Today in Music (1915): “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier” hit #1

I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier Peereless Quartet

Writer(s): Alfred Bryan (words), Al Piantadosi (music) (see lyrics here) First Charted: March 1, 1915 Peak: 14 PM, 18 GA, 18 SM (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 (sheet music) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.26 video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “The song that proved to be a rallying cry for the Pacifist movement in the USA was ‘I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier,’ a top selling record in the Spring of 1915 for both Morton Harvey who had hit the top with ‘I Want to Go Back to Michigan (Down on The Farm)’ over Christmas 1914 and…the four part harmony group The Peerless Quartette.” SM “This was not a song that The Peerless Quartette were well suited to. They sounded cheerful and the orchestra backing them also was far too happy for the subject matter, unlike Morton Harvey who added a certain gravitas to the lyrics which were anti-war in the extreme: ‘Ten million soldiers to the war have gone who may never return again / Ten million mothers’ hearts must break for the ones who died in vain.’” SM “The song was still popular even after the sinking of the RMS Lusitania with the deaths of 128 American citizens in early May that was one of the turning points against American isolationism and remaining out of the Great War, letting Europe tear itself apart without the US needing to be involved. By the Spring of 1918 both versions of the song, both Morton Harvey’s and The Peerless Quartette’s were deleted from their record company catalogues, the public feeling against the song turning as sour as the US put its military might behind the Allies and sent an extra four million men” SM to war. The numbers in the song were fall short from the actual “Allied strength was nearly 43 million fighting men with 25 million belligerents fighting with the Germans.” SM Resources: DJ David Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. SM Sharon Mawer Charts (1900-1968) TY2 Don Tyler (2007). Hit Songs, 1900-1955. McFarland & Company, Inc.: Jefferson, North Carolina. PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research, Inc: Menomonee Falls, WI. Related Links: First posted 5/14/2025.

50 years ago: The Harmonicats hit #1 with “Peg O’ My Heart”

Peg O’ My Heart Charles Harrison

Writer(s): Alfred Bryan (words), Fred Fisher (music) (see lyrics here) First Charted: November 8, 1913 Peak: 17 US, 112 GA (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 (sheet music) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, -- streaming

Peg O’ My Heart The Harmonicats

First Charted: April 26, 1947 Peak: 18 US, 112 GA, 110 HP (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 1.0 (sheet music) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, -- streaming

Awards (Harrison): Click on award for more details.

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Awards (Harmonicats): Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Peg O’ My Heart” shares the rare distinction of having hit #1 on the pop charts four different times. Only this song and “Over There” have accomplished the feat. PM However, while “Over There” accomplished its task during 1917 and 1918, “Peg” spread its accomplishment out over 34 years. PM The song was inspired by a 1912 Broadway comedy called Peg O’ My Heart in which Laurette Taylor portrayed a “spunky Irish girl.” RCG Alfred Bryan and Fred Fisher were inspired to write a song of the same name, dedicating the song to Taylor T and even releasing sheet music featuring her face. RCG The song was featured in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1913 with Jose Collins singing. DJ Charles Harrison had the first chart success with the song, taking his version to #1 in 1913. Henry Burr and Walter Van Brunt also recorded top tens of the song in 1913-14. More than 30 years passed before the song resurfaced on the charts. In 1947, Buddy Clark, the Harmonicats, and the Three Suns each topped the charts with their versions – and all three appeared on the year-end top ten. CPM Art Lund, Ted Weems, and Clark Dennis all had top ten hits. PM However, the most successful was the instrumental version by the Harmonicats, a trend-setting harmonica group led by Turkish-born Jerry Murad. PM The song has also been recorded by Josephine Baker, Peggy Lee, Glenn Miller, Red Nichols, and Andy Williams, but it has become most closely identified with the Harmonicats and the harmonica. RCG The song has also been featured in the films Peg O’ My Heart (1933) and Oh, You Beautiful Doll (1949). TY2 Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Charles Harrison DMDB encyclopedia entry for The Harmonicats DJ David Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 156. RCG RimChiGuy.com The Old Songs (1900-1929) TY2 Don Tyler (2007). Hit Songs, 1900-1955. McFarland & Company, Inc.: Jefferson, North Carolina. Page 298. PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research, Inc: Menomonee Falls, WI. Page 102. CPM Joel Whitburn (1999). A Century of Pop Music. Record Research, Inc.: Menomonee Falls, WI. Page 66. First posted 6/21/2012; last updated 3/31/2023.