USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County's part in the World War, 1914-1918 > Part 18
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For it means just that when you take the oath, To serve your country well.
This war is a man-size fight, my son. No triflers need apply. Uncle Sam doesn't want you with his boys Unless you are ready to die If need be, for country, home and friends, In defense of the Red, White and Blue, And the honor of her who gave you life, Your mother, and my mother, too.
Take her picture with you when you go, Entwined in a tress of her hair. Bind it over your heart with your country's Flag, And remember to keep them there. They will steel your arm to strike the blow That will save her from such a fate As has come to dishonored womanhood Through Hunnish lust and hate.
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And some that go will never come back, They will sleep in foreign lands, Mute evidence that they understood What it meant to obey commands, Which sent them straight to the jaws of death And exemplified in the end That greater love hath no man than this, If he give his life for a friend.
And if you are one who never returns, If you do your duty, your name Will be written on history's fairest page And shrined in the hall of fame As one who gave his blood to destroy 'The devils in human form Who dishonored the earth in the land of their birth By crimes which Satan would scorn.
If your blood runs hot and you've got the grit To go where the bullets whine, And bursting shrapnel sprays red death On every man in the line, To do your bit if you do get hit, And stick as long as you can You'll be a soldier, but better still, You'll be every inch a man.
A man who has won a place in the sun, And the right to eternal peace By offering all that he had to give, His blood, and life, to release The weak and oppressed from chains of death Wrought by Hunnish beasts of prey, Whom a just and avenging God will spurn On the final Judgment Day.
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THE WAR GOD MUSES
W. A. Kirkpatrick
A monstrous Shape sprung out of Hell And scanned the earth with fiendish glee. "I'm war," he cried, "and every land Shall fullest tribute pay to me. I'll foster discord, hatred, strife, In every nation of the world. The best and bravest of mankind Against each other shall be hurled.
"I'll set them at each others' throats Like beasts of prey, to rend and tear Until, like brutes, the vanquished slink To some remote and hidden lair To lick their wounds, and nurse their hate, And over fancied wrongs to brood Until, with strength once more restored, The fight shall be again renewed.
"I'll goad them on to savage strife Designed to end in sure defeat And bring all nations, shorn of power Abject and helpless to my feet, Some by exhaustion, some by force, Some by dissension's fatal breach, And some by want of vital needs Their clutching hands shall never reach.
"In every land beneath the sun My trusted counselors shall lurk, To breed alarms, and discontent, That cause disaster to the work Of enemies, who hope to make
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My sovereign power less secure. The hope is vain. I am a god And through the ages will endure.
"Where enemies for council meet There shall my spies and agents be, Adept in intrigue, versed in guile, Past masters in diplomacy,
A traitor who my gold has bought, A thief, or thug, as suits the case, A bravo pledged to any deed That foils my foe and leaves no trace.
"By specious reasoning deftly framed To cause suspicion and dispute, Or subtle speech adroitly phrased To blast a name of good repute. A tinge of truth, or mass of lies, On which their witless dupes may feed, By knife, or torch, or any means That will best serve my urgent need.
"What matters it that I have sworn To keep my pacts with friendly states. A scrap of paper shall not halt My armies at their frontier gates. My right to rule comes not from men, I yield to none, no law observe, Except my own that might makes right And from this stand I will not swerve.
"Who bars my way at boundary line Incurs my hot, consuming wrath. With fire and sword I'll scourge their land And sweep them from my chosen patlı. I'll strike them down with ruthless hands.
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Withhold the food the famished craves, Defile their bodies, break their bones, And send them to unhallowed graves.
"In air, on land, and under seas I'll work my will to devastate, And strange inventions, hell-devised, Shall slay the victims of my hate. With noxious vapors, poison fumes, I'll rob them of life-giving breath And make each black, distorted face A hideous, leering mask of death.
"The blood of murdered innocents Is veriest nectar to my lips. The moans of ravished womanhood A cup from which I take sweet sips. No father's plea, no mother's prayer Shall keep dishonor from their door. It will but serve to whet my lust For deeds more vile than those before.
"The brave defenders of my realm Shall take their fill of loot and rape A wanton glut of blood and flesh From which e'en babes shall not escape. Their tender bodies, torn, abused. .A crucifixion's pangs shall feel, Or, with their kin, shall be impaled On bayonets and spikes of steel.
