| Send Me a Line When I'm Across the Ocean | |
| Cover: | Send me a line.png |
| Released: | 1917 |
| Label: | Walter Jacobs |
"Send Me a Line When I'm Across the Ocean" is a World War I era song first released in 1917.[1] Irving Crocker wrote the lyrics. George L. Cobb composed the music.[2] It was written for both voice and piano.[3] Walter Jacobs of Boston, Massachusetts published the song. The cover was designed by Rose Starmer. On the cover is a watercolor painting of an ocean with ships in the background.[4] In the foreground is an envelope addressed: "Private Good-boy; Rainbow Division; Somewhere in France."
The song is told from the point of view of a soldier leaving for war. He gives instructions to those waiting for him at home: to write to him in order to keep his spirits up. The chorus is as follows:
Send me a line when I'm across the ocean
Send me a line to show me your devotion
A letter nice and long
As sweet as any song
To tell me that you'll remember
Ev'ry promise while I'm gone
Write me a word about my dear old mother
I know I'll miss her more than I can say
So while I'm over the sea
Just show your love for me
By sending a line to me each day
The sheet music can be found at Pritzker Military Museum & Library.[5]