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Tuesday, January 1, 2013

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

Speranza

Thomas Haynes Bayly
Born(1797-10-13)13 October 1797
Died22 April 1839(1839-04-22) (aged 41)
NationalityEnglish
Occupationpoet, 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
 
 
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"
"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

   
 
 
 
 
 
 

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