a 1855 popular song
often performed with imitation bird whistles
words by Alice Hawthorne (pseudonym for Septimus Winner)
music by Richard Milburn
Richard “Dick” Milburn, was an African-American boy known as “Whistling Dick”. He had been a beggar, collecting pennies, nickles, and dimes from persons on the streets of Philadelphia, while he whistled and played his guitar. At various times he imitated the warble of the mocking bird. In 1854 Septimus Winner was a 27-year-old Philadelphian who had a music store. Mr. Winner was also a music teacher and had been composing songs for about a year. The melody came to him through Dick’s whistling. In exchange, he hired Dick to run errands for the store. Winner added the words and published the song, which became a favorite of Abraham Lincoln and many others. It was especially popular in the south where mocking birds thrive. My copy says, “Southern Edition”.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
- I’m dreaming now of Hally
Sweet Hally, sweet Hally
I’m dreaming now of Hally
For the thought of her is one that never dies
She’s sleeping in the valley
The valley, the valley
She’s sleeping in the valley
And the mocking bird is singing where she lies
Chorus
Listen to the mocking bird
Listen to the mocking bird
The mocking bird still singing o’er her grave
Listen to the mocking bird
Listen to the mocking bird
Still singing where the weeping willows wave
- Ah! well I yet remember
Remember, remember
Ah! well I yet remember
When we gathered in the cotton side by side
‘Twas in the mild September
September, September
‘Twas in the mild September
And the mocking bird was singing far and wide - When the charms of spring awaken
Awaken, awaken
When the charms of spring awaken
And the mocking bird is singing on the bough
I feel like one forsaken
Forsaken, forsaken
I feel like one forsaken
Since my Hally is no longer with me now
Sung here by Fred Feild: