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19 Nov 02 - 05:55 AM (#829654) Subject: Origins: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: masato sakurai I DREAM OF JEANNIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR (Stephen Foster) is in the DT. The title of the first edition, however, is JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR, and some corrections and an addition of verse 2 are necessary if it means the original. The last 2 lines of each verse (not CHORUS) are not the same throughout. JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair, Borne, like a vapor, on the summer air; I see her tripping where the bright streams play, Happy as the daisies that dance on her way. Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour, Many were the blithe birds that warbled them o'er: Oh! I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair, Floating, like a vapor, on the soft, summer air. I long for Jeanie with the day dawn smile, Radiant in gladness, warm with winning guile; I hear her melodies, like joys gone by, Sighing round my heart o'er the fond hopes that die: Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain, Wailing for the lost one that comes not again: Oh! I long for Jeanie, and my heart bows low, Never more to find her where the bright waters flow. I sigh for Jeanie, but her light form strayed Far from the fond hearts round her native glade; Her smiles have vanished and her sweet songs flown, Flitting like the dreams that have cheered us and gone. Now the nodding wild flowers* may wither on the shore While her gentle fingers will cull them no more; Oh! I sigh for Jeanie with the light brown hair, Floating like a vapor, on the soft summer air. *"flow'rs" (as in the DT) would be better. The sheet music is in the Levy collection (also in American Memory; Click here): Title: Foster's Melodies. No.26. Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair. Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Written and Composed by Stephen C. Foster. Publication: New York: Firth, Pond & Co., No.1 Franklin Square, 1854. Form of Composition: strophic with chorus Instrumentation: piano and voice First Line: I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair, Borne, like a vapor, on the summer air First Line of Chorus: I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair, Floating, like a vapor, on the summer air Engraver, Lithographer, Artist: Lith. of Sarony & Co. N.Y. Plate Number: 2796 Subject: Portraits Subject: Courtship & love Subject: Death Call No.: Box: 067 Item: 086 Note: "The name Jennie, not Jeanie, appears consistently in the draft text on leaves [41v], [42r], and [42v] of Foster's manuscript book; the composer's niece suggested that the publisher asked for the change, but avowed that the song was always known to Foster as 'Jennie with the Light Brown Hair' (see Chronicles, pp. 451-52)." -- S. Saunders and D.L. Root, eds., The Music of Stephen C. Foster: A Critical Edition, vol. 1 (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1990, p. 489). The Chronicles is available online (Click here). The title was retained as "Jeanie ..." in Morrison Foster's Biography, Songs & Musical Compositions of Stephen C. Foster (Percy F. Smith Prinitng and Lithography Co., 1896, pp. 69-70). ~Masato Here's the DT version, for comparison. -Joe Offer- I DREAM OF JEANNIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR (DT Lyrics) (Stephen Foster) I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair Borne like a vapor on the summer air I see her tripping where the bright streams play Happy as the daisies that dance on her way. Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour, Many were the blithe birds that warbled them o'er CHORUS: I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair Floating like a vapor on the soft, summer air.) I sigh for Jeannie, but her light form strayed Far from the fond parts round her native glade; Her smiles have vanished and her sweet songs flown Flitting like the dreams that have cheered us and gone. Now the nodding wild flow'rs may wither on the shore, While her gentle fingers will cull them no more; (CHORUS) filename[ JEANBRWN SW PLEASE NOTE: Because of the volunteer nature of The Digital Tradition, it is difficult to ensure proper attribution and copyright information for every song included. Please assume that any song which lists a composer is copyrighted ©. You MUST aquire proper license before using these songs for ANY commercial purpose. If you have any additional information or corrections to the credit or copyright information included, please e-mail those additions or corrections to us (along with the song title as indexed) so that we can update the database as soon as possible. Thank You. And the Traditional Ballad Index entry: Jeanie with the Light Brown HairDESCRIPTION: "I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair, Borne, like a vapor, on a summer's air." The singer praises her voice, her "day-dawn smile," etc., but