Lyr Req: Forget Me Not (autograph-book verses)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forget Me Not (autograph-book verses)
From: GUEST,Lyndsey
Date: 04 Mar 19 - 02:55 PM

My Grandma died back in 2000 and this is the verse she taught me and I read at her funeral. Her best friend had written it in her school book. X

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forget Me Not (autograph-book verses)
From: Snuffy
Date: 20 Oct 16 - 08:15 AM

In Mudcat's Digital Tradition THE SWEET FORGET-ME-NOT

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forget Me Not (autograph-book verses)
From: GUEST,Janice Tickner
Date: 20 Oct 16 - 06:44 AM

My dad wrote this to my mum 60+yrs ago. He was in the army , she was home with a couple of little kids in Scotland... he obviously wasn't the original author....
" Think of me when you're lonely
Give me one little thought
And in your garden of memories
Plant a forget me not
He told me it was part of a song, mum kept that letter for as long as l can remember
They're both still alive, As far as us kids are concerned it's their poem xx cheers ✌🏽️😀

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forget Me Not (autograph-book verses)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 11 Jul 15 - 12:58 PM

http://www.nma.gov.au/museum_magazine/issue_three/bear_me_in_your_mind


That's from 1829 in Australia.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forget Me Not (autograph-book verses)
From: GUEST,Frontslash
Date: 10 Jul 15 - 02:24 PM

My grandmother passed last week saturday at the age of 92. About 10 years ago she started remembering and reciting poems (probably about 30 or so) from her childhood. My dad recorded 13 of the with a video camera. Today we played the video of this poem at the end of the service.

This is how she remembered the poem


When the golden sun is setting,
and your heart from care is free.
When of others you are thinking,
Won't you sometimes think of me.

In the glimmer of the twilight,
when the lights are burning low.
Will you think of me and love me,
as I do from years ago.

Think of me when this you read,
tho many miles apart.
Others may have my company,
but you shall have my heart.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forget Me Not (autograph-book verses)
From: GUEST,kate Nehra
Date: 08 Jul 13 - 09:08 AM

How lovely reading all these poems, my mother is 86 years old and always talks of a poetry book she had a small child called ''treasure Trove' one of her friends borrowed it and it was never returned i would love to get a copy of this poetry book for her, she still remembers a poem in this book called 'forget me not' hence why I was searching for this poem this page came up and brought a tear to my eye. My Mum said the book was very old when she was given it by her grandmother can anyone advise where I could get this book? the poem my Mother remembers is:

When to the flowers so beautiful
the father gave a name.
that came a little blued eyed one all timidly it came, and standing at his fathers feet and gazing in his face.
it said in low and trembling voice, dear lord the name thou gavest me alas I have forgot. then kindly looked the father down and said forget me not.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forget Me Not (autograph-book verses)
From: GUEST,Earlp-Guest
Date: 02 Apr 11 - 09:03 PM

From an autograph book my Grandmother signed 3-28-1926:
Forget Me Not
How many thoughts are brought to mind by this sweet simple flower, recalling from the happy days since passed fair memories, of many a golden hour. Their star-like eyes which ever seek the light-so softly tinted with their tender blue. Reflect the tranquil glory of the Skies and seems to whisper dearest of you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: were did the poem/lyrics, forget me not
From: GUEST,pete
Date: 14 Jul 06 - 05:31 AM

thanks jim
am i aloud to use this poem as lyric for a song it beaing 1890
pete

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: were did the poem/lyrics, forget me not
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Jul 06 - 11:53 PM

The Manchester [UK] Gallery of Costume has a bag embroidered with this verse (among others), dated 1848:

The ocean may between us roll and distance be our lot.
When this you see remember me my dear forget me not.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: were did the poem/lyrics, forget me not
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 04:05 PM

I found many versions of autograph-book verses that begin "When this you see, remember me" (or the reverse). Sometimes that line was used alone, or introduced other thoughts expressed in prose.

Remember me when this you see.
Remember me at parting day;
And if my face no more you see,
Look on these lines and think of me.

Remember me when this you see,
Though many a mile apart we be;
And if the grave first be my lot,
Dearest friend, forget me not.

Remember me when this you see,
And place me in your mind.
What others say when far away,
Think not of me unkind.

When this you see, remember me,
And bear me in your mind.
Let all the world say what it may,
Speak of me as you find.

The line "When this you see, remember me, and place me in your mind" occurs in a letter to Sojourner Truth written by her son, Peter Van Wagener, dated 1841. The letter is quoted in the book "Narrative of Sojourner Truth, a Bondswoman of Olden Time...(etc.)" by Olive Gilbert, published in 1875. You can see the text at Documenting the American South, a web site belonging to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

There is also a book called "When This You See, Remember Me: A Collection of Autograph Verses" by Lillian Morrison, 1961.

There is an interesting collection of autograph book images, including some ornate covers, at Morning Glory Antiques & Jewelry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: were did the poem/lyrics, forget me not
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 02:20 PM

The next couplet was also used as an autograph-book rhyme:

Think of me when you are happy.
Keep for me one little spot.
In the depth of thine affection,
Plant a sweet forget-me-not.

--from the autograph book of Mary Belinda Riley, 1882.

Also quoted in the book "Hill's Manual of Social and Business Forms: A Guide to Correct Writing," by Thomas E. Hill, 1884, which you can see at Google Book Search.

[Also found at a few other paces on the web.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: were did the poem/lyrics,for get me not
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 11:09 PM

Your first two lines were frequently used in autograph books.

This is the oldest version I can find:

When the golden sun is setting
And your mind from care is free,
When of others you are thinking,
Will you sometimes think of me?

