Break the News to Mother

"Break the News to Mother"
Written and Published by Charles Kassel Harris (May 1, 1867 – December 22, 1930).
Harris was born in Poughkeepsie, New York and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his family as a young child.

Harris is remembered as an influential American songwriter of popular music, earning the title of “king of tear jerkers.”
“Break the News to Mother.” was originally released in 1891 and was about a fireman who was killed fighting a building fire.
Harris rewrote the piece in 1897 changing the lyrics to be about a brave soldier serving in the Spanish American War.
This song was also a hit in 1917 and 1918 due to World War I.