Aura Lee
By: George Poulton
"Aura lee": headstrong, loyal woman
Urban Dictionary: Auralee." Urban Dictionary. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Origins
The Poulton family left England in 1835 to seek a new life in America, where they settled in Landsburgh, New York. Young George learned to play violin and piano and aspired to be a conductor. He began composing, and over the next 20 years he had more than 20 songs published. At that time, minstrel shows with upbeat songs were very popular. Poulton composed a tune with words by lyricist William Whiteman Fosdick with the traditional theme of a beautiful young woman with shining hair.
It gained unexpected popularity with the trainee soldiers at West Point. It quickly became a graduating class songs and got new words by LW Becklaw and became known as "Army Blue."
Source: "The Story behind the Song: Love Me Tender." The Telegraph. N.p., 17 Oct. 2008. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
George Poulton used the common Civil War theme of a beautiful woman with golden hair in his song with the upbeat tune of the popular minstrel songs. It became so popular among the soldiers because it gave them a happy, light thought to focus on while dealing with the dangers of war. It may give them hope and motivation to get back home to their wives.
It also provided a sense of camraderie among the Union and confederate soldiers. Many nights, both sides would be camped so close to each other, they could hear the other side singing. Sometimes one side or the other would begin singing songs. Then the other side would pick it up, and they were singing together, with a common goal and longing for home.
Source: Melcher Meitzen, Mary B. "Music of the Confederacy." Music of the Confederacy. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Soon after Aura Lee was released, the Civil War began. It became popular for both sides, and the image of the girl with shining hair was added to another war song, "The Yellow Rose of Texas."
After the war, Aura Lee was taken up by barber shop quartets and recorded by many artists. In the 1936 movie "Come and Get It" Frances Farmer sang it as two different characters, and it later appeared in many other movies in the 1950s.
Elvis Presley was to be casted in a movie called "Love Me Tender" and it was decided that he would sing his first ever non-rock ballad. Ken Darby found the 95-year old Aura Lee and his wife Vera Matson wrote new lyrics. Below you will find the original melody and lyrics of "Aura Lee" compared to those of Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender."
Source: "The Story behind the Song: Love Me Tender." The Telegraph. N.p., 17 Oct. 2008. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
It gained unexpected popularity with the trainee soldiers at West Point. It quickly became a graduating class songs and got new words by LW Becklaw and became known as "Army Blue."
Source: "The Story behind the Song: Love Me Tender." The Telegraph. N.p., 17 Oct. 2008. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
George Poulton used the common Civil War theme of a beautiful woman with golden hair in his song with the upbeat tune of the popular minstrel songs. It became so popular among the soldiers because it gave them a happy, light thought to focus on while dealing with the dangers of war. It may give them hope and motivation to get back home to their wives.
It also provided a sense of camraderie among the Union and confederate soldiers. Many nights, both sides would be camped so close to each other, they could hear the other side singing. Sometimes one side or the other would begin singing songs. Then the other side would pick it up, and they were singing together, with a common goal and longing for home.
Source: Melcher Meitzen, Mary B. "Music of the Confederacy." Music of the Confederacy. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Soon after Aura Lee was released, the Civil War began. It became popular for both sides, and the image of the girl with shining hair was added to another war song, "The Yellow Rose of Texas."
After the war, Aura Lee was taken up by barber shop quartets and recorded by many artists. In the 1936 movie "Come and Get It" Frances Farmer sang it as two different characters, and it later appeared in many other movies in the 1950s.
Elvis Presley was to be casted in a movie called "Love Me Tender" and it was decided that he would sing his first ever non-rock ballad. Ken Darby found the 95-year old Aura Lee and his wife Vera Matson wrote new lyrics. Below you will find the original melody and lyrics of "Aura Lee" compared to those of Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender."
Source: "The Story behind the Song: Love Me Tender." The Telegraph. N.p., 17 Oct. 2008. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Original MelodyAura Lea." YouTube. YouTube, 26 Feb. 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Lyrics As the blackbird in the spring 'neath the willow tree sat and piped I heard him sing praising Aura Lee. Aura Lee! Aura Lee! Maid of golden hair sunshine came along with thee and swall-ows in the air. Take my heart and take my ring I give my all to thee take me for eternity dearest Aura Lee! Aura Lee ! Aura Lee . . . In her blush the rose was born 'twas music when she spoke in her eyes the light of morn sparkling seemed to break. Aura Lee! Aura Lee . . . Aura Lee the bird may flee the willow' golden hair then the wintry winds may be blowing ev'rywhere. Yet if thy blue eyes I see gloom will soon depart for to me sweet Aura Lee is sunshine to the heart. "Aura Lee Lyrics." Elyrics.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. |
"Love Me Tender" by Elvis PresleyElvis Presley - Love Me Tender." YouTube. YouTube, 12 Dec. 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Lyrics Love me tender, Love me sweet, Never let me go. You have made my life complete, And I love you so. Love me tender, Love me true, All my dreams fulfilled. For my darlin I love you, And I always will. Love me tender, Love me long, Take me to your heart. For it's there that I belong, And well never part. Love me tender, Love me dear, Tell me you are mine. Ill be yours through all the years, Till the end of time. (when at last my dreams come true Darling this I know Happiness will follow you Everywhere you go). "Love Me Tender Lyrics." LyicsFreak.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. |
Banner: Publication of 1861. 1861. Photograph. Wikipedia. Web. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/AuraLea1861.png/200px-AuraLea1861.png>.