Samuel N. Mitchell (1846–1905) was an American song lyricist and newspaperman who wrote lyrics for a number of popular songs in the 1870s.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 ...")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)(28 November 1905)
Songs and Their Writers
''Boston Evening Transcript'' (''New Bedford Standard'' article, more readable copy)

Songwriter

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.(11 December 1890)
A Composer of Songs: He Wrote Sweet Ballads, But Others Got The Ducats
''The Day'' (reprinted from the ''Boston Globe'') 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.(21 February 1891)
Songs of the People
''The Illustrated American''Books at Brown, Volume 21
p. 192 (1966) Perhaps Mitchell's most enduring song is ''Put My Little Shoes Away'', which he wrote with

Charles E. Pratt Charles E. Pratt (1841 – August 11, 1902)Howard, John TraskerOur American music: a comprehensive history from 1620 to the present p. 704 (1965) was an American composer of popular music in the 1860s through 1890s, musician, and band leader. Biog ...

in 1873.Erbsen, Wayne
Rural roots of bluegrass: songs, stories & history
p. 138 (2003) 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.Something About Popular Songs
''Folio'' (July 1882) But its popularity long survived in rural America and became a staple among bluegrass performers. It was first recorded by Riley Puckett in 1926, and later by the "Father of Bluegrass"

Bill Monroe William Smith "Bill" Monroe (; September 13, 1911 – September 9, 1996) was an American mandolinist, singer, and songwriter, who created the bluegrass music genre. Because of this, he is often called the " Father of Bluegrass". The genre take ...

(1956),Erbsen, Wayne
Backpocket Bluegrass Song Book
p. 12 (2007)

the Everly Brothers The Everly Brothers were an American rock duo, known for steel-string acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing. Consisting of Isaac Donald "Don" Everly (February 1, 1937 – August 21, 2021) and Phillip "Phil" Everly (January 19, 193 ...

(1958),Strong, Martin C
The essential rock discography
p.375 (2006) Girls of the Golden West,Britton, Alan John
Uncle Art
p. 83 (2010)

Woody Guthrie Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American Left, American socialism and anti-fascism. He ...

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...

, and others.Rosenberg, Neil V. * Charles K. Wolfe
The music of Bill Monroe
p. 96 (2007)

Personal

Mitchell was born in

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay ...

in 1846, and served during the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...

in the 11th Rhode Island Infantry Regiment.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 William A. Penno (1843–1929), known by his stage name William A. Huntley, was a composer, music teacher, and vocal and instrumental performer in minstrel and vaudeville traditions. Playing his 5-string banjo before crowds that came to number i ...

could put a song together — Mitchell the words, Huntley the music — in thirty minutes.") He was also reported in the news to have served with the Irish Brigade. He died in Providence on November 7, 1905.(8 November 1905)
Old Time Song Writer Dead
''Boston Globe''

Notable songs

*''Just Touch the Harp Gently, My Pretty Louise'' (

1870 Events January–March * January 1 ** The first edition of ''The Northern Echo'' newspaper is published in Priestgate, Darlington, England. ** Plans for the Brooklyn Bridge are completed. * January 3 – Construction of the Broo ...

) (music by Charles Blamphin) *''Sadie Ray'' (1870) (music by J. Tannenbaum) (became a popular

minstrel show The minstrel show, also called minstrelsy, was an American form of racist theatrical entertainment developed in the early 19th century. Each show consisted of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music performances that depicted people spe ...

song)Sadie Ray / by J. Tannebaum (sheet music)
Library of Congress *''When the Whippoorwill is Calling'' (1871) (music by E.N. Caitlin)When the whipporrwill is calling / by E. N. Catlin (sheet music)
Library of Congress *''Put My Little Shoes Away'' (1873) (music by

) *''My Love Sleeps Under the Daisies'' (1873) (music by George W. Persley)My love sleeps under the daisies / by Geo. W. Persley (sheet music)
Library of Congress *''Speak to Me Kindly'' (1873) (music by Ernest Leslie)Speak to me kindly / by Ernest Leslie (sheet music)
Library of Congress *''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)A history of popular music in America
p. 197 (1948)JEMF quarterly, Volume 18
(1982)Amber Tresses Tied In Blue - Sheet Music
Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music (later recorded with modification by the

Carter Family Carter Family was a traditional American folk music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956. Their music had a profound impact on bluegrass, country, Southern Gospel, pop and rock musicians as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s. ...