sadly concludes, that he is "never more to find her where the bright waters flow."AUTHOR: Stephen C. Foster EARLIEST DATE: 1854 (sheet music by Firth, Pond & Co.) KEYWORDS: love separation nonballad FOUND IN: US REFERENCES (5 citations): Fireside, p. 100, "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" (1 text, 1 tune) Silber-FSWB, p. 249, "Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair" (1 text) Emerson, p. 53, "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" (1 text) Fuld-WFM, pp. 311-312, "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" DT, JEANBRWN Roud #V288 ALTERNATE TITLES: I Dream of Jeanie NOTES [410 words]: Jeanie was Foster's wife, Jane McDowell Foster. Had she known the uses to which her image would be put (from hair advertisements in the 1860s to idiotic television shows a century later), I can only think she would have filed for pre-emptive divorce. (As it was, the marriage was deeply troubled.) Legman regards "Jeanie" as an adaption (he calls it plagiarism) of "To Daunton Me," found in the Scots Musical Museum (#182). But Legman often saw kinship that others do not see; Fuld says there is "no similarity between the two songs," and I have to agree that I see no points of contact between either the text or the tune. According to Howard, p. 241, if Foster was plagiarizing anyone, it was himself; the first part of the tune of "Jeanie" is quite close to "Willie We Have Missed You," which Foster (based on his working notebook) had written slightly earlier. It appears from the notebook that Foster wrote "Jeanie" while he and his wife were separated (although Morneweck, p. 451, claims it comes from one of their reconciliations), and it seems not unlikely that he wrote it because he missed her. Howard comments that it is "one of Stephen's very few successful love songs"; otherwise, Howard suggests, Foster didn't write very well about love. Spaeth, p. 116, says of this song, "Jeanie is the song that America discovered during those incredibly dull months when radio decided that it could get along without copyrighted music. Before that it had been considered a choice bit of rather obscure Fosteriana." TaylorEtAl, p. 111, points out that many Foster songs have a heroine whose name was a variation on Jeanie: this song, "Little Jenny Dow," "Jenny's Coming O'er the Green," "Jenny June." Could all these be tributes to Foster's wife? It wouldn't surprise me; in "Little Jenny Dow," even the last name is reminiscent of Jane's family name McDowell. Morneweck, pp. 451-452, says that Morrison Foster, Stephen's brother, never used the name "Jeanie" of the song. "It was always 'Jennie with the Light Brown Hair,' and Jennie you will find in Stephen Foster's original manuscript book. Jane was not called Jeanie by her family, but was often addressed by the affectionate diminutive, Jennie. It is more likely that the publishers suggested to Stephen that he change it to the more euphonious and romantic Jeanie, as more appealing to public taste. But Jennie it was to Stephen, and Jennie it was to his brother Mit [i.e. Morrison]."- RBW Bibliography
File: FSWB249 Go to the Ballad Search form Go to the Ballad Index Instructions The Ballad Index Copyright 2020 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. |
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19 Nov 02 - 07:07 AM (#829684) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: Jeanie Ah, Masato, I couldn't let this go by without comment! You've made me smile and cry at the same time: my grandma used to sing this to me every time I visited her. Thanks for making my day ! You're right about the spelling - that's the way I've always spelt it, anyway. I'd never seen the sheet music for it before - and as for the portrait on your second link, well just add a fringe and that's me alright. No need to add my photo to the Members' Profiles now - I'm there already !! Cheers, - jeanie |
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19 Nov 02 - 11:25 AM (#829894) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: Genie Thanks for the sheet music link, Masato. (Then there's Bugs Bunny's version: "I Dream Of Jeanie, She's A Light Brown Hare.") ;-D |
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19 Nov 02 - 03:09 PM (#830109) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: Mr Red Anoraks alert. I posted information on this in another SCF thread - probably Hard Times. Anyway the gist of it is that Jeannie was reckoned to be modelled on his wife Jane (??) who was the daughter of the local doctor. That doctor administered to Charles Dickens when SCF was 16 and arranged a meeting between SCF & CD. The commonality of the title Hard Times (book and song) are related by this meeting. Anorak off. |
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19 Nov 02 - 03:17 PM (#830117) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: Bullfrog Jones Ever heard the Spike Jones version -- I Dream of Brownie With The Light Blue Jeans (she is as sweet as licorice jelly beans)? BJ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u07gqBqHc4 |
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19 Nov 02 - 03:31 PM (#830128) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: Willa Thank you Masato. i've sung this so many times, but didn't know of a third verse. It holds special memories for me, too, Jeanie. My mother, Jennie, sang it to us, and the description is a good description of her. Lovely to find the Jennie mention in Masato's post! |
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19 Nov 02 - 03:37 PM (#830129) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: greg stephens I remember a very good Bilko show version with Doberman singing the "Many were the wild notes" bit. |
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20 Nov 02 - 01:26 AM (#830427) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: Coyote Breath Ah yes Bullfrog! "She makes me happy and she makes me feel merrier. Brownie is my favorite, wire haired terrier." When I was a lad we had a collection of Spike Jones' songs. Cocktails for Two was my favorite cause it had sirens and gunshots! CB |
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20 Nov 02 - 11:44 AM (#830767) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: Genie Jeanie, I, too have special fondness for this song. It's kinda my No. 2 "my song." I was named for the song "Jeanine, I Dream Of Lilac Time" (though my mom altered the spelling by one letter), but various people in my life--most notably my grandpa--have called me "Jeanie," so it's still kind of a nickname for me (hence my Mudcat 'handle'). Genie |
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21 Nov 02 - 09:29 AM (#831567) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: Bullfrog Jones CB --- I spent many happy hours as a kid exploring my dad's collection of 78's, discovering the likes of Spike Jones and Red Ingle and The Natural Seven (an offshoot from the SJ Orch)and playing them to my mates. Last year in the HMV sale I picked up a 4 CD box set with pretty much everything SJ ever did, and the liner notes allowed me to establish something I'd been wondering all this time ---that what sounds like an Elvis Presley spoof in Hawaiian War Chant actually predates him by several years.Click here for more Spike Jones info and downloads. BJ |
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30 Jun 07 - 04:04 PM (#2091085) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: SINSULL There was a movie based on the song circa 1950. Victor Mature, maybe. Anyway, it was dreadfully dull except for the music. And most notable of all - three different times I thought the movie had ended only to have it move on to an additional soap opera plot twist. |
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30 Jun 07 - 04:45 PM (#2091113) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: GUEST,leeneia I read a short biog of Foster in a collection of his songs, and it said that Jeannie was a little girl who lived across the street from Foster's parents' house in Ohio. I believe Stephen Foster, his wife and child lived in that house, too. |
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30 Jun 07 - 05:23 PM (#2091141) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR From: Q (Frank Staplin) Excellent and complex midi here, also midis of all Foster songs. www.stephen-foster-songs.de/Archiv02.htm Stephen C. Foster Foster's mother was named Jeanie. The 1854 published title was "Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair." At the above website, the sheet music covers of 1854 are illustrated, with the complete text. Go direct: Jeanie lyrics This very attractive website is complete and accurate. Many other 19th c. popular songs are there as well. |
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30 Jun 07 - 07:15 PM (#2091205) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair From: masato sakurai New link to Evelyn Foster Morneweck, Chronicles of Stephen Foster's Family, Vol. 2 (1937), p. 451 at Historic Pittsbutgh. And link to Stephen Foster's Sketchbook, [41v], [42r], and [42v] at The Center for American Music, where Foster wrote "I dream of Jennie with the light brown hair." |
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30 Jun 07 - 08:58 PM (#2091263) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair From: Q (Frank Staplin) Mother's maiden name- Elizabeth Clayland Tomlinson Father's name- William Barclay Foster Wife- Jane Denny McDowell (later remarried- Wylie) "by her family" ..."addressed by the affectionate diminutive 'Jennie'" says Morneweck in "Chronicles ...." (link by Masato). I wonder if there an affectionate name for Foster's mother, Elizabeth? leeneia, in what song collection did you find Jennie, the child? |
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30 Jun 07 - 09:29 PM (#2091284) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair From: masato sakurai From Stephen Foster's Sketchbook: Date: June 26, 1851 Transcript: Jennie .
