LISTEN TO THE MOCKINGBIRD -1855-VOCAL-Performed by Tom Roush

This was an American popular song of the mid-19th century. Its lyrics were composed by Septimus Winner under the pseudonym "Alice Hawthorne", and its music was by Richard Milburn.
It relates the story of a singer dreaming of his sweetheart, now dead and buried, and a mockingbird, whose song the couple once enjoyed, now singing over her grave. Yet the melody is moderately lively.
"Listen to the Mocking Bird" was one of the most popular ballads of the era and sold more than twenty million copies of sheet music.[4] It was popular during the American Civil War and was used as marching music. Abraham Lincoln was especially fond of it, saying, "It is as sincere as the laughter of a little girl at play.

[@papagreenemusic]

R.I.P. Tom Roush (1955? - 2021) Just got to hear you for the 1st time, very sorry I missed greeting you in this life, but you live on forever through your wonderful music. Broken to hear you 'left too soon', farewell & rest in peace.

[@katperson7332]

Amen

[@BillyDBunny]

You are the best American classic musician ever, Mr. Roush, no question about it. An honor.

[@petestaint8312]

Agreed! 👍

[@BillyDBunny]

@@petestaint8312 Your taste is only matched by your intelligence, Sir!

[@joaniejett7189]

The story behind this lovely song from over 160 years ago, a young man much in love with his young wife who suddenly died and left him to face life alone. His love was buried under the shade of a large tree and he visited her often, accompanied by a mockingbird that sat in the tree and serenaded him each time he visited his true love, which was often! Maybe his true love coming back to tell him its alright, or maybe the mockingbird lost his own mate and felt the empathy and love for the young man to help comfort him during this sorrowful time. think of it, 1855 we haven't changed much have we thank goodness!

[@madamedemontmorency3811]

Actually the song is reported to have been dedicated to Harriet Lane, the niece of president James Buchanan, for her loveliness, grace and kindness. However, nice story!

[@Brace67]

@@madamedemontmorency3811 Since President Buchanan was a bachelor, his niece took on the duties of a First Lady during his presidency.

[@lindarutherford1127]

That’s a beautiful story! I believe that God allows our loved ones to give us signs that they are okay and still with us in spirit. I watch for these signs. Right after my Daddy died I asked God to send me one flower for Daddy. The very next day my Daddy’s peony bush had one flower on it. He had two peony bushes and that was the only one flower on both of the bushes that Spring. Usually they would be full of blooms. God is good and I will never forget that comfort that He sent me.

[@patcomstudios5086]

That’s a great story thank you for this comment!

[@evanwolf6618]

@@lindarutherford1127 Linda , your story jolted my tear ducts . For you , a full bloom of whatever you Wish !!

[@user-zn6xw2vp8d]

My Grandmother used to sing this song when I was a young child in the 60's. Haven't heard it since then. Lovely memories!

[@kathryntitus9647]

I was barely familiar with only the chorus and not all of it, this is the first time I've heard the whole thing. I seem to recall hearing it in a cartoon or something as a child in the 60s, clearly a largely forgotten piece of musical history. So nice to find us here, just by wild happenstance I happen to think of it and here it is!

[@gopachakraborty5790]

A Golden Song In A Voice Mellow Gold....Enamors The Heart With The Beautiful Charms Of The Melodious Redintion....Mesmerises The Soul In All Its Splendour Of Musical Medley....Simply Wonderful....

[@petestaint8312]

Agreed! His voice is awesome. 👍

[@williamneumyer7147]

Old times dere am not forgotten.

[@guystewart8468]

65 y.o. & didn't know this tune had words to it....& I listen to a LOT of old time music. Thanks Tom for what you do.

[@BillyDBunny]

Tom Roush is a national treasure.

[@petestaint8312]

Agreed!!! He's awesome. 👍

[@BillyDBunny]

@@petestaint8312 Better a late reply than none.

[@katperson7332]

@@BillyDBunnyRIP Tom

[@BillyDBunny]

@@katperson7332 Oh, dear. Still, he's a national treasure, courtesy of audio recordings.

[@katperson7332]

@@BillyDBunny You’re right. His renditions of Stephen Foster songs in particular are second to none. His voice was so suited to them. He died after sustaining head injuries in a fall, I believe.

[@kevinbyrne4538]

Mockingbirds live and sing in the cemetery of our town.

[@remeyrune6009]

How this became a version of The 3 Stooges theme is beyond me, but both versions are great.

[@len-zeplin480]

@Remey Rune of All the Times they Almost Killed Themselves?....It Fits.

[@jimwheeler4482]

Late in life Moe claimed this was not the tune they used sometimes. However, the music is attributed to Richard Milburn, "Whistling Dick", a nineteenth-century African American composer.

[@bo0tsy1]

Reason why, Humor. The Mockingbird will sing after everything is long gone.

[@mmarston332]

Same. "Playing The Ponies" (1937) and "Disorder In The Court" (1937) are my 2 favorite shorts.

