Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now

Subject: Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 26 - 01:01 AM

My mother (born in the early 30s) used to sing an old song that included the lyrics,

Many's the time I held you
Soothing your baby brow
You only made my arms ache then
You're making my heart ache now

I'd love to find out what the song was, but internet searches only seem to come up with recent songs. Can anyone help?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now
From: Helen
Date: 01 Sep 26 - 01:33 AM

Thanks Guest,

I could not find any songs which matched any of those lines.

It would help if you could give us some more information.

Do you know what style of song it was, e.g. swing, jazz, country, traditional, popular etc? Was it a solo performer, a group or a singer with a band?

Did your Mother tell you how she knew the song and where she would have heard it? On the radio, on a record, maybe in a live performance etc?

Do you know who the original singer might have been?

Any clues you can give us may be helpful.

Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now
From: Helen
Date: 01 Sep 26 - 02:09 AM

Some more questions:

Do you remember story line of the song? Why is the child making the mother's heart ache now? I'm wondering if it is about a soldier lost or injured in a war, or someone who is being punished for a crime committed, etc.

Do you remember how the story ends?

Also, what style of music did your Mother like to listen to or to sing?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Sep 26 - 04:29 AM

They're great questions, Helen.

My mother was a cabaret singer in the late 40s and early 50s in Melbourne. I know she used to do a lot of Ella Fitzgerald stuff. Her tastes were pretty eclectic, but I don't recall her ever getting into rock and roll

Her older brother was a big Tex Morton fan, and when I was a kid we still had a cupboard full of old Tex Morton 78s. When Mum was in a melancholy mood she'd often sing some of Tex's songs but straight and at a slower tempo, with none of the fake American twang or yodelling. I remember her singing "The Luggage Van Ahead", "The Letter Edged in Black" and "You're Going To Leave The Old Home, Jim".

I can't recall any of the story line of the song I'm after, which is the main reason I'm after the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now
From: Helen
Date: 02 Sep 26 - 05:47 AM

Thanks Guest, and a big hello from Newcastle NSW. :-)

I might not be able to narrow down the search but that extra information might help some other Mudcatters to work it out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Sep 26 - 07:29 AM

Hahaha, hello back from Dora Creek!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now
From: Helen
Date: 03 Sep 26 - 03:21 PM

No way, José! Hello neighbour! :-)

I was hoping someone else would have offered some ideas for the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now
From: Helen
Date: 03 Sep 26 - 04:00 PM

A couple more of my thoughts.

The verse reminds me of songs about someone standing in front of the gallows, watching someone they love being hanged for committing a crime. (Sorry for bringing the atmosphere down.)

Also, is it possible that your Mother wrote the song herself?

And, I don't know how we could work this out, but if you could sing or play the melody of the song maybe that would help to identify it.

Lastly, if you know any of the local folkie or Irish musicians in your area, we may have mutual friends.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Sep 26 - 05:37 PM

& Gidday from Sydney

Helen asked my if I knew anything. My favourite radio program decades ago was Sentimental Journey, & when ABC cancelled it, I found a similar program on 2GB!

I don't know the song, but I have a friend who was involved in the early bush/folk scene in Brisbane in the 60s & often pops a strange (non-folkie!) song into sessions. I'll ask him.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now
From: Helen
Date: 03 Sep 26 - 06:18 PM

Thanks Sandra. :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now
From: The Old Major
Date: 06 Sep 26 - 07:27 PM

Hi Helen & Sandra, I'm no longer an anonymous guest!

I've been to several meetings of the Folk Circle at Teralba, so it's highly likely we have joint acquaintances.

I'm sure Mum didn't write the song herself ... I don't remember her ever writing a tune, although she was a demon for making up funny lyrics to songs. Nothing to do with this thread, my favourite is:

             Oh, how we danced on the night we were wed
             We danced and we danced 'cause the room had no bed

I've been ferreting through old Buddy Williams and Tex Morton lyrics, so far unsuccessfully.

Cheers,
Kit

Thanks for your help. I'll keep hacking away.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're making my heart ache now
From: Helen
Date: 06 Sep 26 - 08:28 PM

Welcome to the friendly, helpful and fun Mudcat community, Kit.

I'll be celebrating 30 years of being a Mudcatter in May next year. It's a great site for sharing love of music, mostly folk and blues, but all styles are mentioned here and there.

I'm still no closer to identifying the song and I just listened to some more Tex Morton songs with titles which could relate to that verse, but so far no luck. Is the melody in the style of Tex Morton or Buddy Williams or is it likely to be from a different music genre?

I'm going to send you a PM (personal message). The link will appear just to the right of the Mudcat Cafe logo on the top left of each page. Click on the link and it will take you to the Personal Page. I suspect there will be at least two local musician friends that you might also know.