"To suffer untold agonies Before my soldiers' gloating eyes, While carrion vultures overhead Await the death throes of their prize. A gruesome warning to the world
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That all who brave my august power With hope for mercy at my hand Shall surely die within that hour.
"For I will spare no living thing, Nor shall my valiant armies cease Their ruthess march from land to land Until my foes shall beg for peace. A peace that must deliver them Into my hands as slaves, until All people hail me king supreme And bend to my imperious will.
"When all the world is at my feet I'll rule it with an iron rod, And, with no further need for aid, Dissolve my partnership with God. He may still keep his place in Heaven But when my favors I disburse, I'll fix the bounds of his domain For I shall rule the Universe."
THE VICTIM SPEAKS
W. A. Kirkpatrick
"The War-God drives his demon hordes Across my crushed and bleeding land. A crimson flood of free men's blood Flows at the despot's brute command. A million forms lie stark and cold, A million more flee from his way, For direst perils stalk their paths And death walks with them night and day.
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"With tear-dry eye, and fainting heart, I strive to pierce the gloomy night So that perchance I may discern Some guiding star, some beacon light To lead me from this maze of death, This charnel house of murder, filled By specters of a martyred host Whose voices are forever stilled.
"Torn from their families, homes destroyed, Deported, exiled, outlawed, slain, Their death beds heaps of stable filth, Each passing breath a gasp of pain. A multitude of phantom forms That went to death with souls unshrived, Denied the mercy shown to brutes, Of every Christian rite deprived.
"Their ghastly faces, vacant eyes, Stare up from pools of bloody slime, Scant semblances of human form, Mute evidence of hellish crime. Perhaps this corpse was once a babe, That one a man of high desire, A matron who for honor died, A ruddy youth, or gray-haired sire.
"Or else a maiden chaste, refined, A father's pride, a mother's joy, Debauched, dismembered, kicked aside, A carnal brute's discarded toy. All tingled the livid hue of death, A Moloch's votive sacrifice That drives me mad by day and night, For naught will hide them from my eyes.
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"And shell swept fields bereft of life, Of waving grass, and rustling trees, Of budding vine, and fragrant flowers That spread perfume on every breeze. A sodden mass of gory mold, A dead Sahara, nature banned, A noxious, poisoned, desert waste, A desolated No Man's Land.
"Where Saxon king, and Norman knight, Met Vandal hordes in mortal strife That took a grim, relentless toll Of pulsing, patriot blood and life, Of orphaned children, widowed wives, Who hide themselves in dismal caves And call on God to end the woe That dooms them to untimely graves.
"Oh grave! where is thy victory? Oh welcome, death ! where is thy sting? To me whose soul is crucified Thon couldst no greater solace bring Than quick release from frantic fear, From nameless horrors, endless dread, From agonies that rend and sear. Thrice welcome, death ; all hope is dead.
"And yet a priest of God has said, That in the west, across the sea, There stands a man with shining sword Drawn for the cause of chivalry. And that his blade will not be sheathed Until oppression is subdued In all the world. And nevermore Will strife 'twixt nations be renewed.
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"Thou God of Israel who did lead Thy people to the Promised Land Which Moses viewed from Nebo's height, Stretch forth again thy mighty hand And help this David in the west Until the Hun Goliath lies, A groveling suppliant, at the feet Of his intended sacrifice.
"For I, thy servant, can not die While kinsmen's blood for vengeance calls. I pray that thou wilt spare my life Until the last invader falls. A maddened beast at bay, I'll fight Until the sword drops from my hand, And with my dying breath invoke A curse on them who raped my land.
"O, that I might lie down to sleep And never wake. Or launch my bark Upon that stream so still and deep That marks the line 'twixt light and dark, And go out with its ebbing tide Into death's vast, uncharted sea, Where I might find a dreamless rest And let oblivion cover me.
"With tear-dry eye, and fainting heart, I look toward eternity. Lord, God of Host, when I depart Be thou with me! Be thou with me!"
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DECATUR COUNTY SONGS SUNG DURING THE WAR
THE OLD FLAG NEVER TOUCHED THE GROUND
When the cry came-"Off to war!" To the front we proudly bore Dear Old Glory! and we followed it amidst the rattling of the rifles and the cannon's roar.
In the hail of shot and shell, Comrades all around us fell,
But not once was lowered in the dust, my boys, The dear old Flag we love so well.
