The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #30595 Message #393679
Posted By: Jimmy C
08-Feb-01 - 08:33 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: When You Were Sweet Sixteen (J Thornton)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When you were sweet sixteen
" The song was written by James Thornton for his wife Bonny. He had apparently not been a very good husband to her. Everytime she threatened to leave him he always gave her flowers and candy etc. After a 4 or 5 day drunk he knew that flowers woud not do it so he tried to express his feelings for her on paper and the result was " Sweet Sixteen"."
It was recorded by a number of people, but Jolson made it a big hit. unfortunately Thornton did not live long enough to hear his words being sung all over the country.
I have an old live recording of Jolson in concert singing it and the above is how he introduced the song.