1915-04-17oo

“The soldiers are marching to a tune, the orchestra and bands are ringing out a melody, and the young folks are singing the air of a new song which has come into the Dominion like the balmy breath of spring from the lakes.”

Hamilton Spectator.    April 17, 1915.

Spring had fully arrived in Hamilton by mid-April, 1915.

 Despite the warming temperatures, leaves coming out on trees all across the city, and the grass everywhere being green once again, there was a spirit of foreboding as it was widely known known that Hamilton soldiers were about to be deployed in the battlefields of Western Europe.

Spirits were lifted in the city, as were spirits being lifted all over, by a new song, a song which was becoming more popular every day.

The song, entitled, “When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose,” had been written by American composers, Percy Wenwich (music) and Jack Mahoney (words). It had quickly become a hit in many cities in the United States.

The song’s popularity was rapidly spreading across Canada, and even to the war zones in Europe in the month of April, 1915.

So popular had it become, the Spectator called it “a universal Hit:”

“The song, while containing no high notes, possesses certain harmonies which produce a remarkable entrancing effect when sung, and is also being used as a one-step and a waltz.

“It is rarely that a popular song with such a refreshing jingle and catchy tune has reached Hamilton.:¹

¹ “New Song Hit Sweeping Canada : Yankee Love Ballad Said to Contain Many Catchy Strains.”

Hamilton Spectator.   April 17, 1915.