Beth Slater Whitson (December 1, 1879 – April 26, 1930) was an American

lyricist A lyricist is a writer who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income derives ...

. Whitson was born on December 1, 1879, in

Goodrich, Tennessee Goodrich is an unincorporated community in Hickman County, in the U.S. state of Tennessee. History A post office called Goodrich was established in 1884, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1933. The community was named for Le ...

. She was the daughter of John H. Whitson and Anna Slater Whitson. Her father was the Co-Editor of the Hickman Pioneer Newspaper. Whitson began her songwriting in

Hickman County, Tennessee Hickman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 24,925. Its county seat is Centerville. As of 2023, Hickman County is part of the Nashville–Davidson– Murfreesboro– Franklin, ...

. In 1913, Whitson and her family moved to Nashville where she and her sister Alice continued to write and publish. Beth’s local biographer, Grace Baxter Thompson, remarked at the dedication of a state historical marker to Whitson’s career in 1978: “She gave beauty and color and enjoyment to her community from which those qualities have been far-reaching and long-lasting”. She composed lyrics to over 400 songs, and is best remembered for the songs "

Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland" was one of the most famous and beloved popular songs of the early 20th century. This gentle waltz, with lyrics by Beth Slater Whitson and music by Leo Friedman, was published in Chicago in 1909. Friedman and Whit ...

" (1909) and "

Let Me Call You Sweetheart "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" is a popular song, with music by Leo Friedman and lyrics by Beth Slater Whitson. The song was published in 1910 and was a huge hit for the Peerless Quartet in 1911. A recording by Arthur Clough was very popular th ...

" (1910), both becoming one of the largest selling songs in

sheet music Sheet music is a handwritten or printed form of musical notation that uses musical symbols to indicate the pitches, rhythms, or chords of a song or instrumental musical piece. Like its analogs – printed Book, books or Pamphlet, pamphlets ...

. Her first major hit, "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland", became known in 1949 when it was featured in the movie

In the Good Old Summertime IN, In or in may refer to: Dans * India (country code IN) * Indiana, United States (postal code IN) * Ingolstadt, Germany (license plate code IN) * In, Russia, a town in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast Businesses and organizations * Independen ...

. She is interred at Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.

References

1879 births 1930 deaths Burials at Spring Hill Cemetery (Nashville, Tennessee) Songwriters from Tennessee {{Songwriter-stub