- "La Paloma"
- "You're A Grand Old Flag"
"You're A Grand Old Flag" was written by George M. Cohan in 1906. The song is an American patriotic march and is written as a tribute to the American flag. Cohan felt impulsed to write this song after he met a Civil War veteran who had fought at Gettysburg. Cohan noticed that the veteran held a folded ragged old flag, the man told Cohan, "She's a grand old flag." Cohan then thought this was a great line and turned the idea to a song. This song shows importance to this period of the World War I because the flag symbolizes the "Home of the Brave" that America is and the way of life of the soldiers in trainning for battles will bring freedom to an unhappy world.
- "He Will Aways Remember the Little Things You Do"
The song "He Will Always Remember the Little things You Do" is written by the Canadian Lieutenant Gitz Rice in 1917. Rice was wounded in 1917 while serving for World War I and was forced to come back home to Canada to recover. Back in his home country he became the officer in charge of military entertainment for the Canadian army. His song's composition conveys the message related to soldiers and the support to the cause of war. The song was written to provide encouragement to women at home for their war efforts, favoring war. The main target of the song attacks the stay home and wives of troops that took care of their kids and worked hard for them, in return their women were asked to help out in any way possible because their men would remember the little things that they would to for them.
- "Keep the Home Fires Burning"
The original title for this song was " 'till the Boys come Home" and was written in 1914, the beginning of World War I in Britain by Ivor Novello. "Keep the Home fires Burning" is known as one of the greatest patriotic songs of Briatinfor World War I. The outbreak of the war had caused an intense outburst of the patriotism for young men all over England, so much that they flocked to enlist.The song conveys an important message during the war period, saying that one must keep strong and stay at home waiting and keeping the home fires burning until the men they support come back home. This song also added a pressure to men to want to become soldiers in order to help their nation that is in distress and needs their help.
- "Die Wacht am Rhine"
"Die Wacht am Rhine" (The Watch/Guard on the Rhine) was originally a German patriotic anthem written by MA\ax Schneckburger in 1840, but became widely popular in Wolrd War I. The Rhine, a great river, is a great natural barrier between France and Germany. This song was very important to Germany during the time of war because the song took a great importance nationally as showing the Rhine to be a defensive stand to protect Germany. The river had great commercial and strategic importance during war and even gained mystical importance to people due to the song which portrayed it as a barrier to prevent conquest.
- "Shine, Shine, My Star"
The song "Shine, Shine, My Star" is a Russian romance written by Pyotr Petrovich Bulakhov originally around 1847, but the song became widely popular on the eve of World War One. The song is also a patriotic romance that spread out quickly as events started to lead out to the great war that was yet to come. In the song, the lyrics speak out to a star asking for compassion, making the song almost a prayer. Popularity was gained because of the faith that many Russians had to be prepared and blessed by God during the war that everyone felt was around the corner.
- "La Leggenda del Piave"
"La Leggende del Piave" is an Italian patriotic song written by E.A. Mano in June 1918. The song was popular as its meaning played a strategic role in the national history of Italy during and after World War One. The song is divided into four parts, each giving a brief history of what the Italian Front during World War One was like. The first part is about the march of the Italian army in 1915 from Veneto to the frontline. The second part describes the Italian defeat at Caporetto, the third part is of the resistance along the Piave River and the fourth part is of the final battle and victory. This song is a memoir by Italy that holds record of its battle and its role during the war.
- "An Eala Bhan"
"An Eala Bhan" (or White Swan) is a Scottish Gaelic love song that was written by Domhnall Ruadn Choruna during the Battle of Somme in 1916. This song was then later considered as one of the most popular songs composed as of the 20th Century. Choruna had originally written the song to his sweatheart of World War One, Magaidh NicLeoid. The song gained popularity through the whole world becasue the song talked about something that almost everyone could relate to at that time. "An Eala Bhan" relates to the family struggle that occured throughout the war, many families were separated, there was always the fear that the loved ones who were fighting would die. The composer of this song like many other soldiers had the motivation of coming back home to their loved ones and unite as a family.
- "Pokarekare Ana"
"Pokarekare Ana" is a traditional New Zealand love song that originated form the north part of Aukland and soon gained popularity all the way down to Australia. The authorship of the song is still debated, not known. The song is thought to come from the beginning of World War One. Like the last song, this song talks about the powerful motivation that love is and the way that its powers are able to overcome anything. This hints to the way of thought of some of the common people at the beginning of the war, who saw love as a strong force that overcomes anything. The relation to the growing feelings that were rising about war may have then mixed in to love as a sign of peace that is able to overcome anything, war itself and the global issues that were quickly rising.
- "China Heriocally Stands in the Universe"
"China Heroically stands in the Universe" is a national anthem that was widely used during the reign of Emperor Yuan Shikai of China from 1915 to 1916. The lyrics were altered though to make the Emperor of China seem more divine. The lyrics of the song talk about how amazing China has become to stand over the world, using descriptive nature and talk of how they are able to live in peace with one another even with the "Five Races Under One Union." The song is used to see how China saw itself in relation to the events that were going around it, with war, while China's Republic had their own system going and ways of thinking.
Works Cited
""Shine, Shine, My Star"" Leonid Kharitonov RSS. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://www.lkharitonov.com/video/early/gorigori>.
"50 Records That Matter, 1900-1919." Dont Stay Up Too Late. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://aceterrier.com/?page_id=1502>.
"Capercaillie - An Eala Bhan." Capercaillie - An Eala Bhan. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/capercaillie/aneala.htm>.
"Franco-Prussian War: Watch on the Rhine." Franco Prussian War. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://histclo.com/essay/war/fpw/fpw-wotr.html>.
"Keep The Home Fires Burning by John McCormack Songfacts." Keep The Home Fires Burning by John McCormack Songfacts. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=13712>.
"Music as War Propaganda." Music As Propaganda In World War I. Web. 28 Jan. 2015. <http://parlorsongs.com/issues/2004-4/thismonth/feature.php>.
"NZ Folk Song * Pokarekare Ana - Origins - Mobile." NZ Folk Song * Pokarekare Ana - Origins - Mobile. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://folksong.org.nz/pokarekare/mobile2.html>.
"Pokarekare Ana." NZ Folk Song *. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://folksong.org.nz/pokarekare/index.html>.
"Republic of China." Omeka RSS. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://exhibits.library.gwu.edu/exhibits/show/1911revolution/roc>.
"World War I Bridges - Italy - WW1 Centenary from the River Piave: Piero Jahier and the Italian Soldier Songs." World War I Bridges - Italy - WW1 Centenary from the River Piave: Piero Jahier and the Italian Soldier Songs. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://www.worldwarone.it/2013/08/piero-jahier-and-italian-soldier-song.html>.