Samuel N. Mitchell

Samuel N. Mitchell (1846–1905) was an American song lyricist and newspaperman who wrote lyrics for a number of popular songs in the 1870s.[1][2][3]

Portrait of Samuel N. Mitchell, “the Bard of Providence, R. I.”
Portrait of Samuel N. Mitchell.

Songwriter
Sheet music cover for The Sweet Sunny Smile of My Darling (1877)

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. An 1890 profile of Mitchell in the Boston Globe reported that an astounding (and surely exaggerated) four million copies of the song had been sold.[4] 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 Blamphin 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.[4][5][6]

Perhaps Mitchell's most enduring song is Put My Little Shoes Away, which he wrote with Charles E. Pratt in 1873.[7] 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.[8] But its popularity long survived in rural America and became a staple among bluegrass performers. It was first recorded by Riley Puckett in 1926,[7] and later by the "Father of Bluegrass" Bill Monroe (1956),[9] the Everly Brothers (1958),[10] Girls of the Golden West,[11] Woody Guthrie, Dolly Parton, and others.[12]

Personal

Mitchell was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1846, and served during the Civil War in the 11th Rhode Island Infantry Regiment.[4][13] He was also reported in the news to have served with the Irish Brigade.[4] He died in Providence on November 7, 1905.[14]

Notable songs
  • Just Touch the Harp Gently, My Pretty Louise (1870) (music by Charles Blamphin)
  • Sadie Ray (1870) (music by J. Tannenbaum) (became a popular minstrel show song)[15]
  • When the Whippoorwill is Calling (1871) (music by E.N. Caitlin)[16]
  • Put My Little Shoes Away (1873) (music by Charles E. Pratt)
  • My Love Sleeps Under the Daisies (1873) (music by George W. Persley)[17]
  • Speak to Me Kindly (1873) (music by Ernest Leslie)[18]
  • Dear Sunny Days of the Past
  • Dance Me, Papa, on Your Knee (1874?) (music by H.P. Danks)
  • Amber Tresses Tied In Blue (1874) (music by H.P. Danks)[19][20][21] (later recorded with modification by the Carter Family)
  • The Lane That Led To School
  • When My Love Comes Home To Me (1876) (music by Charles E. Prior)[22]
  • Little Bright Eyes at the Window (1876) (music by H.P. Danks)[23]
  • Maggie with the Soft Brown Hair(1876) (music by H.P. Danks)[24]
  • Our Comrades 'Neath the Sod (music by H.P. Danks)
  • The Sunny Smile of My Darling (1877) (music by H.P. Danks)[25]
  • Sleeping in Death's Camping Ground (1877?) (music by H.P. Danks)
  • We Deck Their Graves Alike Today (1877?) (music by H.P. Danks) (which was performed at Memorial Day (then Decoration Day) celebrations)[26]
  • My Dear Savannah Home (1881) (music by H.P. Danks)[27]
  •  When silver locks replace the gold. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music Harry Leighton.[28]

Songs with William A. Huntley

Many of Mitchell's songs were set to music by William A. Huntley, a fellow citizen of Providence, Rhode Island his own age. LOC are scores preserved at the Library of Congress.

