Samuel N. Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Samuel N. Mitchell was an American
song lyricist and newspaperman who wrote lyrics for a number of popular songs in the 1870s.Story on Mitchell, Skaneateles Democrat (November 1905?) (reprinted story from New Bedford Standard, lists many of Mitchell's popular songs, but noting that many are rarely song today, such being the nature of popular music)
set them to music. It became popular in England, and eventually theatrical producer Lydia Thompson
brought it back to America in the play Bluebeard, and it became popular in the United States as well. Not making a living on his creations, Mitchell was toiling in a newspaper mailroom despite his lyrical successes.Books at Brown, Volume 21, p. 192 (1966)
Perhaps Mitchell's most enduring song is Put My Little Shoes Away, which he wrote with Charles E. Pratt
in 1873.Erbsen, Wayne. Rural roots of bluegrass: songs, stories & history, p. 138 (2003) A mournful ballad where a dying child tells her mother to put her shoes away to save for her infant brother, it reportedly sold over 100,000 sheet music copies. But its popularity long survived in rural America and became a staple among bluegrass
performers. It was first recorded by Riley Puckett
in 1926, and later by the "Father of Bluegrass" Bill Monroe
(1956), the Everly Brothers
(1958),Strong, Martin C. The essential rock discography, p.375 (2006) Girls of the Golden West
, Woody Guthrie
, Dolly Parton
, and others.
in 1846, and served during the Civil War
in a Rhode Island regiment.Leavitt, Michael Bennett. Fifty years in theatrical management, p. 178 (1912) ("Samuel N. Mitchell, the writer of hundreds of songs sung on both continents, now dead, was one of my life-long friends. He and William A. Huntley could put a song together — Mitchell the words, Huntley the music — in thirty minutes.") He died in Providence on November 7, 1905.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
song lyricist and newspaperman who wrote lyrics for a number of popular songs in the 1870s.Story on Mitchell, Skaneateles Democrat (November 1905?) (reprinted story from New Bedford Standard, lists many of Mitchell's popular songs, but noting that many are rarely song today, such being the nature of popular music)
Songwriter
Mitchell wrote lyrics for many hundreds of songs, and collaborated with a number of composers. One of his most popular songs during his life was Just Touch the Harp Gently, My Pretty Louise, first published in 1870. A 1890 profile of Mitchell in the Boston Globe reported that an astounding (and surely exaggerated) four million copies of the song had been sold.(11 December 1890). A Composer of Songs: He Wrote Sweet Ballads, But Others Got The Ducats, The Day (reprinted from the Boston Globe) Mitchell claimed to never have received any payment for the song, however, as the lyrics were "stolen bodily" from him and brought to London, where Charles BlamphinCharles Blamphin
Charles Blamphin was a British composer and harpist. Among his popular compositions were When The Corn Is Waving, Annie Dear and Just Touch the Harp Gently, My Pretty Louise .. , The Day -External links:* by the Peerless Quartet...
set them to music. It became popular in England, and eventually theatrical producer Lydia Thompson
Lydia Thompson
Lydia Thompson, born Eliza Hodges Thompson , was an English dancer, actress and theatrical producer....
brought it back to America in the play Bluebeard, and it became popular in the United States as well. Not making a living on his creations, Mitchell was toiling in a newspaper mailroom despite his lyrical successes.Books at Brown, Volume 21, p. 192 (1966)
Perhaps Mitchell's most enduring song is Put My Little Shoes Away, which he wrote with Charles E. Pratt
Charles E. Pratt
Charles E. Pratt Howard, John Trasker. ], p. 704 was an American composer of popular music in the 1860s through 1890s, musician, and band leader.-Biography:...
in 1873.Erbsen, Wayne. Rural roots of bluegrass: songs, stories & history, p. 138 (2003) A mournful ballad where a dying child tells her mother to put her shoes away to save for her infant brother, it reportedly sold over 100,000 sheet music copies. But its popularity long survived in rural America and became a staple among bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
performers. It was first recorded by Riley Puckett
Riley Puckett
George Riley Puckett was an American country music pioneer mostly known for being a member of Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers.-Biography:...
in 1926, and later by the "Father of Bluegrass" Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
(1956), the Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
(1958),Strong, Martin C. The essential rock discography, p.375 (2006) Girls of the Golden West
Girls of the Golden West
The Girls of the Golden West comprising and was an American female country music female duo that was popular during the "Western Era" of the 1930s and 1940s. Mildred and Dolly Good were born in Mt...
, Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
, Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
, and others.