--from Charlotte Beckim's Autograph Album, 1892. (That site has an image of the handwritten verse.)

I also found numerous variations at other web sites:

1. When the golden [or "glorious"] sun is setting [or "sinking"],
[Or "When in the west the sun is setting"]

2. And your mind from care is free [or "set free"],
[Or "O'er the western sea,"]

3. When [or "While" or "And"] of others you are thinking,
[Or "When of absent ones you're thinking"]
[Or "When of loved ones you are thinking"]
[Or "And you are thinking of your loved ones,"]
[Or "When of over a thousand things you're thinking,"]
[Or "When of ten thousand things you're thinking,"]

4. Will [or "Won't" or "Do"] you sometimes [or "kindly"] think of me?
[Or "And then will you not remember me?"]
[Or "Will you remember me?"]

[1-4. Or "When the golden sun is setting
In the far and distant west,
While of others you are thinking,
Think of one who loves you best."]

I never found an instance where these lines seemed to be part of a longer poem.

Subject: ADD: Forget Me Not (Wm. McGonagall)
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Jul 06 - 09:40 AM

Peter, my condolences on your loss. It's wonderful that you plan to honor your grandmother by composing music for that poem!

Though there appears to be a number of 19th century poems about 'forget me not' flowers, I've not found the one you posted.

However, just as a matter of interest-though not for the music/song you are composing, here's a copy of what appears to be the most often cited 'forget me not' poem:

"The Scottish poet William McGonagall (1825?-1902) rhymed a romantic medieval legend that is is supposed to explain the origin of the flower's common name, & I cannot resist quoting the entirety of his poem "Forget Me Not":


FORGET ME NOT
(William McGonagall)

A gallant knight & his betroth'd bride,
Were walking one day by a river side,
They talk'd of love, & they talk'd of war,
And how very foolish lovers are.

At length the bride to the knight did say,
'There have been many young ladies led astray
By believing in all their lovers said,
And you are false to me I am afraid.'

'No, Ellen, I was never false to thee,
I never gave thee cause to doubt me;
I have always lov'd thee & do still,
And no other woman your place shall fill.'

'Dear Edwin, it may be true, but I am in doubt,
But there's some beautiful flowers here about,
Growing on the other side of the river,
But how to get one, I cannot discover.'

'Dear Ellen, they seem beautiful indeed,
But of them, dear, take no heed;
Because they are on the other side,
Besides, the river is deep & wide.'

'Dear Edwin, as I doubt your love to be untrue,
I ask one favour now from you:
Go! fetch me a flower from across the river,
Which will prove you love me more than ever.'

'Dear Ellen! I will try & fetch you a flower
If it lies within my power
To prove that I am true to you,
And what more can your Edwin do?'

So he leap'd into the river wide,
And swam across to the other side,
To fetch a flower for his young bride,
Who watched him eagerly on the other side.

So he pluck'd a flower right merrily
Which seemed to fill his heart with glee,
That it would please his lovely bride;
But, alas! he never got to the other side.

For when he tried to swim across,
All power of his body he did loss,
But before he sank in the river wide,
He flung the flowers to his lovely bride.

And he cried, 'Oh, heaven! hard is my lot,
My dearest Ellen! Forget me not:
For I was ever true to you,
My dearest Ellen! I bid thee adieu!'

Then she wrung her hands in wild despair,
Until her cries did rend the air;
And she cried, 'Edwin, dear, hard is out lot,
But I'll name this flower Forget-me-not.

'And I'll remember thee while I live,
And to no other man my hand I'll give,
And I will place my affection on this little flower,
And it will solace me in a lonely hour.' "

http://www.paghat.com/forgetmenots.html

****

Also, see these excerpts from the Wikipedia entry:

"In the 15th century Germany, it was supposed that the wearers of the flower will not be forgotten by their lovers.

Legend has it that in medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along the side of a river. He picked a posy of flowers, but because of the weight of his armour he fell into the river. As he was drowning he threw the posy to his loved one and shouted "Forget-me-not". This is a flower connected with romance and tragic fate. It was often worn by ladies as a sign of faithfulness and enduring love.
...

In 1948 the little blue Forget Me Not flower, or badge, was adopted as a Masonic emblem at the first Annual Convention of the United Grand Lodges of Germany, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. The flower, or badge, is now universally worn as a Masonic emblem in the coat lapel to remember all those that have suffered in the name of Freemasonry, and specifically those during the Nazi era."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forget-me-not

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: were did the poem/lyrics,for get me not
From: Peace
Date: 08 Jul 06 - 03:04 AM

Sorry for your loss, Pete.

Regarding the poem:

Parts of it appear in many places on the www, and there are good indications that the first two lines were in common usage before 1892. I will continue looking tomorrow. Have to go now.

Subject: Lyr Req: were did the poem/lyrics,for get me not
From: GUEST,peter
Date: 08 Jul 06 - 02:54 AM

My nanna, who just recently passed away at the age of 102, had the words of a poem (lyrics?) called FORGET ME NOT, and I don't know who wrote it, or how old it is. It goes like this:

When the golden sun is setting and your mind from care is free,
When [of] others you are thinking, will you sometimes think of me?
Think of me when you're happy. Leave for me a little spot.
In the garden of your memory, plant a sweet forget-me-not.

When this you see, remember me, and find me not unkind.
Although you I cannot see, you are a constant in my mind.
[Though] Ocean wide between us roll and distance be our lot,
Should you and I never meet again, dear, forget me not.

I have written some music to the words and I don't want to breach copyright.

Pete