These seven organizations inspired many war songs. Below are some American sheet music covers from the First World War. American sheet music during World War I served many different purposes. Some of the song covers, such as “When Yankee Doodle learns to Parlez Vous Francais,” hint at prostitution and drinking among the American Expeditionary Force, activities the United War Work Campaign sought to curtail. The organizations, in turn, had their own sheet music that portrayed the gratitude soldiers felt towards the organizations, such as “The Red Triangle Man,” or offered a different example of womanhood, such as “Sweet Salvation Lassie.” Other sheet music covers listed below, such as “Just One Flag” and “We are All Americans,” encouraged nationalism and patriotism.
An American sheet music cover. The gait of the cover subjects implies drunkness.Wikipedia.
“Tell me Why You Want to Go to Paree.” Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
“How ‘Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down on the Farm” Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
“Keep the Boys Happy while They’re Away.”
The Salvation Army and Red Cross nurses. “The Angels of the Trench.”
The Salvation Army doughnut girls’ popularity extended into war time music. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
“Sweet Salvation Lassie, May God Bless You.”
“God Bless the Salvation Army and You.” Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
A sheet music cover about the YMCA. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
“Every Town is Your Home Town” Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
A song based on the popular slogan of K of C huts. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
A song about the Knights’ pre-UWWC drive. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Another song about the Knight’s slogan, Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
“Dixie Doodle.” Civil War divisions were still fresh in the nation.
“For He’s an American.” Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
“We are all Americans.” Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
“God Bless Our Women.” Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
“Just One Flag. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Pacifists were often derided as unmanly: “O pacifist, dear pacifist, Your’e anything but game / Your wonderful mentality is just a little lame.” Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Ethnic heritage was downplayed in favor of plain “Americanism”
