Feest Isolation Days – 16 July
We are supposed to wash our hands to two rounds of Happy Birthday to You. But did you know that there are two more verses? I didn’t know that. I did know that the reason we never hear people in films sing the full song is because of a copyright dispute and a charge for using it in films or other mediums. The other words to Happy Birthday are:
From good friends and true,
From old friends and new,
May good luck go with you,
And happiness too.
How old are you now?
How old are you now?
How old, How old
How old are you now?
The original song is credited to two sisters who lived in Louisville Kentucky. Patty Hill was a kindergarten principal and her sister Mildred was a pianist and composer. The song was originally written with lyrics that were meant for little children. “Good Morning to You”. First the teacher sang, then the children responded with the same line. The first print edition appeared in 1912. There is some dispute as to where the tune came from. Also, there doesn’t seem to be any information about how this song for children moved from the classroom to the tune we all sing each and every time a cake appears on someone’s special day. The copyright issue however has been discussed for decades and there is plenty of information about this. As litigation is something of a national pastime in America, it’s hardly surprising to discover that this famous song has attracted much copyright attention as it also attracts a great deal of money. According to one source, the song is the highest single earning song in history.
Several interesting versions are around….
Here’s a Jazz version
Here’s a wonderful adventure by the fantastic pianist Nicole Pesce with her interpretation of how some of the Classical great composers would play Happy Birthday…
And finally, the incomparable Stevie Wonder making Happy Birthday his own.
If you haven’t guessed by now why all this Happy Birthday chatter is happening today, it’s because today is my Birthday! As I nudge even closer to that milestone of seventy my hope is by the time I get there, Covid will be a dim and distant memory. .
Must dash, I have champagne to drink and some cards to open. Notice the order there…
Have a wonderful day and when your birthday rolls round, remember, there are two more verses you can try.
Wash those hands carefully……
How old are you now?
With love,
Kathy x