"Cheer Up, Mother" is a
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
era song released in 1918.
Mary Earl composed the music and wrote the lyrics.
of
New York, New York
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harb ...
published the song. Artist
Albert Wilfred Barbelle
Albert Wilfred Barbelle (1887–1957) was an American artist known well for his work in advertising, particularly cover art for sheet music of Tin Pan Alley. He also illustrated the first Mickey Mouse book.
Early life
Albert Wilfred Barbelle wa ...
designed the sheet music cover. It features a mother saying good-bye to her soldier son. It was written for both voice and piano.
In the song, a son is comforting his mother before he heads off to war. The chorus is as follows:
:''"Cheer up, mother, smile and don't be sighing''
:''Dry the teardrop in your eye;''
:''We'll come back with colors flying''
:''After the war clouds roll by,''
:''Homeward bound then''
:''We'll come sailing, mother.''
:''We will win out, never fear;''
:''Dad came home from fields of glory,''
:''Maybe I'll repeat his story,''
:''So cheer up, mother dear."''
The sheet music can be found at
Pritzker Military Museum & Library
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library (formerly Pritzker Military Library) is a non-profit museum and research library for the study of military history located in a state-of-the art facility in Kenosha, WI. The institution was founded in 2003, ...
.
References
Songs about mothers
Songs about parting
Songs about soldiers
1918 songs
Songs of World War I
Songs written by Robert A. King (composer)
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