°- Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder (1900)

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[Chorus]
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
That is why I long for you
Lonely thro’ the nights I ponder
Wond’ring darling if you’re true
Distance only lends enchantment
Tho’ the ocean waves divide
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Longing to be near your side

[Verse 2]
Has the love that once was dearer
Than all else to me grown cold?
Or has absence drawn us nearer
To each other as of old?
Promise then, you will not sever
From the ties that bind us two
Say you will be mine forever
Tell me that you still are true

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" was written by Arthur Gillespie 126 years ago - well maybe I shouldn't say that, your probably listening to a rerun, it's no telling what year you're in. 
Anyway It's a popular American song from the year 1900, the music was composed by his partner Herbert Dillea.

[Background voice]
I liked it, what's next?
Well

You know, uh, yeah, in 1900, this era marked the shift where music became an "industry" more than just an "art," with publishers specifically surveying the market to see what styles were selling best. The major trend was for Tin Pan Alley songwriting turning well-known proverbs into sentimental ballads, like the one you just heard, famous for the proverb in its title, it became a #1 hit for Harry Macdonough in 1901. However the phrase "Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" goes back at least to the 19th-century song "Isle of Beauty" by Thomas Haynes Bayly, which seems to stem from older roots in Roman poetry---

[Background voice interrupts]
That's interesting, how about we move on to the next song?

[Male voice]
Yeah, I was just going to say it's interesting the original 1900 sheet music, which was a very hot seller, is dedicated with the formal phrasing "Respectfully dedicated to Miss Celeste K. Walsh," which was a standard way to honor a young woman of respectable social standing during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. The dedication specifically notes she was from Chicago, Illinois.

[Background voice]
Who was she?

[Male voice]
Well, Arthur Gillespie also had strong ties to Chicago, suggesting she had been a romantic interest of his, but it's not clear who she was. What is clear is the song directly addressed the pain of a long-distance relationship, which was, like a deeply resonant theme for audiences at the turn of the century.

[Background voice, irritated]
Whatever. So what's up next?

Well, just so you know, Gillespie’s "Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" was specifically picked up for the musical "The Head Waiters", which launched it into becoming a national #1 hit. And being sung in a major show was the most effective way to drive sheet music sales, as audiences would buy the scores to play the songs at home.

[Background voice comes closer]
Yeah, I don't care, here let me switch to studio 2 [Click]

3079/7500

[Verse 1] Sweetheart I have grown so lonely Living thus away from you For I love you and you only Still I wonder if you’re true I regret the harsh words spoken That I know have caused you pain And my heart is nearly broken Say you love me once again [Chorus] Absence makes the heart grow fonder That is why I long for you Lonely thro’ the nights I ponder Wond’ring darling if you’re true Distance only lends enchantment Tho’ the ocean waves divide Absence makes the heart grow fonder Longing to be near your side [Verse 2] Has the love that once was dearer Than all else to me grown cold? Or has absence drawn us nearer To each other as of old? Promise then, you will not sever From the ties that bind us two Say you will be mine forever Tell me that you still are true Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" was written by Arthur Gillespie 126 years ago - well maybe I shouldn't say that, your probably listening to a rerun, it's no telling what year you're in. Anyway It's a popular American song from the year 1900, the music was composed by his partner Herbert Dillea. [Background voice] I liked it, what's next? Well You know, uh, yeah, in 1900, this era marked the shift where music became an "industry" more than just an "art," with publishers specifically surveying the market to see what styles were selling best. The major trend was for Tin Pan Alley songwriting turning well-known proverbs into sentimental ballads, like the one you just heard, famous for the proverb in its title, it became a #1 hit for Harry Macdonough in 1901. However the phrase "Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" goes back at least to the 19th-century song "Isle of Beauty" by Thomas Haynes Bayly, which seems to stem from older roots in Roman poetry--- [Background voice interrupts] That's interesting, how about we move on to the next song? [Male voice] Yeah, I was just going to say it's interesting the original 1900 sheet music, which was a very hot seller, is dedicated with the formal phrasing "Respectfully dedicated to Miss Celeste K. Walsh," which was a standard way to honor a young woman of respectable social standing during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. The dedication specifically notes she was from Chicago, Illinois. [Background voice] Who was she? [Male voice] Well, Arthur Gillespie also had strong ties to Chicago, suggesting she had been a romantic interest of his, but it's not clear who she was. What is clear is the song directly addressed the pain of a long-distance relationship, which was, like a deeply resonant theme for audiences at the turn of the century. [Background voice, irritated] Whatever. So what's up next? Well, just so you know, Gillespie’s "Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" was specifically picked up for the musical "The Head Waiters", which launched it into becoming a national #1 hit. And being sung in a major show was the most effective way to drive sheet music sales, as audiences would buy the scores to play the songs at home. [Background voice comes closer] Yeah, I don't care, here let me switch to studio 2 [Click]

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