) *''The Lane That Led To School'' *''When My Love Comes Home To Me'' (1876) (music by Charles E. Prior)When my love comes home to me / by Chas. E. Prior. (sheet music)
Library of Congress *''Little Bright Eyes at the Window'' (1876) (music by H.P. Danks)Little bright eyes at the window / by H. P. Danks (sheet music)
Library of Congress *''Maggie with the Soft Brown Hair''(1876) (music by H.P. Danks)Maggie with the soft brown hair / by H. P. Danks. (sheet music)
Library of Congress *''Our Comrades 'Neath the Sod'' (music by H.P. Danks) *''The Sunny Smile of My Darling'' (1877) (music by H.P. Danks)The Sweet, sunny smile of my darling / by H. P. Danks (sheet music)
Library of Congress *''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

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(then Decoration Day) celebrations)Memorial Day Celebrations (1890-1899)
, Historic Congressional Cemetery , Retrieved September 12, 2011 *''My Dear Savannah Home'' (1881) (music by H.P. Danks)My dear Savannah home / by H. P. Danks (sheet music)
Library of Congress * ''When silver locks replace the gold''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music

Harry Leighton Harry may refer to: TV shows * ''Harry'' (American TV series), a 1987 American comedy series starring Alan Arkin * ''Harry'' (British TV series), a 1993 BBC drama that ran for two seasons * ''Harry'' (talk show), a 2016 American daytime talk show ...

Songs with William A. Huntley

Many of Mitchell's songs were set to music by

, 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. *1871 LOC ''Come sing to me Addie again". Words by Sam N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1871 LOC ''Down the meadow, 'neath the clover''. Words by Sam N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1871 LOC ''Goodbye, dear Mother!'' Words by Sam N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1871 LOC ''Oh Nixie, that's too thin''. Words by Sam N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1871 LOC ''Our sweet little rosebud has flown''. Words by Sam N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1871 LOC ''The angels are calling me, Mother''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1871 LOC ''They are calling me to join them''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1871 LOC ''When the moon is rising, Allie''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1872 LOC ''Bring the absent back to me''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1872 LOC ''Mother and I have been waiting''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1872 ''When the song bird says good night''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1873 LOC ''Close the door softly, for mother's asleep''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1873 LOC ''Down beside the crimson meadow''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1873 LOC ''Down the vale where Lillie sleeps''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1873 LOC ''Just try it once for luck''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1873 LOC ''Let me kiss him ere I go''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1873 ''Mamma, come sing me to sleep''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1873 LOC ''My button hole boquet''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1873 LOC Neath the rose leaves on the hillside''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1873 LOC ''Under the buttercups''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1873 LOC ''Where have the dear children gone?''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1874 IMSLP ''Hush, My Little Darling''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1874 LOC ''Oh just you wait and see''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1874 LOC ''We met by chance, sweet Jenny''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1875 LOC ''When the purple lilacs blossom''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1878 LOC ''Our Willie died this morning''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1879 LOC LSMC ''I'm going home to Clo''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley. *1880 LOC ''Come and meet me, Rosa darling''. Words by Samuel N. Mitchell, music by William A. Huntley.

Gallery

File:Cover of Mitchell Waltz by William A. Huntley.jpg, Waltz honoring Mitchell by

, who put music to some of Mitchell's lyrics.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Samuel N. 1846 births 1905 deaths Writers from Providence, Rhode Island Songwriters from Rhode Island People of Rhode Island in the American Civil War