| "I May Be Gone for a Long, Long Time" | |
|---|---|
| Found at Pritzker Military Museum & Library | |
| Song | |
| Released | 1917 |
| Label | Broadway Music Corp. |
| Songwriter(s) | Composer: Albert Von Tilzer Lyricist: Lew Brown |
"I May Be Gone for a Long, Long Time" is a World War I era song released in 1917. It was featured in the 1917 stage production of Raymond Hitchcock and E. Ray Goetz's Hitchy-Koo . Lew Brown wrote the lyrics. Albert Von Tilzer composed the music. [1] The song was published by Broadway Music Corp. of New York, New York. André De Takacs designed the sheet music cover. It features Grace La Rue's image blended into the clouds of an ocean scene. [2] The song was written for both voice and piano. [3] [4] [5] [6]
The song was quite popular during World War I with well-liked recordings by the Peerless Quartet and by the Shannon Four. [7] This could be attributed to many things. Hitchy-Koo, in which the song was introduced, ran for over 220 performances in 1917. It was also performed by Grace La Rue, who was one of Broadway's most successful and popular performers of the time. The song itself had an upbeat tone that filled listeners with hope. [8]
The lyrics are told from the point of view of a soldier who is leaving for war. He is saying goodbye to his heartbroken girlfriend, but promises that when he returns they will "build a little home for two," and begin life away from strife. His overall message to her is to keep him in her thoughts and he will do the same. The chorus is as follows: [9]
The sheet music can be found at Pritzker Military Museum & Library. [10]
Albert Von Tilzer was an American songwriter, the younger brother of fellow songwriter Harry Von Tilzer. He wrote the music to many hit songs, including, most notably, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".

Lew Brown was a lyricist for popular songs in the United States. During World War I and the Roaring Twenties, he wrote lyrics for several of the top Tin Pan Alley composers, especially Albert Von Tilzer. Brown was one third of a successful songwriting and music publishing team with Buddy DeSylva and Ray Henderson from 1925 until 1931. Brown also wrote or co-wrote many Broadway shows and Hollywood films. Among his most-popular songs are "Button Up Your Overcoat", "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree", "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries", "That Old Feeling", and "The Birth of the Blues".
Andrew B. Sterling was an American lyricist.
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"Someone Else May Be There While I'm Gone" is a World War I era song written by Irving Berlin and published as sheet music in 1917. The song, recorded by Al Jolson for Columbia Records on September 19, 1916 was very popular that year. Jolson recorded it again for Decca Records on December 5, 1947.
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"It's a Long, Long Way to the U.S.A " is a World War I era song released in 1917. Val Trainor wrote the lyrics. Harry Von Tilzer composed the music. The song was published by Harry Von Tilzer Publishing Company of New York, New York. It was written for both voice and piano.
"The Little Grey Mother Who Waits All Alone " 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. Vitagraph actress Mary Maurice is featured on the cover, reading a book and holding a rose. It was written for voice and piano.
"I'm Goin' To Fight My Way Right Back to Carolina" is a World War I era song written and composed by Billy Baskette and Jessie Spiess. The song was published in 1918 by McCarthy & Fisher, Inc. of New York City. The sheet music cover was designed by Andre C. De Takacs. It features an armed soldier tearing through the cover. The song was written for both voice and piano.
"We Don't Want the Bacon (What We Want Is a Piece of the Rhine)" is a World War I–era song released in 1918. The lyrics were written by "Kid" Howard Carr and Harry Russell, and the music composed by Jimmie Havens. The song was published by Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. of New York City. On the cover is a soldier tearing through a large piece of bacon with his bayonet. A fearful-looking Kaiser Wilhelm II is standing on the bacon. It was written for voice and piano.
"Somewhere in France Is Daddy" is a World War I era song released in 1917. Lyrics and music were written by "Great Howard," otherwise known as Howard Miller. It was published by Howard & LaVar Music Co. of New York, New York. There are two versions of the sheet music cover. Both feature a mother holding a child, soldiers firing from a trench, and an inset photo of Great Howard. The latter version is a darker blue and the photo is of Howard in kilts. The song was written for both voice and piano.
"Goodbye, Ma! Goodbye, Pa! Goodbye, Mule, with Yer Old Hee-Haw!", also known as "Long Boy", is a World War I era song released in 1917. William Herschel wrote the lyrics. Barclay Walker composed the music. It was published by Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. of New York, New York. Garr Williams designed the sheet music cover. It features a morose-looking cartoon soldier leaving his farm. Farm animals, the soldier's parents, and his girlfriend look on and wave flags. It was written for both voice and piano.
"It's a Long Way to Berlin, but We'll Get There!" is a World War I era song released in 1917. Arthur Fields wrote the lyrics. Leon Flatow composed the music. Leo Feist, Inc. of New York City published the song. Rosenbaum Studios designed the sheet music cover. It features soldiers marching in formation. There is an inset photo of Maurice Burkhardt, Will J. Ward, Ed Morton, Jimmy Flynn, Willie Weston, or Francis Maguire that varies per edition. There is another version of the cover known as the "Popular edition". It features a photo of Henry Bergman.
"Girls of France" is a World War I era song released in 1917. Al Bryan and Edgar Leslie wrote the lyrics. Harry Ruby composed the music. The song was published by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co. of New York, New York. Artist Albert Wilfred Barbelle designed the sheet music cover. It features a nurse in the foreground, and soldiers marching behind her. It was written for both voice and piano.
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Watch, Hope and Wait Little Girl: I'm Coming Back To You is a World War I song written by Lew Brown, and composed by Will Clayton. The song was first published in 1918 by Broadway Music Co. in New York, NY. The sheet music cover was designed by E.E. Walton, and features a young woman in a heart of red, white, and blue, flowers are gathered at her knees
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Hitchy-Koo is a 1912 American popular song and a series of musical revues, inspired by the song, staged on Broadway each year from 1917 through 1920 and on tour in 1922.