"I Hear You Calling Me" | |
---|---|
Song | |
Published | 1908 |
Composer(s) | Charles Marshall |
Lyricist(s) | Harold Lake |
"I Hear You Calling Me" is a British popular song published in London in 1908 by Boosey & Co. The lyrics were by Harold Lake (a journalist writing as Harold Harford) and the music by Charles Marshall. The song became a bestseller for the tenor John McCormack.
Harold Lake had been a great friend of Harry Dearth, the ballad singer, from when they had been in the choir school of Westminster Abbey together. Dearth had urged Lake to try to write lyrics, but it was not until some years after, that "I Hear You Calling Me" was written. Lake explained that behind the events which led up to its composition lay a story of youthful romance: [1]
A 16-year-old pupil teacher at an elementary school in Canterbury met a girl nearly a year his junior. Then followed three years of utter devotion as only the very young can know, then a fortnight of galloping consumption, and a lad of 19 standing on a November day grave.
Six years later, Lake woke up one morning and the words came to him; they were written in 20 minutes. [1] He was reported to have sold the song for a few pounds, but made a fortune from the sale of its gramophone recordings. [2]
Marshall, who at this time was a struggling songwriter, visited the tenor John McCormack at his lodgings and played him the piece; McCormack started to sing it, and soon became enthusiastic. He suggested that they should visit Mr. Arthur Boosey as he would be sure to publish it. [3]
The song became a bestseller for McCormack and helped to start him on the road to success. [1] He recorded it six times in total, twice for Odeon and four times for Victor. [4] The song became so closely identified with him that his wife Lily adopted it as the title of her biography of him. [3] [5]
The following lyrics are taken from the sheet music published in 1908: [6] [7]
Verse 1:
Verse 2:
Verse 3:
Below is a list of artists who have recorded the song with the recording date and record information (where known):
You can use the following links to listen to the song being sung by:
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Mary Hannah (May) Brahe was an Australian composer, best known for her songs and ballads. Her most famous song by far is "Bless This House", recorded by John McCormack, Beniamino Gigli, Lesley Garrett and Bryn Terfel. According to Move.com.au: "She was the only Australian woman composer to win local an international recognition before World War II," having "290 of her 500 songs published. Of these, 248 were written under her own name, the remainder under aliases.
"Roses of Picardy" is a popular British song with lyrics by Frederick Weatherly and music by Haydn Wood. Published in London in 1916 by Chappell & Co, it was one of the most famous songs of the First World War and has been recorded frequently up to the present day.
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"The Sunshine of Your Smile" is a British popular song published in London in 1913 just before the First World War by Francis, Day and Hunter. The lyrics were by Leonard Cooke and the music by Lilian Ray. It became a top ten hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1980, sung by Mike Berry.
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"Calling Me Home To You" is an American song written by Edward Teschemacher and composed by Francis Dorel. The song was first recorded on May 31, 1916, by Alfred De Manby, a baritone vocalist, for Columbia Records.
"When My Ships Come Sailing Home" is an American song composed by Francis Dorel and lyrics by Reginald Stewart. The sheet music for the song was distributed as early as 1913 by Boosey & Co, one of the forerunners of the Boosey & Hawkes publishing firm.
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This is a summary of 1908 in music in the United Kingdom.