Lyr Req: Songs by Harry Clifton (1832-1872)

Subject: RE: Help: Harry Clifton Songwriter
From: Artful Codger
Date: 09 Aug 10 - 01:48 PM

You may find a broadside version (probably closer to Clifton's original song) at The Bodleian Library ballads site. Clifton's song begins, "I live at the mill, at the foot of the hill / Where the streams run rippling by."

The Clifton lyrics were also quoted in Gem of the West and Soldiers' Friend, Volume 7 (1873, p. 128). A plain-text OCR'd view is available.

If you have a tune for this, we'd appreciate getting hold of it. If you have a MIDI, send a PM to Joe Offer to arrange a transfer. If you have notated music or a sound file, PM me and I can help with a transcription to ABC/MIDI.

[There is also a song titled "You're Welcome as the Flowers in May" which was written by Dan J. Sullivan: "Last night I dreamed a sweet, sweet dream..." Entirely different beast.]

Subject: RE: Help: Harry Clifton Songwriter
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Aug 10 - 01:24 AM

I posted the lyrics to AS WELCOME AS THE FLOWERS IN MAY, written by Harry Clifton, in the thread Lyr Req: songs in the play 'Love on the Dole'

Subject: RE: Help: Harry Clifton Songwriter
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 24 Aug 10 - 09:46 AM

HENRY ROBERT CLIFTON

22 January (1873)

Administration (with the Will and Codicil) of the effects of Henry Robert Clifton, late of 26 St. Stephen's-road, Shepherd's Bush, in the County of Middlesex, Public Singer, who died 15 July 1872 at 26 St. Stephen's-road, was granted at the Principal Registry to Frances Wright Edwards of 26 St. Stephen's-road, Spinster, the Universal Legatee, for Life.

Effects under £6,000.

(My punctuation). Looks like Fanny won the 'battle of wills'.

Subject: RE: Help: Harry Clifton Songwriter
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 12:53 PM

Henry "Harry" Clifton, singer and songwriter was my paternal great grandfather. If you care to contact me sometime, I can tell you the names of his children.

Subject: RE: Help: Harry Clifton Songwriter
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 02:32 PM

GUEST,
Thanks for your offer. If you look back at the 2008 postings on this thread you will see messages from 4 others of Harry's descendants.

Carole Wallis
Robert P
Mark Turner
K Ball.

It would be great to see a wewbsite devoted to Harry's life and songs.

Subject: RE: Help: Harry Clifton Songwriter
From: GUEST,GUEST Betty M. J.
Date: 23 May 14 - 02:57 PM

Hello! Does anybody happen to have or know where I could find sheet music or music on a video or CD of Harry Clifton's song Where There's A Will?

I did find lyrics on this website and a snipbit of the song(under a name of MIDI) but I'd like to hear or have the music to play the whole song (as I can play a wee bit of piano).
Please reply to this message or email [e-mail]!

Subject: RE: Help: Harry Clifton Songwriter
From: MartinRyan
Date: 27 May 14 - 08:07 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Help: Harry Clifton Songwriter
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 27 May 14 - 10:29 AM

This site has the dots for some of Harry's songs (type 'Harry Clifton' in the search box).

Subject: RE: Help: Harry Clifton Songwriter
From: GUEST, Betty M.J.
Date: 27 May 14 - 11:59 AM

Sminky, thank you for the suggestion. I did look at that website and they do have some of Harry's songs (and I will use it when I need sheet music for his other songs) but sadly they do not carry "Where There's A Will" anymore. Thank you so much though!

If anybody knows where to find or if you have the sheet music online (or know where I can hear a video of the song's tune) please, please do not hesitate to respond to this thread. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Help: Harry Clifton Songwriter (1832-1872)
From: GUEST,Jolly
Date: 20 Feb 17 - 01:42 PM

Hello, I would be delighted if anyone could give me information about Mr William Halliday, who wrote the music for Mr Harry Clifton's song "Awfully Jolly". He may be the same William Halliday who was the pianist in Mr Harry Clifton's Concert Company - Jan 10 1869. I would like to know if this William Halliday is the same person as my great-grandfather William Halliday (1842-1878) who was a music shop keeper and piano maker on Whitechapel Road in the East End of London. One of his sons went into Music Hall, so I think it is possible.

See Sminky's post of 14 May 10 - 09:23 AM

Many thanks

Subject: RE: Help: Harry Clifton Songwriter (1832-1872)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 26 Jul 17 - 04:51 PM

Have just acquired further HC songs including 4 ones I haven't already got sheet music to.

Never Look Behind
Percy St. Barbe
My Matilda Jane or, Married on Michaelmas Day
I'm Number One.

The third one mentions all the girls in the other songs who rejected him.

The book is Harry Clifton's Book of Comic and Motto Songs, published by Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew. It has 16 songs in it, but 12 are already dealt with above. It's serial number is H&C 1862. I'd guess about 1885.