"The Little Grey Mother Who Waits All Alone (March Ballad)" is a World War I era song released in 1915. Bernard Grossman wrote the lyrics. Harry De Costa composed the music. The song was published by M. Witmark & Sons of New York, New York.[1] Vitagraph actress Mary Maurice is featured on the cover, reading a book and holding a rose.[2] It was written for voice and piano.[3][4]
| "The Little Grey Mother Who Waits All Alone (March Ballad)" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song | |
| Released | 1915 |
| Label | M. Witmark & Sons |
| Composer(s) | Harry De Costa |
| Lyricist(s) | Bernard Grossman |
The sheet music can be found at Pritzker Military Museum & Library.[5]
The song tells the story of a mother of a soldier who is grieving her son's death. The chorus is as follows:[4]
- There's a little grey mother who waits all alone
- In a chill, dreary spot that was once Home Sweet Home.
- When Gen'rals are saying, "This fight must be won!"
- She's sadly praying, "Please send back my son!"
- When the battle are over and peace once more reigns
- When the cost and lost will be known
- Will kings give a thought to the heartaches they've brought
- To that little grey mother alone?
References
edit- ^ "The Little Grey Mother Who Waits All Alone". University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ^ Parker, Bernard S. (2007). World War I Sheet Music. Vol. 1. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 381. ISBN 978-0-7864-2799-4.
- ^ "The Little Grey Mother (Who Waits All Alone) March Ballad". JScholarship. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ^ a b "The little grey mother: who waits all alone: march ballad". Frances G. Spencer Collection of American Popular Sheet Music. Baylor University. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ^ The little grey mother who waits all alone. OCLC 19956565. Retrieved 18 February 2016 – via OCLC WorldCat.
External links
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