"So Long, Mother" is a

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

era song released in 1917. Raymond B. Egan and

Gus Kahn Gustav Gerson Kahn (November 6, 1886October 8, 1941) was an American lyricist who contributed a number of songs to the Great American Songbook, including "Pretty Baby", " Ain't We Got Fun?", " Carolina in the Morning", " Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Go ...

wrote the lyrics.

Egbert Van Alstyne Egbert Anson Van Alstyne (March 4, 1878 – July 9, 1951) was an American songwriter and pianist. Van Alstyne was the composer of a number of popular and ragtime tunes of the early 20th century. Biography Van Alstyne was born in Marengo, ...

composed the music. The song was published by Jerome H. Remick & Co. of Detroit, Michigan. On the cover is a soldier and mother in an embrace. To the left is an inset photo of singer

Al Jolson Al Jolson (born Eizer Yoelson; June 9, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-American Jewish singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. He was one of the United States' most famous and highest-paid stars of the 1920s, and was self-billed ...

. It was written for both voice and piano. The song is told from the soldier's point of view as he comforts his heavyhearted mother before he leaves for war. The chorus is as follows: The sheet music can be found at Pritzker Military Museum & Library.

References

External links

View the song MP3 and sheet music here.
Songs about parting Songs about mothers 1917 songs Songs of World War I Songs with lyrics by Raymond B. Egan Songs with lyrics by Gus Kahn Songs with music by Egbert Van Alstyne {{1910s-song-stub