"Good-Bye Daddy Dear" is a World War I-era song written by Ben Black, with lyrics by Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young. It was published in 1918, a year deeply marked by the emotional toll of the war and the U.S.'s involvement in Europe.

Background & Context:

• Theme:
  The song is written from the perspective of a child bidding farewell to their father, who is leaving for military service. It captures the tender and heartbreaking moment of parting during wartime—not just between soldiers and lovers or parents, but between a father and a young child.
• Emotional Appeal:
  Like many wartime songs of the era, Good-Bye Daddy Dear is steeped in sentimentality. It taps into the public’s longing for peace and the emotional strains felt by families left behind. The child’s voice adds an extra layer of innocence and pathos.
• Musical Style:
  The style is typical of Tin Pan Alley ballads—lyrical, expressive, and written to tug at the heartstrings. It was likely performed in parlors and possibly on stage, accompanied by piano.
• Ben Black:
  A prolific composer of the early 20th century, Black often collaborated with well-known lyricists like Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young. He contributed to several popular sentimental songs during the WWI period and into the 1920s.
• Sheet Music:
  The cover art typically featured illustrations meant to resonate with the emotional content—likely showing a child and father embracing or waving goodbye. Sheet music was a major medium for sharing music at the time, and cover illustrations were as important as the music in marketing.