Chorus
The old Flag never touched the ground, boys, The old Flag never touched the ground ; Though shot and shell fell all around, boys, The dear old Flag was never down- The old Flag never touched the ground, boys, Far to the front 'twas ever found;
She's been in many a fix, since seventeen seveny-six, But the old Flag never touched the ground.
In the fiercest of the fight, Gleaming proudly in the light, At the front. the Stars and Stripes were beckoning us to strike a manly blow for Freedom and for Right. Dear old Flag! we bow to thee, Emblem of sweet Liberty ! May you ever wave as you do now, a sign Of peace and pow'r o'er land and sea.
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DON'T BITE THE HAND THAT'S FEEDING YOU
Last night, as I lay asleeping, A wonderful dream came to me. I saw Uncle Sammy weeping For his children from over the sea ; They had come to him, friendless and starving, When from tyrant's oppression they fled, But now they abuse and revile him, Till at last in just anger, he said :
Chorus
"If you don't like your Uncle Sammy, Then go back to your home o'er the sea, To the land from where you came, Whatever be its name,
But don't be ungrateful to me ! If you don't like the Stars in Old Glory, If you don't like the Red, White and Blue, Then don't act like the cur in the story, Don't bite the hand that's feeding you !"
You recall the day you landed, How I welcomed you to my shore ? When you came here empty handed, And allegiance forever you swore? I gathered you close to my bosom, Of food and of clothes you got both, So, when in trouble, I need you, You will have to remember your oath :
LONG BOY
He was just a long, lean country gink From 'way out West where th' hop-toads wink ;
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He was six feet two in his stockin' feet, And kept gittin' thinner th' more he'd eat. But he was as brave as he was thin, When the war broke out he got right in. Unhitch'd his plow, put th' mule away, Then th' old folks heard him say :
Chorus
Good-by, Ma! Good-by, Pa! Good-by, Mule, with yer old hee-haw! I may not know what th' war's about, But you bet, by gosh, I'll soon find out. An', O, my sweetheart, don't you fear, I'll bring you a King fer a souvenir ; I'll get you a Turk an' a Kaiser, too, An' that's about all one feller could do !
One pair of socks was his only load When he struck fer town by th' old dirt road. He went right down to th' public square And fell in line with th' soldiers there. Th' sergeant put him in uniform, His gal knit mitts fer to keep him warm; They drill'd him hard, they drill'd him long, Then he sang his fare-well song !
OVER THERE
Johnnie get your gun, get your gun, get your gun, Take it on the run, on the run, on the run, Hear them calling you and me, Every son of liberty.
Hurry right away, no delay, go today, Make your daddy glad to have had such a lad, Tell your sweetheart not to pine, To be proud her boy's in line.
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Chorus
Over there, over there Send the word, send the word over there
That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming, The drums rum-tumming everywhere.
So prepare, say a prayer, Send the word, send the word to beware,
We'll be over, we're coming over, And we won't come back till it's over, over there !
Johnnie get your gun, get your gun, get your gun, Johnnie show the Hun you're a son of a gun, Hoist the Flag and let her fly,
Yankee Doodle do or die.
Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit,
Yankees to the ranks from the towns and the tanks,
Make your mother proud of you And the old Red, White and Blue.
K-K-K-KATY
Jimmy was a soldier brave and bold,
Katy was a maid with hair of gold, Like an act of fate, Kate was standing at the gate, Watching all the boys on dress parade.
Jimmy with the girls was just a gawk, Stuttered every time he tried to talk, Still that night at eight, He was there at Katy's gate, Stuttering up to her this love sick cry.
Chorus
"K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy, You're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore ; When the m-m-m-moon shines, over the cow-shed, I'll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door."
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No one ever looked so nice and neat,
No one could be just as cute and sweet, That's what Jimmy thought,
When the wedding ring he bought, Now he's off to France the foe to meet.
Jimmy thought he'd like to take a chance,
See if he could make the Kaiser dance, Stepping to a tune, All about the silv'ry moon,
This is what they hear in far off France.
AMERICA, HERE'S MY BOY
There's a million mothers knocking at the nations door, A million mothers, yes and there'll be millions more, And while within each mother's heart they pray, Just hark what one brave mother has to say.
Chorus
"America, I raised a boy for you. America, you'll find him staunch and true,
Place a gun upon his shoulder, He is ready to die or do. America, he is my only one ;
My hope, my pride, and joy, But if I had another, he would march beside his brother; ; America, here's my boy."