  • 1871 LOC Addie Alleen. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[29]
  • 1871 LOC Come sing to me Addie again". Words by Sam N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[30]
  • 1871 LOC Down the meadow, 'neath the clover. Words by Sam N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[31]
  • 1871 LOC Goodbye, dear Mother! Words by Sam N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[32]
  • 1871 LOC Oh Nixie, that's too thin. Words by Sam N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[33]
  • 1871 LOC Our sweet little rosebud has flown. Words by Sam N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[34]
  • 1871 LOC The angels are calling me, Mother. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[35]
  • 1871 LOC They are calling me to join them. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[36]
  • 1871 LOC When the moon is rising, Allie. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[37]
  • 1872 LOC Bring the absent back to me. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[38]
  • 1872 LOC Mother and I have been waiting. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[39]
  • 1872 When the song bird says good night. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[40]
  • 1873 LOC Close the door softly, for mother's asleep. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[41]
  • 1873 LOC Down beside the crimson meadow. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[42]
  • 1873 LOC Down the vale where Lillie sleeps. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[43]
  • 1873 LOC Just try it once for luck. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[44]
  • 1873 LOC Let me kiss him ere I go. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[45]
  • 1873 Mamma, come sing me to sleep. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[46]
  • 1873 LOC My button hole boquet. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[47]
  • 1873 LOC 'Neath the rose leaves on the hillside. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[48]
  • 1873 LOC Under the buttercups. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[49]
  • 1873 LOC Where have the dear children gone?. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[50]
  • 1874 IMSLP Hush, My Little Darling. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[51]
  • 1874 LOC Oh just you wait and see. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[52]
  • 1874 LOC We met by chance, sweet Jenny. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[53]
  • 1875 LOC When the purple lilacs blossom. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[54]
  • 1878 LOC Our Willie died this morning. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[55]
  • 1879 LOC LSMC I'm going home to Clo. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[56][57]
  • 1880 LOC Come and meet me, Rosa darling. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.[58]
  • Waltz honoring Mitchell by William A. Huntley, who put music to some of Mitchell's lyrics.
    Waltz honoring Mitchell by William A. Huntley, who put music to some of Mitchell's lyrics.