Personal
Mitchell was born in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
in 1846, and served during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in a Rhode Island regiment.Leavitt, Michael Bennett. Fifty years in theatrical management, p. 178 (1912) ("Samuel N. Mitchell, the writer of hundreds of songs sung on both continents, now dead, was one of my life-long friends. He and William A. Huntley could put a song together — Mitchell the words, Huntley the music — in thirty minutes.") He died in Providence on November 7, 1905.
Notable songs
- Just Touch the Harp Gently, My Pretty Louise (18701870 in music- Events :*January 6 - The Musikverein opens in Vienna.*March 16 - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's fantasy-overture Romeo and Juliet debuts in Moscow, conducted by Nikolai Rubenstein*May 25 - Léo Delibes' ballet Coppélia debuts at the Paris Opéra...
) (music by Charles BlamphinCharles BlamphinCharles Blamphin was a British composer and harpist. Among his popular compositions were When The Corn Is Waving, Annie Dear and Just Touch the Harp Gently, My Pretty Louise .. , The Day -External links:* by the Peerless Quartet...
) - Sadie Ray (1870) (music by J. Tannenbaum) (became a popular minstrel showMinstrel showThe minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, performed by white people in blackface or, especially after the Civil War, black people in blackface....
song) - When the Whippoorwill is Calling (1871) (music by E.N. Caitlin)
- Put My Little Shoes Away (1873) (music by Charles E. PrattCharles E. PrattCharles E. Pratt Howard, John Trasker. ], p. 704 was an American composer of popular music in the 1860s through 1890s, musician, and band leader.-Biography:...
) - My Love Sleeps Under the Daisies (1873) (music by George W. Persley)My love sleeps under the daisies / by Geo. W. Persley (sheet music), Library of Congress
- Speak to Me Kindly (1873) (music by Ernest Leslie)
- Dear Sunny Days of the Past
- Dance Me, Papa, on Your Knee (1874?) (music by H.P. DanksHart Pease DanksHart Pease Danks was a musician who specialized in composing, singing and leading choral groups. He is best known for his 1873 composition, Silver Threads Among the Gold.-Biography:...
) - Amber Tresses Tied In Blue (1874) (music by H.P. DanksHart Pease DanksHart Pease Danks was a musician who specialized in composing, singing and leading choral groups. He is best known for his 1873 composition, Silver Threads Among the Gold.-Biography:...
)A history of popular music in America, p. 197 (1948) (later recorded with modification by the Carter FamilyCarter FamilyThe Carter Family was a traditional American folk music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956. Their music had a profound impact on bluegrass, country, Southern Gospel, pop and rock musicians as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s. They were the first vocal group to become country...
) - The Lane That Led To School
- When My Love Comes Home To Me (1876) (music by Charles E. Prior)
- Little Bright Eyes at the Window (1876) (music by H.P. DanksHart Pease DanksHart Pease Danks was a musician who specialized in composing, singing and leading choral groups. He is best known for his 1873 composition, Silver Threads Among the Gold.-Biography:...
) - Maggie with the Soft Brown Hair(1876) (music by H.P. DanksHart Pease DanksHart Pease Danks was a musician who specialized in composing, singing and leading choral groups. He is best known for his 1873 composition, Silver Threads Among the Gold.-Biography:...
) - Our Comrades 'Neath the Sod (music by H.P. DanksHart Pease DanksHart Pease Danks was a musician who specialized in composing, singing and leading choral groups. He is best known for his 1873 composition, Silver Threads Among the Gold.-Biography:...
) - The Sunny Smile of My Darling (1877) (music by H.P. DanksHart Pease DanksHart Pease Danks was a musician who specialized in composing, singing and leading choral groups. He is best known for his 1873 composition, Silver Threads Among the Gold.-Biography:...
) - Sleeping in Death's Camping Ground (1877?) (music by H.P. DanksHart Pease DanksHart Pease Danks was a musician who specialized in composing, singing and leading choral groups. He is best known for his 1873 composition, Silver Threads Among the Gold.-Biography:...
) - We Deck Their Graves Alike Today (1877?) (music by H.P. DanksHart Pease DanksHart Pease Danks was a musician who specialized in composing, singing and leading choral groups. He is best known for his 1873 composition, Silver Threads Among the Gold.-Biography:...
) (which was performed at Memorial DayMemorial DayMemorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
(then Decoration Day) celebrations)Memorial Day Celebrations (1890-1899), Historic Congressional Cemetery , Retrieved September 12, 2011 - My Dear Savannah Home (1881) (music by H.P. DanksHart Pease DanksHart Pease Danks was a musician who specialized in composing, singing and leading choral groups. He is best known for his 1873 composition, Silver Threads Among the Gold.-Biography:...
)