"I'd be a butterfly": the ballads of Butterfly Bayly

Speranza

Thomas Haynes Bayly
Born	(1797-10-13)13 October 1797
Died	22 April 1839(1839-04-22) (aged 41)
Nationality	English
Occupation	poet, songwriter, dramatist and miscellaneous writer

 

 

Thomas Haynes Bayly (13 October 1797 – 22 April 1839) was an English poet, songwriter, dramatist, and miscellaneous writer.

 

The son of a wealthy lawyer in Bath, Thomas Haynes Bayly intends to become an attorney like his father.

 

He changes his mind and thought of entering the church.

 

He abandons this idea also and gives himself to writing for the stage and the periodical press.

 

"Butterfly" (as he was known) Bayly is chiefly known for his songs (of which he wrote hundreds) -- notably, "I'd be a butterfly" -- which, set to the music of Bishop and other eminent composers, found universal acceptance in the universe.

 

Some were set to his own music -- "and some were not", he would add.

 

Butterfly Bayly also writes several novels and a number of farces -- where 'farce' is hyperbolic.

 

Although making a large income from his writings, in addition to that of his wife, he encounters (if you can believe this) financial problems.

 

His best known songs include

 

Old House at Home

I'd be a Butterfly

Oh, no, we never mention him

She wore a Wreath of Roses

The Mistletoe Bough, and

Long, Long Ago.

 

Besides for Thomas Moore (1779-1852), who in any case is Irish, Bayly is regarded as the most popular song writer of his English time.

Songs

"Gaily the Troubadour touched his Guitar"

"I'd Be a Butterfly"

"I'll hang my Harp on a Willow Tree"

"The Mistletoe Bough"

"Oh, no! We Never Mention Her"

"Oh, Pilot! 'tis a Fearful Night"

"She wore a Wreath of Roses"

"We Met, 'twas in a Crowd"

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Cousin, John William (1910). A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London: J. M. Dent & Sons. Wikisource
Songs and Ballads, Grave and Gay

[edit] External links

• Short bio of the composer along with MIDI & lyrics for Long, Long Ago
• Free scores by Thomas Haynes Bayly at the International Music Score Library Project
• Sheet music for "The Mother of the Soldier Boy", Macon, GA: John C. Schreiner & Son, 1864. From Confederate Imprints Sheet Music Collection.

Authority control VIAF: 27808896

Persondata
Name	Bayly, Thomas Haynes
Alternative names
Short description	English poet, songwriter, dramatist, and writer
Date of birth	13 October 1797
Place of birth
Date of death	22 April 1839
Place of death

   

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Categories:

• 1797 births
• 1839 deaths
• English songwriters
• English poets