Lyr Add: The Way to Be Happy (Harry Clifton)

15 Jun 10 - 12:06 AM (#2928048)
Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: THE WAY TO BE HAPPY (Harry Clifton)
From: Artful Codger

THE WAY TO BE HAPPY
   A song with a sentiment.
   Written, composed and sung by Harry Clifton. [1868]
   Tempo: Allegretto.

A simple song I sing to you,
The subject anything but new,
And yet I trust 'will please a few,
Perhaps nine out of ten.
   'Tis meant to suit both grave and gay,
   A healthy moral to convey,
   And if you follow all I say,
   You will be happy men.
To those who feel dispirited
I merely wish to show
The future will be brighter
If they try to make it so.
   But if a moment you'll allow,
   And pay attention to me now,
   I fancy I can tell you how,
   You may be happy men.

        2
If you are anxious to get wed,
By "beauty" only, don't be led,
But seek for "sterling worth" instead,
And find one if you can.
   Whose trusting faith and constancy
   Will cheer you on life's stormy sea,
   Then even in adversity
   You'll be a happy man.
Be gentle to each other
Whatever intervenes.
Remember if you mean to live,
To live within your means.
   The truth of this you can't deny,
   If on yourself you will rely,
   Success will greet you by and bye
   And you'll be a happy man.

        3
Oh! never joke or sneer a friend,
A jest it may perchange offend,
And wound him when you don't intend,
So let this be your plan.
   If faults in others you detect,
   Look to yourself, and then reflect,
   Perhaps you have the same defect,
   Remove it, if you can.
Civility cost nothing,
Of this you may be sure;
Respectful be to all around,
And kindly treat the poor.
   Your business done, don't stay out late;
   To help a friend ne'er hesitate;
   Live well—but still live temperate,
   And you'll be a happy man.

        4
Whae'er your grade in life may be,
The mainspring of prosperity
You'll find is strict integrity,
So let it be your plan.
   To set with great propriety,
   Avoiding low society,
   And studying sobriety,
   But do the best you can.
When troubles are approaching,
Not to meet them on the way
But bear up bravely, nobly,
They soon will pass away.
   And if at last by diligence,
   You find the way to opulence,
   Then practise true benevolence
   And you must be happy men.


Source: Sheet music published by Hopwood and Crew, 1868. H&C 1429.
Scans provided by Steve Gardham from his personal collection.
Above the title:
Respectfully dedicated by the Author to his friend Mr Duncan M'Laren, promoter of the Staurday Evening Concerts — Edinburgh.

Notes from Steve Gardham:

Cover information:
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR TO HIS FRIEND
MR. DUNCAN McLAREN,
PROMOTER OF THE SATURDAY EVENING CONCERTS, EDINBURGH.
THE WAY TO BE HAPPY
A SONG WITH SENTIMENT
WRITTEN, COMPOSED AND SUNG
BY
HARRY CLIFTON
AT HIS
POPULAR CONCERTS,
THROUGHOUT GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
London; HOPWOOD & CREW, 42 New Bond St.
OFFICE OF, "BOND STREET," MUSICAL MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
NEW & POPULAR SONGS, BALLADS & DANCE MUSIC, PRICE ONE SHILLING

BW litho by Maguire with beige background in oval frame. Three-quarter typical besuited HC pose with left hand on hip.

Serial number H & C 1429
Back cover contains a fairly comprehensive list of HC's most popular material along with first lines; + choruses to 9 of his well-known chorus songs.

Dating by Sminky/Era 1868
Info from SG's own copy. Another copy at OLIS, Harding R684 but this one published by Edwin Ashdown, serial number EA 18351

Broadside printed by Glasgow Poet's Box in 1871

ABC transcription of the melody:

X:1
T:The Way to Be Happy
N:"A song with a sentiment."
C: Written and composed by Harry Clifton. 1868.
S:Sheet music published by Hopwood and Crew, 1868. H&C 1429.
N:Scans provided by Steve Gardham from his personal collection.
%%MIDI program 69
M:2/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=92 " Allegretto"
K:F
C | F E G> F | E D G> A | c B D E | G F C> C |
w: A sim-ple song I sing to you, The sub-ject a-ny-thing but new, And
F E G> F | E D G> A | c B D E | F2-F C |
w: yet I trust 'twill please a few, Per-haps nine out of ten._ 'Tis
F E G> F | E D G A | c B D E | G F C> C |
w: meant to suit both grave and gay, A health-y mor-al to con-vey, And
F E G F | E D G> A | c B D< E | F2-F G |
w: if you fol-low all I say, You will be hap-py men._ To
G c c> d | c =B B> B | A G D ^D | E2-E G |
w: those who feel dis-pir-it-ed I mere-ly wish to show_ The
G c c =B | d c =B A | "^ad lib." G ^F =F D | C2-C C |
w: fu-ture will be bright-er If they try to make it so._ But
F E G> F | E D G> A | c B D E | G F C> C |
w: if a mo-ment you'll al-low, And pay at-ten-tion to me now, I
F E G> F | E D G> A | c B D< E | F2-F z ||
w: fan-cy I can tell you how, You may be hap-py men._



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17 Jun 10 - 02:44 AM (#2929601)
Subject: RE: ADD: The Way to Be Happy (Harry Clifton)
From: Joe Offer

MIDI added, thanks to Artful Codger

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