Truly, I believed that THIS above all others would be the first one to be posted. A search of DT doesn’t show it there.

I PROMISE to learn ANSI and MIDI postings via the tutorials on this site. Future contributions will include the “correct” format.


Eva Tanguay’s Great “Mother” song
M-O-T-H-E-R: A word that means the world to me
(Words by Howard Johnson, music by Theodore Morse)
Copyright MCMXV (1915) by Leo Feist
Published Teller, Sons & Dorner, New York
London: Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew, Limited

VERSE 1: I’ve been around the world, you bet, But never went to school.
Hard knocks are all I seem to get. Perhaps I’ve been a fool.
But still, some educated folks, supposed to be so swell,
Would fail, if they were called upon a simple word to spell.
Now, if you’d like to put me to a test,
There’s one dear name that I can spell the best:

CHORUS 1: “M” is for the million things she gave me.
“O” means only that she’s growing old.
“T” is for the tears were shed to save me.
“H” is for her heart of purest gold.
“E” is for her eyes, with love-light shining.
“R” means right, and right she’ll always be.
Put them all together, they spell “MOTHER,”
A word that means the world to me.

VERSE 2: When I was but a baby, long before I learned to walk,
While lying in my cradle, I would try my best to talk.
It wasn’t long before I spoke, and all the neighbors heard,
My folks were very proud of me, for “Mother” was the word.
Although I’ll never lay a claim to fame,
I’m satisfied that I can spell this name:

CHORUS 2: “M” is for the mercy she possesses.
“O” means that I owe her all I own.
“T” is for her tender sweet caresses.
“H” is for her hands that made a home.
“E” means ev’rything she’s done to help me.
“R” means real and regular, you see.
Put them all together, they spell “MOTHER,”
A word that means the world to me.