Released 1917 Writer(s) Allan J. Flynn | Recorded 29 October 1917 | |
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Producer(s) Al Piantadosi & Co., Inc. | ||
"There's a Green Hill Out in Flanders (There's a Green Hill Up in Maine)" is a World War I era song released in 1917. Lyrics and music were written by Allan J. Flynn. Al Piantadosi & Co., Inc. of New York, New York. The song was written for both voice and piano.
On October 29, 1917, Albert Wiederhold recorded a version of the song with conductor Josef Pasternack. The song was produced by Victor Records. The song was also performed by Alan Turner.
There are four versions of the sheet music cover. All versions feature soldiers charging a battlefield with explosions above their heads. The only difference is one version features an inset photo of Burns and Fabrito, another features an inset photo of Helen Morretti, and one features an inset photo of a woman. The final version does not have an inset photo. The cover was designed by Starmer.
The sheet music can be found at Pritzker Military Museum & Library.
The song tells the story of a mother, whose only son was killed in the war. The chorus is as follows:
There's a Green hill out in FlandersThere's a Green hill up in MaineUnder one lies a sonNeath the sod and the dewSleeping where he fell for the Red White and BlueOn the other there's a motherIn a little cottage, waiting all in vainSo here's a tear for a brave heart in FlandersAnd a cheer for a brave heart in Maine.