References
  1. Americana, Volume 7, Part 1, p. 536 (1912) ("One of the best known men in the profession forty years ago was Samuel N. Mitchell, a bard of no small note, the writer of hundreds of songs, and associated with the newspapers for many years and the only one who could be found to ...")
  2. Story on Mitchell, Skaneateles Democrat (November 1905?) (reprinted story in column 5 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)
  3. (28 November 1905). Songs and Their Writers, Boston Evening Transcript (New Bedford Standard article, more readable copy)
  4. (11 December 1890). A Composer of Songs: He Wrote Sweet Ballads, But Others Got The Ducats, The Day (reprinted from the Boston Globe)
  5. (21 February 1891). Songs of the People, The Illustrated American
  6. Books at Brown, Volume 21, p. 192 (1966)
  7. Erbsen, Wayne. Rural roots of bluegrass: songs, stories & history, p. 138 (2003)
  8. Something About Popular Songs, Folio (July 1882)
  9. Erbsen, Wayne. Backpocket Bluegrass Song Book, p. 12 (2007)
  10. Strong, Martin C. The essential rock discography, p.375 (2006)
  11. Britton, Alan John. Uncle Art, p. 83 (2010)
  12. Rosenberg, Neil V. * Charles K. Wolfe. The music of Bill Monroe, p. 96 (2007)
  13. 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.")
  14. (8 November 1905). Old Time Song Writer Dead, Boston Globe
  15. Sadie Ray / by J. Tannebaum (sheet music), Library of Congress
  16. When the whipporrwill is calling / by E. N. Catlin (sheet music), Library of Congress
  17. My love sleeps under the daisies / by Geo. W. Persley (sheet music), Library of Congress
  18. Speak to me kindly / by Ernest Leslie (sheet music), Library of Congress
  19. A history of popular music in America, p. 197 (1948)
  20. JEMF quarterly, Volume 18 (1982)
  21. Amber Tresses Tied In Blue - Sheet Music, Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music
  22. When my love comes home to me / by Chas. E. Prior. (sheet music), Library of Congress
  23. Little bright eyes at the window / by H. P. Danks (sheet music), Library of Congress
  24. Maggie with the soft brown hair / by H. P. Danks. (sheet music), Library of Congress
  25. The Sweet, sunny smile of my darling / by H. P. Danks (sheet music), Library of Congress
  26. Memorial Day Celebrations (1890-1899) Archived 2011-08-17 at the Wayback Machine, Historic Congressional Cemetery , Retrieved September 12, 2011
  27. My dear Savannah home / by H. P. Danks (sheet music), Library of Congress
  28. Mitchell, Samuel N. (1875). "When silver locks replace the gold". loc.gov. New York: J. L. Peters.
  29. Huntley, William A. (1871). "Addie Alleen". loc.gov. New York: J. L. Peters.
  30. Huntley, William A. (1871). "Come sing to me Addie again". loc.gov. New York: C. H. Ditson & Co.
  31. Huntley, William A. (1871). "Bring the absent back to me". loc.gov. New York: Oliver Ditson & Co.
  32. Huntley, William A. (1871). "Goodbye, Dear Mother". loc.gov. New York: J. L. Peters.
  33. Huntley, William A. (1871). "Oh Nixie, that's too thin". loc.gov. Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co.
  34. Huntley, William A. (1871). "Oh Nixie, that's too thin". loc.gov. Providence, Rhode Island: Cory Brothers.
  35. Huntley, William A. (1871). "The angels are calling me, Mother". loc.gov. Boston: G. D. Russell & Co.
  36. Huntley, William A. (1871). "They are calling me to join them". loc.gov. Boston: G. D. Russell & Co.
  37. Huntley, William A. (1871). "When the moon is rising, Allie". loc.gov. Boston: White, Smith and Perry.
  38. Huntley, William A. (1872). "Bring the absent back to me". loc.gov. Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co.
  39. Huntley, William A. (1872). "Mother and I have been waiting". loc.gov. Cleveland: Brainard & Sons.
  40. Huntley, William A. (1872). "When the song bird says good night". loc.gov. Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co.
  41. Huntley, William A. (1873). "Close the door softly, for mother's asleep". loc.gov. Boston: G. D. Russell & Co.
  42. Huntley, William A. (1873). "Down beside the crimson meadow". loc.gov. Boston: G. D. Russell & Co.
  43. Huntley, William A. (1873). "Down the vale where Lillie sleeps". loc.gov. Philadelphia: Lee and Walker.
  44. Huntley, William A. (1873). "Just try it once for luck". loc.gov. Boston: G. D. Russell & Co.
  45. Huntley, William A. (1873). "Let me kiss him ere I go". loc.gov. Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co.
  46. Huntley, William A. (1873). "Mamma, come sing me to sleep". loc.gov. Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co.
  47. Huntley, William A. (1873). "My button hole boquet". loc.gov. Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co.
  48. Huntley, William A. (1873). "Neath the rose leaves on the hillside". loc.gov. Cleveland: Brainard & Sons.
  49. Huntley, William A. (1873). "Under the buttercups". loc.gov. Boston: G. D. Russell & Co.
  50. Huntley, William A. (1873). "Under the buttercups". loc.gov. Boston: G. D. Russell & Co.
  51. Huntley, William A. (1874). "Hush, My Little Darling (Huntley, William A.)". imslp.org. Philadelphia: Lee and Walker.
  52. Huntley, William A. (1874). "Oh just you wait and see (Huntley, William A.)". loc.gov. Milwaukee: H. N. Hempsted.
  53. Huntley, William A. (1874). "We met by chance, sweet Jenny". loc.gov. Boston: G. D. Russell & Co.
  54. Huntley, William A. (1875). "When the purple lilacs blossom". loc.gov. Philadelphia: Lee & Walker.
  55. Huntley, William A. (1878). "Our Willie died this morning". loc.gov. W. F. Shaw.
  56. Huntley, William A. (1879). "I'm going home to Clo". loc.gov. W. F. Shaw.
  57. Huntley, William A. (1879). "I'm Going Home to Clo. Song & Chorus. Box 025, Item 052". levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu. W. F. Shaw.
  58. Huntley, William A. (1880). "Come and meet me, Rosa darling". loc.gov. W. F. Shaw.
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