Stories of Famous Songs, Vol 1

Histories, Lyrics, Background info - online book

Home Main Menu Singing & Playing Order & Order Info Support Search Voucher Codes



Share page  Visit Us On FB


Previous Contents Next
FAMOUS SONGS
Tuesday, and Wednesday, for the Last Three Nights, ' Lend Me Five Shillings' (Buckstone as Golightly); on Thursday a New Farce called ' The Postman's Knock.' " But the piece was first tried at the Surrey Theatre on the 7th of the same month with Phelps and Vollaire in the cast.
Lewis Maunsell Thornton was born at Ox-ford, 1822. He was a simple versifier all his life, and in later times lived largely on the reputation of his one song. He used to tramp about the country selling a volume of his own lyrics, and by this means and by occasionally getting a guinea or so for a ballad, he managed to exist. His book was called "The Poetic Gift of Friendship." His last successful song was " Sing, Birdie, Sing." Thornton died in the infirmary of the Bath Union, whence he had been conveyed from the hospital after a painful operation. He had few friends, but certainly a good one in Mr Jones-Hunt (generally known as the Bath poet), who did much to assist Thornton in many ways. It is interesting to add that the author of " The Postman's Knock" was carried to the grave by four postmen in uniform, while four others acted as pall-bearers, out of pure sympathy and kindness of heart. Mr. Jones-Hunt generously attended to the funeral
231