work of the Master's hand
'Neath the War's great curse stands a Red Cross nurse
She's the rose of no-man's land
Out in the heavenly splendor
Down to the trail of woe
God in his mercy has sent her
Fearing the World below
We call her Rose of Heaven
We've longed to love her so....
There's a rose that grows in no-man's land
And it's wonderful to see
Though its sprayed with tears, it will live for years
In my garden of memory
It's the one red rose the soldier knows
It's the work of the Master's hand
'Neath the War's great curse stands a Red Cross nurse
She's the rose of no-man's land
***
And He'd Say "Oo-La-La Wee-Wee" by Harry Ruby and George Jessell, 1919, has a marvelous cover illustration by Barbelle. This is a comedy song. Hear it sung by Billy Murray here.
Willie Earl met a sweet young girl one day in France,
Her naughty little glance, put Willie in a trance;
Willie Earl couldn't understand her talk you see,
He only knew two words in French
That he learned in the trench,
They were "oo-la-la" and "wee-wee."
They would spoon beneath the moon above
It was fun to hear them making love.
Chorus
She'd say "compronay voo, papa?"
and he'd say "oo-la-la! wee-wee"
She'd smile and whisper "mercy bacoo"
He'd answer "I don't mind if I do"
She'd say if you be my papa" then I will be your macherie
She'd pinch his cheek and say "you keskasay:
He'd say "Not now, dear, but later I may;"
Then she'd say "compronay voo, papa?"
and he'd say "oo-la-la! wee-wee."
Willie Earl said, "this little girl is meant for me,
No more I'll cross to the sea,
I'll stay in Gay Paree.
Ev'ry day you would hear him say to his babee,
"Your talk I do not know, but I,
Will manage to get by, with my "oo-la-la" and "wee-wee"
Ev'ry ev'ning Willie would rehearse
Instead of getting better he got worse
She'd say "compronay voo, papa?"
and he'd say "oo-la-la! wee-wee"
She'd say "come see" and then roll her eyes,
He'd answer, "baby you'd be surprised."
Each ev'ning they would promenade,
upon zeboulevarde you see;
One day at lunch she said "cafe voola"
He said "my dear, don't forget where you are;"
Then she'd say "compronay voo, papa?"
and he'd say "oo-la-la! wee-wee."
***
Oh! Frenchy by Sam Ehrlich and Con Conrad, 1918, illustrated by EE Walton, switches the love story around. A nurse falls in love with a French soldier because of his accent.
Who enlisted as a nurse
She waited for a chance
And left for France with an Ambulance,
Rosie Green met a chap named
Jean, a soldier from Paree,
When he said, “Parlevous my pet”
She said, “I will but not just yet,”
When he’d speak in French to her,
She’d answer lovingly, “Oh!”
Chorus
Frenchy, Oh Frenchy, Frenchy,
Although your language is so new to me,
When you say, “Oui oiu, la la”
“We” means you and me, la la-
Oh! Frenchy, Oh Frenchy, Frenchy,
You’ve won my love with your bravery,
March on, March on, with any girl you see,
But when you la la la la la,
Oh, Frenchy save you la la la’s for me.
Oh! me
Rosie Green married Soldier Jean when his furlough time arrived,
She said, “Go pack your grip
We’ll take a trip on a big steam ship,”
Rosie Green took her soldier Jean down home somewhere in Maine,
They say her rural Pa and Ma,
Refused to do that oo la la,
But when she’s alone with him you’ll hear the same refrain,
Oh! (chorus)
***
Joan of Arc represented national pride to the French soldiers who carried her image into battle.
Joan of Arc They Are Calling You by Alfred Bryan, Willie Weston, and Jack Wells, illustrated by Barbelle, calls on the Maid of Orleans to harken to her country in her time of need. The lyrics are in English and French. Hear Henry Burr sing it here.
Your France is weeping,
Wake from your dreams, Maid of France.
Her heart is bleeding;
Are you unheeding?
Come with the flame in your glance;
Through the Gates of Heaven, with your sword in hand,
Come your legions to command.
CHORUS
Joan of Arc, Joan of Arc,
Do your eyes, from the skies, see the foe?
Don't you see the drooping Fleurdelis?
Can't you hear the tears of Normandy?
Joan of Arc, Joan of Arc,
Let your spirit guide us through;
Come lead your France to victory;
Joan of Arc, they are calling you. Joan of you.
Alsace is sighing,
Lorraine is crying,
Their mother, France, looks to you.
Her sons at Verdun;
Bearing the burden,
Pray for your coming anew;
At the Gates of Heaven, do they bar your way?
Souls that passed through yesterday.