There's a million mothers waiting by the fireside bright, A million mothers, waiting for the call to-night. And while within each heart there'll be a tear, She'll watch her boy go marching with a cheer.
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WHAT KIND OF AN AMERICAN ARE YOU ?
This land of the free is for you and for me, or for any one at all who is seeking Liberty, . We welcome every stranger, and we help him all we can, and now that we're in danger, we depend on ev'ry man,
The Stars and Stripes are calling you to lend a helping hand, If you're true blue, it's up to you to show just where you stand.
Chorus
What kind of an American are you? It's time to show what you intend to do. If they trample on Old Glory will you think that they are right,
Or will you stand behind your land and fight with all your might? What kind of an American are you ? That's a question you'll have to answer to. If the Star Spangled Banner don't make you stand and cheer, then what are you doing over here?
This country's been dared but they'll find us prepared and to try and gain our aim not a penny will be spared, We are a friendly nation, and we always look for peace, we've waited and we've waited, hoping that this war would cease,
The enemy across the sea won't take our good advice, So now it's up to ev'ry man to make some sacrifice.
THE OLD U. S. WE'RE FIGHTING FOR
We've always been a peaceful land and never cared for war, We've always felt that liberty should reign ; But now in time of trouble, it's up to us to see, That dear Old Glory doesn't lose her fame. The bugle call is sounding, the call to arms has come, And we stand by dear Old Glory, though it be with sword and gun.
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Chorus
Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching,
To the lands across the sea,
With Old Glory proudly waving, leading on to victory.
Then Hurrah! for the Stars and the Stripes ; May they wave forever-more,
For My Country 'Tis of Thee,
The old U. S. we're fighting for.
America, both young and old has heard the calls to arms, They're marching bravely off to fight the foe ; Some mothers now are grieving for boys who've gone away, While others grieve for those who yet must go. But let us all remember, our dear old Flag must stand, And wave forever-more, above a free and equal land.
I TRIED TO RAISE MY BOY TO BE A HERO
From a vine-clad cottage, among the spreading trees, A soldier boy was leaving. O'er the door "Old Glory" was floating in the breeze, And our hero had heeded her call. His mother was standing close by his side, She gave him a last fond kiss ; "God bless you, My Boy, you're my pride and joy ; You'll always remember this:
Chorus
"I tried to raise my boy to be a hero ; I tried to raise him up to be a man ; I tried to raise him up to be a patriot, To serve his country ev'ry way he can. I did not raise him just to be a soldier,
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And though I hate the curse of war today, A call comes through the land, and I'm glad my boy will stand For the honor of the U. S. A."
""Tis a glorious country, our 'Land of Liberty.' By blood of heroes purchased. From the hand of tyrant she ever must be free, And heroes are needed today. Your father, My Boy, once fought for the Flag, And he was a soldier, true, So, never dishonor your Flag, My Boy, The grand old Red, White and Blue."
THERE'S A LONG, LONG TRAIL A WINDING
Nights are growing very lonely, Days are very long ; I'm a growing weary only List'ning for your song. Old remembrances are thronging Through my memory. Till it seems the world is full of dreams, Just to call you back to me.
Chorus
There's a long, long trail a winding Into the land of my dreams, Where the nightingales are singing, And a white moon beams ; There's a long, long night of waiting Until my dreams all come true ; Till the day when I'll be going down That long, long trail with you.
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All night long I hear you calling, Calling sweet and low ;
Seem to hear your foot-steps falling, Ev'rywhere I go. Though the road between us stretches Many a weary mile, I forget that you're not with me yet,
When I think I see you smile.
KEEP THE HOME-FIRES BURNING
They were summoned from the hill-side; They were called in from the glen, And the country found them ready At the stirring call for men. Let no tears add to their hardship, As the soldiers pass along, And although your heart is breaking,
Make it sing this cheery song.
Chorus
Keep the Home-fires burning, While your hearts are yearning, Though your lads are far away, They dream of Home ; There's a silver lining Through the dark cloud shining, Turn the dark cloud inside out, Till the boys come Home.
Over seas there came a pleading, "Help a Nation in distress!" And we gave our glorious laddies ; Honor bade us do no less. For no gallant Son of freedom,
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To a tyrant's yoke should bend, And a noble heart must answer To the sacred call of "Friend."
