Your Lips Are No Man's Land but Mine

Your Lips Are No Man's Land but Mine

Words by Arthur Guy Empey, author of the famous book "Over the Top" and star of the vitagraph film "Over the Top"
Music by Chas. R. McCarron and Carey Morgan
Copyright 1917 by Jos. W. Stern Co.
Format: large
Original retail price: 60╒
Cover art photo by Brown Brothers, reproduced by courtesy of Vitagraph.

Billed as a "real romantic war ballad." According to the cover, the lyricist donated all his royalties from this song to the New York Sun Smoke Fund.

Arthur Guy Empey was a real WWI hero who foresaw the entry of America into the war and volunteered to train and serve in the British army prior to America's joining. He wrote a phenomenal book about his experiences called "Over the Top." Though a great writer, he is no lyricist. The lyrics for this song are truly dreadful!

Lyrics:

Verse 1:
At a dock, a transport was rocking,
Ev'ry chap from his cap to his stocking
Dressed to "Kill."
To Kill old Kaiser Bill.
On the pier a dear little girlie
With her tear-dimmed eyes.
Time to go, whisles blow
"Au revoir" her sweetheart cries:

Chorus:
"I'm coming back some day when the fray is over, my darling.
I know you'll be true, dear, so I'll never by blue, dear.
Across the foam in No-Man's land I'll soon be fighting.
But I know your lips are no-man's land but mine."

Verse 2:
As the boat sailed out thro' the channel,
With two flags she had made out of flannel
From the pier she wig-wagged "Good-bye dear."
Pretty soon he wig-wagged an answer.
And the code she read, from her boy Ship ahoy
This is what the wig-wag said:

(Repeat Chorus)