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30 Jun 07 - 10:27 PM (#2091307) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair From: katlaughing Sinsull, there is a movie by that title listed at IMDB, but nothing about the cast. That one came out in 1940. There is a movie poster for it which sold on ebay with main characters played by Ray Middleton,Bill Shirley and Muriel Lawrence. I see Rex Allen's name, too! I don't know how long the link will work, but you may view it HERE. Whoops, hold that...the ebay seller seems to have it wrong. Here's what I found for a 1952 movie starring the folks on the poster: Republic, 1952, B/W, 102 minutes, *** A musical biography and celebration of the works of Stephen Collins Foster. Foster was the first major American songwriter. Includes many of Foster's greatest songs, most of which are still very popular today. Much of his music is timeless, including "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair," "Beautiful Dreamer," "Oh! Susanna," "My Old Kentucky Home," and many others. Very enjoyable film! The title is erroneously spelled "Jeannie" on the videotape sleeve, and consequently it is misspelled on many video stores' web sites (minor detail). Producer: Herbert J. Yates Directed by: Allan Dwan Written by: Alan LeMay Music Adapted and Directed by: Robert Armbruster Song Score: Stephen Foster Dance Direction: Nick Castle Company Art Director: Frank Hotaling Set Decorations: John McCarthy, Jr.; James Redd Costumes Designed by: Adele Palmer Makeup Supervision: Bob Mark Hair Stylist: Peggy Gray Sound: T. A. Carman, Howard Wilson, John A. Stransky, Jr. Photographed by: Reggie Lanning Special Effects: Howard and Theodore Lydecker Film Editor: Fred Allen Cast: Ray Middleton [Edwin P. Christy], Bill Shirley [Stephen Foster], Muriel Lawrence [Inez McDowell], Dick Simmons [Dunning Foster], Rex Allen [Mr. Tambo / Narrator], Lynn Bari [Mrs. Dowell], Louise Beavers [Mammy], Eileen Christy [Jeanie McDowell], Robert Neil [Milford Wilson], Percy Helton [Mr. Horker], James Kirkwood [Doctor], James Dobson [Spike], Fred Moultrie [Chitlins], Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer [Freddie], Andrew Tombes [R.E. Howard], Glen Turnbull [Specialty Dancer] Musical Program: [0:01] Oh! Susanna (excerpt sung by Chorus and played on Calliope); [0:05] Oh! Boys, Carry Me 'Long (sung by Chorus); [0:10] Old Dog Tray (sung by Bill Shirley and Tray the Dog); [0:12] Oh! Susanna (sung by Bill Shirley and Eileen Christy); [0:13] De Camptown Races (sung by Bill Shirley and Eileen Christy); [0:14] Soirée Polka (introduced as "Jeanie's Own Polka") (played on flute by Bill Shirley onscreen, danced by Eileen Christy); [0:16] On Wings of Song (sung by Muriel Lawrence and Bill Shirley); [0:29] Lo! Here the Gentle Lark (sung by Muriel Lawrence, accompanied by Bill Shirley on flute onscreen and other musicians); [0:31] The Glendy Burk (sung by Ray Middleton); [0:35] Nelly Bly (sung by Ray Middleton); [0:37] Melinda May (sung by Ray Middleton); [0:38] My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night (sung by Ray Middleton); [0:40] Gentle Annie (excerpt sung by Ray Middleton); [0:42] Medley of Foster's songs played and sung during Christy's parade; [0:46] Ring de Banjo (sung by Christy's Minstrels); [0:49] Old Folks at Home (sung and danced by Christy's Minstrels); [0:52] Beautiful Dreamer (sung by Bill Shirley serenading Inez); [0:58] Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming (sung by Rex Allen and Christy's Minstrels); [1:02] Medley of Foster's songs danced by Glen Turnbull; [1:03] Some Folks (sung and danced by Christy's Minstrels); [1:08] Head Over Heels (sung and danced by Eileen Christy); [1:15] Ribbon in Your Hair (sung by Muriel Lawrence and Eileen Christy); [1:17] Old Black Joe (sung by fisherman as steamboat passes by); [1:19] The Jeannie Polka (?) (reprised by Bill Shirley on flute onscreen); [1:21] The Glendy Burk (reprised by Ray Middleton); [1:23] I See Her Still in My Dreams (sung by Eileen Christy and Bill Shirley); [1:27] Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (sung by Bill Shirley, Ray Middleton, Eileen Christy and Chorus) |