JOAN OF ARC THEY ARE CALLING YOU
While you are sleeping, 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 Fleur-de-lis ? 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.
Alsace is sighing, Lorraine is crying, Their mother, France, looks to you. Her sons at Verdun; Bearing the burden, Pray for your coming a new ; At the Gates of Heaven, do they bar your way? Souls that passed through yesterday.
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THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER
Let martial note in triumph float, And liberty extend its mighty hand, A Flag appears, 'mid thund'rous cheers, The banner of the Western land. The emblem of the brave and true, Its folds protect on tyrant crew, + The red and white and starry blue, Is Freedom's shield and hope. Other Nations may deem their flags the best And cheer them with fervid elation, But the Flag of the North and South and West Is the Flag of Flags, The Flag of Freedom's Nation.
Chorus
Hurrah for the Flag of the free,
May it wave as our standard forever, The gem of the land and the sea, The Banner of the Right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaim'd as they march'd to the fray That by their might, and by their right, It waves forever !
Let eagle shriek from lofty. peak, The never ending watch word of our land. Let summer breeze Waft through the trees, The echo of the chorus grand. Sing out for liberty and light, Sing out for freedom and the right, Sing out for Union and its might,
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YOUR FLAG AND MY FLAG
Your Flag and my Flag, and how it flies today In your land and my land and half a world away ! Rose red and blood red the stripes forever gleam ; Snow white and soul white the good forefathers' dream ; Sky blue and true blue, with stars to gleam a right The gloried guidon of the day ; A shelter through the night. Sky blue and true blue, with stars to gleam a right The gloried guidon of the day ; A shelter through the night.
Your Flag and my Flag! To every star and stripe The drums beat as hearts beat and fifers shrilly pipe ! Your Flag and my Flag-a blessing in the sky ; Your hope and my hope-it never hid a lie ! Home land and far land and half the world around, Old glory hears our glad salute and ripples to the sound ! Home land and far land and half the world around, Old glory hears our glad salute, And ripples to the sound!
Your Flag and my Flag! And, oh, how much it holds Your land and my land secure within its folds ! Your heart and my heart beat quicker at the sight ; Sunkissed and wind tossed-red and blue and white. One Flag-the great Flag-the Flag for me and you, Glorified all else beside the Red and White and Blue! One Flag-the great Flag-the Flag for me and you, Florified all else beside the Red and White and Blue !
WHEN THE "YANKS" COME MARCHING HOME
Our hearts today are far across the ocean. God spare our boys, at night we kneel and pray, In far off lands our troops are now in motion ;
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Oh, patriotic Sons !
Other Nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the Flag of the North and South and West Is the Flag of Flags, The Flag of Freedom's Nation. Among the very bravest in the fray
For right and might must wipe out every wrong :
So let us hope it won't last very long.
Chorus
For there'll be smiles and cheers and miles of tears When the "Yanks" (Boys) come marching home,
There'll be tears enough you know, to make a dozen rivers flow.
Dressed in their torn and tattered suits of tan,
From battle fields across the foam.
Hearts will beat with joy for every boy
When the "Yanks" (Boys) come marching home.
Our hearts are beating now with palpitation : We smile and then we brush away a tear, For we have sent the flower of our Nation. We're proud of every Yankee Volunteer ; America was waiting for the chance To show the love we always had for France.
THE END OF A PERFECT DAY
They are coming home to the flare of bands, To the proud applause and acclaim, To the wreaths and songs and the yearning hands And the hearts that are all aflame ; And we're waiting for those who with courage high Went forth to the flaming fray ;
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When their ships come home how our hearts will cry, Here's the end of a Perfect Day.
They are coming home with the victory won, With the world made fairer and free, And the lands that cringed 'neath the lash and gun They've restored to their liberty ; And the ones who sleep 'neath a far-off sod We will not forget-but pray That we'll join them all at the Throne of God, At the end of some Perfect Day.
THE BLUE STAR IN THE WINDOW
By permission of the composer.
There's a blue star beaming in the window, For a loved one far away ; And its light is shining through the gloaming As we kneel alone to pray. And we're yearning for his returning To his home and happy days of old ; While with trembling our hearts are asking "Will the blue star turn to gold?"
Chorus
If the blue star turns to gold, Then His love He will unfold ; For the Father loves with a tender love, If the blue star turns to gold.
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