GDG- Mark Twain's favorite song

[Margaret D. Blough]

In terms of answering questions about favorite songs, my favorite story is one of Jackie Kennedy being asked, shortly after her husband's inauguration, to identify his favorite song.  Remembering how FDR had been driven to distraction by the constant playing of "Home on the Range" at public appearances after it was identified as his favorite song, Mrs. Kennedy wisely replied, "Hail to the Chief." <g>

Regards,

Margaret

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Bob Huddleston" <huddleston.r at comcast.net> 

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> >From the Mark Twain forum. 
> 
> Take care, 
> 
> Bob 
> 
> Judy and Bob Huddleston 
> 10643 Sperry Street 
> Northglenn, CO 80234-3612 
> 303.451.6376 Huddleston.r at comcast.net 
> 
> And so to the end of history, murder shall breed murder, always in the name 
> of right and honour and peace, until the Gods are tired of blood and create 
> a race that can understand." - George Bernard Shaw, "Caesar and Cleopatra" 
> 
> At 12:47 PM 4/29/2007, Carmela Valente wrote: 
> >Dear Group: 
> >I am sorry for the vagueness of this question, but there was a very 
> >funny song that Twain used to sing. Can anyone recall what it was? I 
> >recollect that he loved to sing Negro Spirituals but he also sang this 
> >crazy song, but I cannot remember it. 
> >Thank you. 
> >Camy 
> 
> Camy, 
> 
> Is this what you're alluding to? In chapter 5 of Mark Twain, Business Man, 
> S. C. Webster quotes his mother, Annie Moffett Webster: 
> 
> "When I think of Uncle Sam during those early years it is always as 
> a singer. He would sit at the piano and play and sing by the hour, the same 
> song over and over:-- 
> 
> There was an old horse 
> And his name was Jerusalem. 
> He went to Jerusalem, 
> He came from Jerusalem. 
> Ain't I glad I'm out of the wilderness! Oh! Bang! 
> 
> . . . . 
> "Another of Uncle Sam's songs which seems to have struck me as a 
> classic to be remembered was:-- 
> 
> Samuel Clemens! the gray dawn is breaking, 
> The howl of the housemaid is heard in the hall; 
> The cow from the back gate her exit is making,-- 
> What, Samuel Clemens? Slumbering still? 
> 
> Remember how seldom a buckwheat you get, 
> How long it may be e'er you see one again, 
> It may be for years, and it may be forever! 
> Then why thus tempt fortune, most reckless of men?" 
> 
> Oh, well, I guess you had to be there! 
> 
> I have seen other references to the "Jerusalem" song, though I can't put my 
> finger on any of them just at the moment. Ron Powers says that in some 
> accounts the horse is named "Methusalem." 
> 
> Best regards, 
> Ken Sanderson 
> 
> As funny as it is, this one has to be derived from something. Any one know 
> what? 
> 
> DDD 
> It's from "Kathleen Mavourneen." 
> 
> - G 
> 
> "Kathleen Mavourneen" (1837) 
> Words Mrs. Marion Crawford 
> Music by Frederick Nicholls Crouch, 1808-1896 
> 
> 1. 
> Kathleen mavourneen! the gray dawn is breaking, The horn of the hunter is 
> heard on the hill, The lark from her light wing the bright dew is shaking, 
> Kathleen mavourneen, what slumbering still? 
> 
> [CHORUS] 
> Oh! hast thou forgotten how soon we must sever? 
> Oh! hast thou forgotten this day we must part, It may be for years, and it 
> may be forever, Oh! why art thou silent thou voice of my heart? 
> It may be for years, and it may be forever, Then why art thou silent 
> Kathleen mavourneen? 
> 
> 2. 
> Kathleen mavourneen, awake from thy slumbers, The blue mountains glow in the 
> sun's golden light, Ah! where is the spell that once hung on thy numbers, 
> Arise in thy beauty, Thou star of my night, Arise in thy beauty, Thou star 
> of my night. 
> 
> [CHORUS] 
> Mavourneen, mavourneen, my sad tears are falling, To think that from Erin 
> and thee I must part, It may be for years, and it may be forever, Then why 
> art thou silent, thou voice of my heart? 
> It may be for years, and it may be forever, Then why art thou silent, thou 
> voice of my heart?Quoting David Davis 
> : 
> 
> 
> 
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