The Fairhaven Herald, May 6, 1893.

People's Songs

Who Writes Them and How They Become Popular

Most Popular Ballads Have a Very Brief but Violent Vogue—Patriotic and Sentimental Airs Live Longer Than Others.

Some Famous Song Writers

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Septimus Winner, another very popular song writer, was born in Philadelphia in 1827 and began his musical career as teacher of instrumental music and in preparing the well known instruction books. He gives the following interesting account of his most popular song:

About this time there was a street character in Philadelphia known as Whistling Dick, an accomplishment in which he excelled, really making some beautiful music, to which he strummed an indifferent accompaniment on the guitar. One of his specialities was the imitation of a mocking bird, which suggested to me the composition of a ballad of that character, and “Listen to the Mocking Bird” was the result. It was written, to suit the small compass of Dick's whistle, to whom I taught it, and this whistling genius did much to start the song on its successful career. The song won its greatest popularity in the southern states, where it was taken up the colored people and sung far and wide. There are numerous young ladies in the United States today bearing the name “Hallie,” which was first used in this ballad. As the song was first published in the year 1855, it will be seen it is now nearly 40 years old.

He also wrote “What is Home Without a Mother?” “How Sweet Are the Roses,” “I'll Sail the Seas Over,” “Ten Little Injuns” and many others, and yet for all his songs he has recieved less than $5,000…

The People's Songs, The Fairhaven Herald, May 6, 1893, Page 3. (PDF)