Songs and Poems of WWI

7/12/2012

In class you read songs and poems written from different perspectives during WWI. How do these help you better comprehend the issues soldiers, people on the homefront and others dealt with during the war or their feelings about the war? How do they help you better comprehend the disillusionment of the survivors of the war? Answer these questions in a refle

9 Comments

Luana

8/12/2012 12:25:41 am

The songs we studied in class about World War 1 reflect multiple countries interests' and perspectives, according to the lyrics, tone, autorial intent, and most importantly,who are these songs directed to.
I got 2 songs to interpret about World War 1: An american one, one of the most famous of the war called "Over There" By George M. Cohan and a Canadian one called "He Will Always Remember the Little Things You Do" by Gitz Rice. The first one I analyzed was "Over There" and it was like a propaganda song for the homefront to support the war and their American soldiers, the tone is of urgency for Johnnie to "get his gun". Verses like "Hear them calling, you and me, Every son of liberty" show that this song was made to be sung to Americans because the U.S. was the country of "liberty", of liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. Others like "Make your daddy glad To have such a lad. Tell your sweetheart not to pine, To be proud her boy's in line" also prove that sense of pride to be in the American Army, proud to be in line and fighting for the USA in the war. Others such as "Hoist the flag and let her fly" and "Make your mother proud of you, And the old Red, White and Blue" tend to stimulate and motivate nationalism- "Be proud of your country, hoist that flag, be proud of our flag's colors and pledge to it" kind of feeling. The other song "He Will Always Remember the Little Things You Do" is Canadian and is also in favor of the war because it sings about the stay home moms & wives of the troops that took care of their kids, worked hard for their "hubbies" in the war and stayed submissive, "But she's happy now I guess Working hard just like the res'." Another song in favor of the war was the British one "Does It Matter" by Siegfried Sassoon, which sings about the tragedies that can happen to the troops that go to war (men can become blind, lose legs, etc) but it doesn't really matter and that people back on the homefront won't mind because they'll be proud because they fought in the war for Britain. It's worth losing your sight and a part of your body to make people proud that you fought in the British army, "You can drink and forget and be glad, And people won't say that you're mad; For they'll know you've fought for your country And no one will worry a bit." In addition to these songs, the German song "Leaving For the Front" by Alfred Lichtenstein also approves of the war and sings about this soldier who's leaving his family to go to war and that he knows he will probably die, but it doesn't matter because he's glad to leave to fight for his country, he's not scared of death, all he remembers is the "red glowing sunset" and predicts that he'll be dead in 13 days. In my opinion, he's already dead before even leaving for the Front since he knows his life will end, his spirit is already dying a bit.

Jacqueline Amorim link

9/12/2012 02:06:10 am

The songs and poems selections show in the end of the packet demonstrates how people were feeling and acting towards World War 1, depending on which country they were from. An example for this is the song “Sister Susie’s Sewing Shirts” from R.P. Weston. This song clearly shows how the female americans were acting during the war, in which the program created by President Wilson, named Commitee on Public Informatiton was being emphasized and really put into action, since the women were voluntering and supporting the soldiers by sewing them shirts, “Sister Susie’s sewing shirts for soldiers, such skill at sewing shirts, our shy young sister Susie shows!”. Another example for this, is the poem Pro Patria, written by Owen Seamon during the beginning of World War 1 in 1914. This poem demonstrates the patriotic feeling the British people had, encouraging its beloved country to participate in the war, to show they are honorable, and affirming that the citizens would be by its side, doing whatever it is necessary to help the nation, as it is cited, “We ask what offering we may consecrate, what humble service share. To steel our souls against the lust of ease...”. Therefore, given these two examples above, the songs and poems from countries involved in World War 1, such as USA and Britain, showed the citizen’s position in relation to their countrie’s involvement in the conflict.

Maria Antonia Pessoa

9/12/2012 06:49:49 am

The songs and poems that we read in class demonstrate the different perspectives from countries during the World War I and help people comprehend the issues soldiers, people on the home front and others dealt with during the war. An example is the song “Requiem for the Dead of Europe Recitative” written by the German Yvan Goll in 1915. This song shows a sad point of view of the war since the author says that we go to war and end up losing the ones we care most about for destruction. Young people go fight hoping to bring glory to their country and end up dying. After the war, nine million soldiers and ten million civilians died. Seven million soldiers were permanently disabled. Moreover, a worldwide influenza epidemic worsened by the economic conditions of wartime killed more than twenty million people. In addition to the human costs, the war had devastated the economics of the major world powers. All of this shows how people felt and lament when they lost the lives of the ones they loved for the devastation of their country. Another song that shows the and opposite feeling of the people towards the war is the poem “Pro Patria” written by the British Owen Seaman in 1914, when the war began. This poem shows the concept of nationalism and patriotism in which the citizens encouraged their nation to fight in the war. The British people express a strong devotion and loyalty to the interest of their country. The last one is a song called “Does it Matter” written by the British Siegfried Sassoon in 1917. This song is completely pro war and it claims that the soldiers go to war and end up losing a leg, losing their sight and so many other tragedies but it doesn’t really matter since they fought for their country and people in the home front will be proud of them. Concluding, these three songs above show people´s feeling about the war and the different perspectives from the United States and Britain.

