| AKA | Memories Waltz |
| First Published | 1915 |
| Writer/composer | Gustave Kahn / Egbert Van Alstyne | Roud | RN24549 |
| Music Hall Performers | The Versatile Three |
| Folk performances | Collected from the singing of: Keeping Family ; England : Lambeth ; 1930s-50s Goodchild, James ; England : Hampshire ; 1976 Modern performances |
From Music Hall Memories No. 7: Round me at twilight comes stealing Shadows of days that are gone. Dreams of the old days revealing Mem'ries of love's golden dawn. Memories, Memories, Dreams of love so true, O'er the Sea of Memory I'm drifting back to you Childhood days, wildwood days, Among the birds and bees, You left me alone, But still you're my own In my beautiful memories. Sunlight may teach me forgetting, Noonlight brings thoughts that are new, Twilight brings sighs and regretting Moonlight means sweet dreams of you.
A sentimental song from the 1910s/20s written and composed by Gus Kahn and Egbert Van Alstyne, songwriters associated with America’s Tin Pan Alley. It was popularised in the British Halls by The Versatile Three a group of three (sometimes four) African-American performers who specialised in close harmony singing and ragtime material.
The song was popular on both sides of the Atlantic , and in the US it was recorded by The Leake County Revelers in 1929.
In the second half of the 20th century it was recorded by amongst others being Crosby, Pat Boone, Mario Lanza and Mitch Miller.
Sources:
- Entries in the Roud Indexes at the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library: https://archives.vwml.org/search/all:single[folksong-broadside-books]/0_50/all/score_desc/extended-roudNo_tr%3A24549
- Kilgarrif Sing Us
- Lyrics and Sheet Music: Music Hall Memories No. 7
- US Sheet Music: Van Alstyne, Egbert and Kahn, Gustave, “Memories” (1915). Historic Sheet Music Collection. 909.
- Ad in The Stage – Thursday 13 February 1919
Last Updated on February 2, 2024 by John Baxter | Published: February 2, 2024
