theprisonerssong

Vernon Dalhart (April 6, 1883 – September 14, 1948),[1] born Marion Try Slaughter, was a popular American singer and songwriter of the early decades of the 20th century. He is a major influence in the field of country music. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Dalhart

The sheet music looks like "Rock a bye your baby with a Dixie melody." He recorded it for Edison and it was released in 1918. Listen to it here: cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=@attr+1=1... Or a Victor recording here: www.loc.gov/jukebox/artists/detail/id/1190 Since the song dates from 1918, this picture could as well. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock-a-Bye_Your_Baby_with_a_Dixie_M... Another Bain photo, from the same session, shows the front of the sheet music dated 1918: www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/ggbain/item/ggb2006003428/ This and the adjoining photo, numbered in the 4196 series surely were taken with 5 other Dalhart photos in the 4784 series, judging by the clothes and the wallpaper. www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=4784&co=ggbain This photo is a third one that shows the same sheet music: www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/ggbain/item/ggb2006003429/

Richard Norton I think the wikipedia image should be "dalhart in 1918."

Good eye Art Siegel, and thanks for providing links to recordings of the song. We'll add that to the photo description.

The other Dalhart photos referenced above are now on Flickr Commons:

see

The soldier is wearing a Signal Corps sergeant sleeve insignia and Signal Corps collar discs.

Vernon Dalhart (April 6, 1883 – September 14, 1948),[1] born Marion Try Slaughter, was a popular American singer and songwriter of the early decades of the 20th century. He is a major influence in the field of country music. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Dalhart

Here's a patriotic song he recorded on an Edison cylinder at the beginning of his long recording career. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH7Y7yFI_lQ

see

Thanks to both of you for this information, and for connecting the photographs. We'll fill in the caption the next time we update the records.