Andrew B. Sterling

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Andrew B. Sterling, born on August 26, 1874 in New York City was a U.S. lyricist. After he graduated from high school, he began writing songs and vaudevilles. An important event was his meeting with the composer Harry Von Tilzer in 1898. The two began a songwriting partnership that lasted almost 30 years.

Others that Sterling collaborated with include Bernie Grossman, M.K. Jerome, Frederick Allen Mills, Raymond Sterling, Ray Henderson, Edward Moran and Bartley Costello.

He wrote the song Wait 'till the Sun Shines, Nellie in 1905 and the song America Here's My Boy for the Peerless Quartet in 1917 in the aftermath of U.S. entry into the war in April 1917. It comprised a straightforward call to American patriotism:

America Here's My Boy

First Verse

There’s a million mothers knocking at the nations door, A million mothers, yes and there’ll be millions more, And while within each mother heart they pray, Just hark what one brave mother has to say.

Second Verse

There’s a million mothers waiting by the fireside bright, A million mothers, waiting for the call tonight. And while within each heart there’ll be a tear, She’ll watch her boy go marching with a cheer.

Chorus

America, I raised a boy for you. America, You’ll find him staunch and true, Place a gun upon his shoulder, He is ready to die or do. America, he is my only one; My hope, my pride and joy, But if I had another, he would march beside his brother; America, here’s my boy.

Sterling died in Stamford, Connecticut on August 11, 1955.