Sweet Genevieve

DESCRIPTION: The singer would "give the world to live again the lovely past" with Genevieve. They are older now, but he still loves her and wishes to be with her always: "O Genevieve, Sweet Genevieve... Still the hands of mem'ry weave... Blissful dreams of long ago"
AUTHOR: Words: George Cooper / Music: Henry Tucker
EARLIEST DATE: 1869
KEYWORDS: love age
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (10 citations):
Jackson-PopularSongsOfNineteenthCenturyAmerica, pp. 202-205, "Sweet Genevieve" (1 text, 1 tune)
Geller-FamousSongsAndTheirStories, pp. 11-13, "Sweet Genevieve" (1 text, 1 tune)
Messerli-ListenToTheMockingbird, pp. 166-167, "Sweet Genevieve" (1 text)
Heart-Songs, pp. 24-25, "Seet Genevieve" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber/Silber-FolksingersWordbook, p. 259, "Sweet Genevieve" (1 text)
Fuld-BookOfWorldFamousMusic, p. 543, "Sweet Genevieve"
Rodeheaver-SociabilitySongs, p. 27, "Sweet Genevieve" (1 text, 1 tune)
Zander/Klusmann-CampSongsNThings, p. 99, "Oh, Genevieve" (1 text, 1 tune)
Zander/Klusmann-CampSongsPopularEdition, p. 49, "Sweet Genevieve" (1 text)
DT, OGENVIEV
ST RK19202 (Full)
Roud #13643
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Silver Threads among the Gold" (theme)
cf. "When You and I Were Young, Maggie" (theme)
NOTES [130 words]: Genevieve is reported to be the real-life bride of George Cooper who died shortly after their marriage. However, since no one can find the records of this marriage, this may be the usual sort of sentimental folklore. The song was very successful, but doesn't seem to have gained much place in tradition.
George Cooper originally worked with Stephen Foster, with whom he wrote "For the Dear Old Flag I Die,", and seems to have switched to working with Henry Tucker after Foster's death; in 1865, they produced "Jeff in Petticoats," also in the Index. He also wrote "Beautiful Isle of the Sea" with J. R. Thomas, and "Come, Little Leaves."
The tune of this is said to be "essentially the same" as "O Tannenbaum"/"O Christmas Tree"/"Maryland, My Maryland"; also "Beulah Land (I)." - RBW
Last updated in version 6.5
File: RK19202

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