The Little Grey Mother Who Waits All Alone (March Ballad)

"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
Released1915
LabelM. 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

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ Parker, Bernard S. (2007). World War I Sheet Music. Vol. 1. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 381. ISBN 978-0-7864-2799-4.
  3. ^ "The Little Grey Mother (Who Waits All Alone) March Ballad". JScholarship. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ The little grey mother who waits all alone. OCLC 19956565. Retrieved 18 February 2016 – via OCLC WorldCat.
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