Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-03-31
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY. MARCH 81. 1883.
FAMOUS POPULAR SONGS.
Their Authorship and the CIrcum.
stances Under which They Were
From the st. Louis Republican.

From the ST. Louis Republican.
"Auld Lang Syne' is popularity sup
posed to be the composition of Burns.
but in fact he wrote only the second and
third verses of the ballad as commonly
sung, retOuching the others from an old
or and less familiar song. "Th6 Old
Oaken Bucket" was written by Went
worth in New York City during the hot
summer of 1917. He came into the
house and drank glass of water, and
then said; "HOw much more refreshing
it would be to take good long drink
from the old Oaken bucket that used to
hang in my fathers we'll" His wife
suggested that 1t would be happy
thought for poem. He sat down and
wrote tn song as we have it. wood
man, Spare That Tree" was the result
of an incident that happened to George
p. Morris. A friends mother had owned
q little place in the country which she
was obliged, from poverty, to sell. On
the property grew large oak which
had been planted by his grandfather.
The purchaser of the house and land
proposed to cut down the tree, and Nor.
ris' friend paid him $40 for bond that
the oak would be spared. Morris heard
the story, saw the tree, and wrote the
song. loft in the Silly Night" was
produced by Moore after his family had
undergone every possible misfortune.
One Of his children died young, another
went astray, and third was accidentally
killed. "The Light of Other Days" was
written to be introduced into Balfe s
opera, "The Maid of ArtOis." The opera
is forgotten, but the song still lives and
is as popular as ever.
HOME, SWEET HOME.
Payne wrote Home, Sweet Home" to
help fill up an opera he was preparing,
and at first it had four stanZas. The
author never received anything from it,.
but though the opera was failure whC n
played in the COvent Garden Theater,
the song took, and over 100000 copies
were sold the first year. In two years
the publishers cleared over $4,000 by
the publication ;and the variations, tran
scriptiOns, and limitations have been
innumerable. The melody is believed
to be a Sicilian air, and DOnizetta has a
variation of 1t in his opera of Anne BO-
aena. Payne was afterward appointed
American Consul at Tunis, where he
died, and whence his remains the other
day were sent to America. Some of his
miseries may be guessed from his own
words: "HOw often have | been in the
heart of Paris, Berlin. London, or some
other city, and have heard persons sing
iEg or hand organs playing "HOme.
Sweet Home" without having shilling
to buy the next meal, or place to lay
my head. The world has literally sung
my song till every heart is familiar with
its melody; yet have ever been wan
derer from my bOyhOOd, and in my old
age have to submit to humiliation for
my bread
OLD FOLKS AT HOME.
Fosters "Old Folks at Home" was the
best song he wrote. Over 100000 copies
were sold by the firm that first published
it, and tire author is said to have received
$4,000 for his share in the sale. Christy
fhe noted minstrel, paid $500 for the
privilege of having his name printed on
one edition of "The Old Folks at Home"
as the author and composer. The song
is thus often attributed to him.
''ROck Me to Sleep" was written by
Mrs Allan, of Maine. She was paid S.
for it, and Russell Il Co. of Boston, who
in three years gained $4,000 by its sale,
Offered her IS for any songs she
might write. Some years after, when
poor widow and in need Of money, she
sent them song, which was promptly
rejected.
"A Life on the Ocean Wave" by Epes
his friends. The copyright has become
anything for it himself. "What are the
Wild Waves Saying?' was suggested to
DE-. Carpenter by scene in Dickens
eDoC,hox, q OonO nj 10 IN
was by Glover. "POor jack was from
the pen of Charles Dibbin, the author of
the "Lamplighter." Poor Jack" netted
$4,000 for the publisher and almost
nothing for the author.
STARS OF THE SUMMER NIGHT"
q very famous song, especially for seren-
aders, was written by Alfred Ii. Pease,
the noted pianist, whose sad death in st.
Louis few months ago was so greatly
deplored by his friends. Loves Young
Dream" was one of MoOre's best, but the
tune to which it is commonly sung is
from an Irish ballad called "The Old
Woman" Moore sung his own songs so
we'll that both himself and the auditors
were often moved to tears. Once when
he was singing this song a lady wi o
heard him implOred him to stop. "FOr
heavens sake, stop; this is not good fer
my SOUL" "Auld Robin Gray" was the
work Of Lady Anne Lindsay. who tells
a curious story of the circumstances of
its composition; II called to my little
sister, the only person near, and said; Il
have been writing ballad, my dear.
am depressing my heroine with many
misfOrtunes. have already sent her
Jamie to the sea, and broken her fathers
arm, and made her mother fall sick, and
given her Aud Robin Gray for a lover
but wish to load her with a fifth sorrow
within the four lines, poor thing. Help
me to 0ne.' Steal the cow said little
Elizabeth. The COW was Immediately
lifted by me and the song completed