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02 Jul 07 - 04:29 AM (#2092206) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair From: dermod in salisbury Seeing the words in full of Jeanie, there is striking similarity of language and idea to the much less well known Foster song (but equally compelling), Come With Thy Sweet Voice Again. Both express yearning for a love, lost and irretrievably locked in the past. I have only heard one recording of it, by the tenor Robert White, and even that is long since out of the catalogues. I wonder why one is so well known, and the other so obscure. Words, as I recall them, are: Come with they sweet voice again To my heart still dear Laden with soft soothing pain Like a tear, like a tear. Bright visions long vanished Round thy melodies beam Lulled in the lap of a sigh Let me dream, let me dream. Come again. Come with thy sweet voice again. Bring not the music that tells How the light hours roll Bring but the music that wells From thy soul, from thy soul. Come not with bright offerings Cold, unhallowed, and new Bring but thine own gentle heart Ever true, ever true. Come again. Come with they sweet voice again. |
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02 Jul 07 - 12:21 PM (#2092443) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair From: GUEST,leeneia "leeneia, in what song collection did you find Jennie, the child?" It was Jeannie, not Jennie. Sorry, I can't remember what book it was. I was browsing through it at the local Half-Price book store, then decided not to buy it. It was probably this: A Treasury of Stephen Foster arranged for piano, with historical notes by Stephen Foster, Deems Taylor, William Sharp, and Historical Notes John Tasker Howard (Sheet music - Jan 1, 1946) 35 Used & new from $0.30 |
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02 Jul 07 - 01:47 PM (#2092517) Subject: Lyr Add: COME WITH THY SWEET VOICE AGAIN (Foster) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Very close, dermod. Here are the lyrics from the sheet music. Lyr. Add: COME WITH THY SWEET VOICE AGAIN Stephen C. Foster 1854 1. Come with thy sweet voice again, To my heart still dear, Laden with soft, soothing pain, Like a tear, like a tear. Bright visions, long vanished, Round thy melodies beam: Lulled in the lap of thy sighs, Let me dream, let me dream. Refrain: Come again! Comer with thy sweet voice again! Come, oh! come again! Come with thy sweet voice again! 2. Bring not a language that tells How the light hours roll: Come with the music that wells From thy soul, from thy soul. Come not with bright off'rings, Cold, unhallowed and new: Bring but thine own gentle heart, Ever true, ever true. Refrain: Sheet music published by Firth, Pond & Co., N. Y. 1854. Foster melodies No. 27. http://www.stephen-foster-songs.de/Archiv02.htm or direct to song: http://www.stephen-foster-songs.de/Foster83.htm Come With Thy Sweet Many beautiful Foster melodies, so few heard now. All of them are at this website, with excellent midis. |
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03 Jul 07 - 11:36 AM (#2093105) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair From: dermod in salisbury Many thanks Q. That is a great site. Fortunately my player is able to slow the midi down to about 70 bpm (from 102) which is more suited to the lovely melody. |
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03 Jul 07 - 10:17 PM (#2093576) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair From: Q (Frank Staplin) I agree. The midis of several have gone to the Camptown Races. |
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08 Dec 10 - 10:16 AM (#3048826) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair From: NRP3 I was glancing through the threads for 'Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair' and hope it is not too late to revise the subject - I have only recently registered at Mudcat. I have a CD of an American tenor, Douglas Jimerson, who very clearly sings "Jenny" although the track listings call it up as "Jeanie". I understand the Foster family always sang the lyric as 'Jenny with the Light Brown Hair'. The lady in question was, quite definitely, Foster's wife Jane, who left him several times due to his problems with alcohol. On the third occasion she left him for good. It was during one of her "walk-outs" that Stephen apparently wrote the famous verses. My own favourite interpreter of Foster songs is the American baritone Thomas Hampson. On his album I regard the song 'Comrades, Fill no Glass for Me' as being very poignant, reflecting on Stephen Foster facing his serious drink problem with considerable dignity and integrity. Alas, Hampson doesn't include 'Old Dog Tray' on this CD. NRP3. Jimerson recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5dyDx2mqNo |
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13 Oct 13 - 04:13 PM (#3566613) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair From: Q (Frank Staplin) Is it possible to correct the DT lyrics? The first verse is correct, but two and three are lacking, and words following the first verse are not by Foster. Also, the song is listed under "I dream of Jeannie....; the title is "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair," and it should be under "J". |