SELECTIONS of American music will be the theme here over the next 48 hours in celebration for July Fourth, and I am starting with the early 20th-century stage tune Goodbye, My Lady Love, performed here by William Bolcolm and Joan Morris. The song was composed in 1904 by Joseph E. Howard, a Broadway songwriter of Tin Pan Alley fame.

According to Wikipedia:

Joseph Howard was born on February 12, 1878, in New York City. He grew up in a gang-terrorized part of the city and was frequently beaten by his father. His mother died when he was 8 years old, and he ran away to a Catholic orphanage, serving as an altar boy and singing in the choir. Avoiding his father, who had discovered the boy’s place of refuge, he rode a freight train to Kansas City, Missouri. There he sang in a saloon and sold newspapers. It was in Kansas City that he was discovered by George Walker of Williams and Walker who arranged for Howard to receive voice training. From Kansas City, he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he had his first taste of the theater.^[1

Howard composed a number of popular stage hits, including “I don’t Like Your Family” and “A Boy’s Best Friend Is His Mother.” He died on stage while singing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” on May 19, 1961. What a way to go!

 Goodbye, My Lady Love

So you’re going away
Because your heart has gone astray
And you promised me
That you would always faithful be

Go to him you love
And be as true as stars above
But your heart will yearn
And then some day you will return

Goodbye, my lady love, farewell my turtle dove
You are the idol and darling of my heart
But someday you will come back to me
And love me tenderly
Goodbye, my lady love, goodbye

When the dew-drops fall
‘Tis then your heart, I know, will call
So beware, my dove
Don’t trust your life to some false love

But if you must go
Remember, dear, I love you so
Sure as stars do shine
You’ll think of when I called you mine

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