Origins: Sweet Forget Me Not (Bobby Newcomb, 1877)

Subject: RE: Sweet-Forget-Me-Not
From: R. Padgett
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 11:52 AM

It is interesting how songs get about

I have a lovely cassette recording of the late Tom Brown and Bertha (Bertha still alive) singing this together UK living in Worksop, but originally a traditional singer from Norfolk!

Some years ago now

Subject: RE: Sweet-Forget-Me-Not
From:
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 06:18 PM

fobyrne, you should check the information in the Forum as well. We'd already covered that information

Sweet Forget Me Not in Forum

PLEASE check the forum as information quite often is already here.

Subject: RE: Sweet-Forget-Me-Not
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 03:10 PM

Link to website given above; collections, Leach:
Sweet Forget-Me-Not

Subject: Sweet-Forget-Me-Not
From:
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 02:54 PM

This song is listed as a traditional song in the lyric's pages. It was in fact, written and published by a Booby Newcomb from Cincinnati.

History: "composed in 1877 by Bobby Newcomb of Cincinnati who published it in sheet music as a "Song with Waltz Chorus." It appeared in a late 19th century "Irish Songster" published in the United States. By the middle years of the twentieth century it was in oral tradition in Newfoundland. It was particularly popular in the St. Mary's Bay area. In the 1970s a hit recording of it by Branch native Eddie Coffey gave it even more popularity" (Rosenberg in West 1: 56).

http://collections.ic.gc.ca/leach/songs/NFLD1/1A-3.htm

Subject: RE: Sweet Forget Me Not, Lyrics please
From:
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 01:51 PM

Ian's name is the one shown in the DT's file.

It is certainly interesting that this lovely song from Ohio does NOT survive in the states, but is still sung in Newfoundland, about 2000 miles away!

Subject: RE: Sweet Forget Me Not, Lyrics please
From: kendall
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 08:44 PM

Ian Robb also recorded it

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET FORGET-ME-NOT (Bobby Newcomb)
From:
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 07:05 PM

The words in the DT are slightly different than what is found in the sheet music from 1877. The amazing thing is how much of it is the same!

Sweet Forget-Me-Not
Words and Music by Bobby Newcomb, Ohio, 1877

SWEET FORGET-ME-NOT (Bobby Newcomb) Oh fancy brings a thought to me, Of flowers sweet and rare, With grace and beauty there combined And brightest hues so fair, So like a maiden that I loved, I was my happy lot, I whispered where we party last, Oh, you'll forget me not.   Chorus Graceful and as charming as a lily in the pond Time has passed so swiftly for of her I am so fond Daisies and the roses too, they grow around the spot, Where we parted and I whispered "You'll forget me not"   We met I really don't know where, But still 'tis all the same, For love walks in the busy streets As well as in the lane. I gently pressed her tiny hand, She glanced at me a shot, She dropped a flower, I picked it up, A sweet forget me not.   At last there came a happy day, And something that I said, Just caused her lips to murmur, yes, And shortly we were wed. A little garden by the brook, And a tiny garden spot, Where grows a little flower called A sweet forget me not.

THE SWEET FORGET-ME-NOT (DT Lyrics) Fancy brings a thought to mind Of a flower that's bright and fair Its grace and beauty both combine A brighter jewel more rare Just like a maiden that I know Who shared my happy lot She whispered when we parted last "Oh, you'll forget me not" She's graceful and she's charming Like the lily in the pond Time is flying swiftly by Of her I am so fond The roses and the daisies Are blooming 'round the spot Where we parted, when she whispered "You'll forget me not" We met, I really don't know where But still it's just the same For love grows in the city streets As well as in the lane I gently clasped her tiny hand One glance at me she shot She dropped her flower, I picked it up 'Twas the sweet forget-me-not And then there came a happy time When something that I said Caused her lips to murmur "Yes" And shortly we were wed There is a cott' down in the land And a tiny plot Where grows a flower, I know it well It's the sweet forget-me-not.

Subject: RE: Sweet Forget Me Not, Lyrics please
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 06:32 PM

In addition to the before mentioned recordings by De Dannan/Dolores Keane and Ryan's Fancy, you might look for versions by Eddie Coffey and A. Frank Willis, two more Newfoundland performers.

Subject: RE: Sweet Forget Me Not, Lyrics please
From:
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 06:12 PM

It's really funny that the Search can't find this thread when looking as Sweet Forget Me Not, but it will find it when I look for the words "Bobby Newcomb".

Anyway, the Sheet Music can be found in the Library of Congress

Sweet Forget-Me-Not

Subject: RE: Sweet Forget Me Not, Lyrics please
From:
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 06:22 PM

Ryan's Fancy from eastern Canada also recorded a version.

Subject: RE: Sweet Forget Me Not, Lyrics please
From: Dale Rose
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 05:21 PM

The notes to Ballroom properly attribute the origin of the song.

Dolores learnt this song some years ago in Newfoundland, where it's so popular it's almost a second national anthem. In fact, it is an American song, collected in the late nineteenth century in Ohio, but it has only survived in oral tradition in Newfoundland.

To be more specific, it was copyrighted in Cincinnati in 1877, with words and music by Bobby Newcomb. Whether it was a reworking or an original by Newcomb, I don't know.

Good album, Tiger, you can't go wrong with it.

Subject: RE: Sweet Forget Me Not, Lyrics please
From: Tiger
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 04:33 PM

That's it, Joe. Thanks

Subject: RE: Sweet Forget Me Not, Lyrics please
From: Tiger
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 04:28 PM

Hi, schmuze.....

I'm after this one, too. Pretty song.

I do know it's on the "Ballroom" album and there are sound clips available from the major on-line CD sellers.

I first heard a bit of it on "A Celtic Sojourn", liked it so much I called the station and got them to check the playlist to find out the name.

I hope someone comes up with the words, but I'm gonna get the CD anyway.

.....Tiger

Subject: RE: Sweet Forget Me Not, Lyrics please
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 04:26 PM

Hi, schmuze - the database is back up, and you can find it by putting forget me not in the search box. Or, you can be lazy and click here. I hope that's the song you're looking for. If not, come back to this thread and give us more information.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Sweet Forget Me Not, Lyrics please
From: schmuze (inactive)
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 03:53 PM

Help I need the words to this by next week, that is committed to memory with chords and harmony all sorted out!! I heard Dolores Keane sing it with De Dannan, but I don't have the album or even remember which one it's on, help me Mudcatters!!!