Arda Kanberoglu

10/12/2012 08:16:44 am

The songs and poems during world war one show the lifestyle and propaganda of what some people needed to go through and some of the songs and poems motivate others to go to war and fight for their country. Some examples of a song that was used during World War 1 are the song “In Flanders Fields” by Canadian Author McCrae. The propaganda illustrated in this song talks about a cemetery known as Flanders field and it explains that after the soldiers fight and die they will hand the torch to others to come join the war and fight for their country. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high.” This explains that even though the previous soldiers are dead the war is still not over and new recruitments must come in and help the Unionist Party. The poem also was a motivational tool to Great Britain and recruit soldiers to fight against Germany. Songs like Flanders Field and many more was a hige help for many countries to bring soldiers into combat and fight for the country they love. Propaganda was one of the biggest help and motivation that won the war for the ally countries.

Jason Short

13/12/2012 04:11:49 am

The songs and poems of WWI showed the clear difference between what the war really was and what the government wanted people to see the war as. The song “Requiem for the Dead of Europe Recitative” by Yvan Goll has a sad soldier's point of view; young men get sent into war with ideas of honor and bringing glory to their country when in reality all the war really was was death and loss of loved ones. No glory, no honor, just human tragedy in one of the worst wars the world has seen. Other songs were written as propaganda to encourage support from the people back home and to let them know what they could do to help the war effort. “In Flanders Fields” by McCrae acknowledges the fact that the loss of human life in war is inevitable, but uses that as inspiration: the soldiers who die "pass the torch" to the new soldiers taking on their duty to their country. “Pro Patria” by Owen Seaman was directed towards the civilians of the war and gaining their support for the war effort. It spoke of nationalism and patriotism or a duty to serve your country for the rights it gives you; propaganda like this was vital in keeping support towards the war with the folks back home and to encourage volunteers to take up arms to honor their country and do their duty. All in all, countries need their citizens to support the wars they are involved in; propaganda to inspire a sense of nationalism, pride, honor, and duty is used to keep the war effort going strong. In reality or from a tired soldier's perspective, the war is chalked up to loss of human life and nothing prideful or glorious reflects on the battlefield when every moment might be a soldier's last. These songs and other forms of propaganda keep the population in support of the war while the war itself is something much different.

Maria Julia

13/12/2012 11:29:46 pm

The songs and poems about World War 1, read in class, helped us to have a better idea about how different people thought about the war. It showed also how people had diferente perspectives about the circumstances, since some presented criticisms while other placed themselves in support of the war, showing a divergence in opinions ranging from soldiers, people on the homefront, and others. Many songs also showed the dillusionment of the survivors of the war, having their homes, counries, and lives devastated after the war. One song in particular even claims that life was not so bad in the trenches compared to how it was after the war ending, since no one could get their Jobs or their life back to normal, while another stated that those who were hurt, blinded, had members amputated or were suffering from mental problems due to the war should appreciate that since now people would be nicer to them back home. Other songs, however, showed support to the war, like the one song that encouraged Young girls to help make clothes to the soldiers and the one that incited nationalistic ideals. The songs gave students perspective and made them able to see from the point of view of those who lived through the war, also demonstrating the overall population’s thoughts on it since they were written soon after the war ended. Through the songs the students were able to see the suffering and devastation caused after the war as well, not only in the United States but in other countries points of view.

Pedro Oliveira

16/12/2012 04:33:54 am

It was interesting to read the songs and poems because they show us what textbooks and regular readings don´t, since rgular readings show us one perspective, that war was and is strongly negativ, while these poems give us a multi perspective on WWI. War is not only seeen as something negative- there are some poems that show encouragement and support to th war by asking women to treat soldiers well and sew their clothes. I was particularly touched by the poem that said how war was good because at least when those who participatd in it came back hindered or scared in some way, they would be valued in their countries. This poem showed me the level of patriotism and nationalism that existed during the war, since the terrible state of war appears to be justified in order to increase the value of a person. It was good to read them because the poems give us a less biased and more realistic perspective not only of WWI, but of wars in general.

Renata Biglia

17/12/2012 11:38:22 am

The songs and poems of the WW1 written in the back of the packet, which we read in class, helped us understand the different points of view of the war during that period. Some songs and some poems showed the war as something bad, while the others put the spirit of the soldiers up, and show the positive side of the war. This reading helped us understand better what the war was, and made us see our own perspective. There was one in which I remember well that showed that it doesn’t matter what the soldiers do, if they lose a leg, if they are shot or miss home, the people just want to feel safe, putting the other peoples life in danger, while maintaining their life secure. But, on the other hand, there was also one in which showed that the scars left on the soldiers skin was in some way valued by the society, keeping the nationalism awake in all. Reading this poems and song opened up our minds, and helped us have an opinion not based on what you hear, but what you think. It shows both perspective to make you choose the one to defend.

Gabriel Araújo

17/12/2012 11:55:25 am

The poems and songs written from different perspectives during World War I help me better comprehend the issues soldiers, people on the homefront and others dealt with during the war and their feelings about the war by showing exactly what different countries felt and thought about the war and other countries. The different perspectives in the songs and poems show the contrast of the views each group of people, such as the women in America’s point of view, the patriotic British people, among others. They help me comprehend the disillusionment of the survivors of the war by showing the impact the war had on the people and how they suffered due to the consequences war.

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Songs and Poems of WWI

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