For Completeness and to keep it all within the Mudcat:

A Favorite Birthday Song

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear [name], Happy birthday to you!"
Our understanding is....

The melody for this well-known song was written by Mildred J. Hill -- a kindergarten teacher and organist in a Kentucky church -- and her sister Patty -- who later became head of the Department of Kindergarten Education at Columbia University's Teacher College.

But originally the song did not even have these lyrics! In fact, it was a school song published in 1893 as "Good Morning to All". In the 1920's the song was published by Robert H. Coleman with "happy birthday to you" added as a second verse. The song grew in popularity and became known as THE birthday song.

Later, Patty and a third sister, Jessica, eventually won recognition for the melody. So now you know the story behind this popular jingle -- a melody written over a century ago, followed thirty birtdays later by the lyrics we know today!

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