[@josephsauris4949]

It is a testament to the vast and potent influence of the Stooges that this piece is still culturally current a century and a half later!

[@curtpiazza1688]

GREAT! 😊

[@ronnielwhite6107]

I have enjoyed a lot of Tom's songs a lot of them early love songs. This is a favorite

[@preese43]

I love to Tom Rush sing all of these old classics especially Lorena.

[@MusicOfTomRoush]

Thanks, Birder! Please don't confuse me, Tom Roush, with singer Tom Rush. LOL

[@angiel7535]

At 3:07, it's George Armstrong Custer and hi wife, I think

[@karincervantes8998]

I had no idea this was a song about a grave. Never heard this version before. what a gem! Thanks!

[@colarisaka]

Karin Cervantes Hell Lincoln called it the... liveliest funeral dirge he'd ever heard... it was popular in the North and South and was adapted as a marching tune too.

[@patriciaarndts4888]

My mother used to sing it to me when I was little.

[@buildmorefarms1007]

Sad story but illustrative that even death cannot sever love.

[@glee53]

When I was a young boy in the late 50s this song was played fairly often on a.m. radio in western Canada where I grew up. It was a real treat to stumble across it again. Beautiful rendition, I love it.

[@thomasjohn1601]

I became familiar , with ds old beautiful song , when I was a member of Trivandrum Men's Chorus under Mr. Sam Walsalam . Sung a male voice , arrangement by him ... even though a strict disciplinarian , really we all enjoyed singing under him ... a choir master , of class and perfection ...

[@dexterbakersr.1539]

05/12/2020 Watching the waltons today bought me to this song,I wanted to take my mind off this convid19 crisis the world 🌎 is going through ✊🏾😀

[@arthurduncan5999]

I remember having to order the CDs from his site, still listen to them and the photos remind you of the people in the past. R.I.P.

[@melodyofpsalm9468]

My Grandma used to sing this song to me when I was a baby

[@melodyofpsalm9468]

Thank you so much for sharing this song.... Takes me right back....

[@Eggs_is_eggs]

Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk!!

[@petestaint8312]

😄😄😄

[@williamstringer6519]

I became familiar with this song years ago from an elaborate player piano roll, full of tweets, trills and all the rest of it. Although the melody sounded rhythmical and jolly at the time, now that I am aware of the desolate narrative of the song itself, the combination is so sad it brings me to tears.

[@patricknorthrup7708]

My grandfather had an old tape of some of these songs modified slightly for children that he'd play for me and my sister. She never developed a love for this music though, like I did.

[@gusseford3457]

The beautiful thing about this wonderful song is how it connects Abraham Lincoln and the Three Stooges. This was one of Lincoln's favorite songs, later borrowed by the Three Stooges for their opening. I like to think Abe would smile at that connection. Would have probably been a Stooges fan too.

[@hughmanatee7657]

It also informs Walt Whitman’s great poem, “Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking.”

[@thecrushedtwinkie6632]

Actually, Abraham Lincoln had the composer of this song, Septimus Winner, arrested for treason during the Civil War for simply writing another song entreating Lincoln to reinstate Union general Andrew B. McClellan, whom Lincoln had removed from his command. Septimus wrote under the nom de plume Alice Hawthorne, which was wierd. Milton Moore

[@josephsauris4949]

@@thecrushedtwinkie6632 Not so weird. African-Americans had to play it VERY carefully in those days, especially if they were writing anything controversial.

[@Brace67]

@@thecrushedtwinkie6632 The General Lincoln removed for inaction was George B. McClellan who later ran against him on the Democratic ticket and was defeated.

[@archdukefranzferdinand2112]

@@josephsauris4949 they guy who was charged with treason wasn’t the guy who originally composed the song. He bought the rights from a black man

[@Sisu-bi6nu]

Très jolie chanson! Très bien chantée!

[@22julip]

This song as an instrumental was done often by Flatt and Scruggs Paul Warren played fiddle , great piece of music .

[@christianorr1059]

Oh wow, all this time I didn’t know the song contained lyrics!

[@ChaplinFan]

Love this song

[@user-do4pg7rn9f]

Tom, I love your music, thank you very much! Alfred from Austria

[@scottvasquez1401]

Great rendition of this song. This arrangement has a Larry Groce sound to it.

[@toddholmes4480]

This song was written when a simple cold could lead to death. Having children was hazardous, and yellow fever was a constant worry. My Darling Clemintine is another song that shows the hazards of life faced by our forbearers.

[@foxvienna1]

A great rendition of this lively song.

[@MusicOfTomRoush]

Thanks, Bruce!

[@johnjurkewicz9925]

⭐⭐⭐⭐Tom I love this is a great old songs they chose the right person for the right job ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@MusicOfTomRoush]

Thanks, John!!

[@EbenezerIan123]

I've listened again - so sorry to hear of your sad loss of Genevieve. May the God of all comfort be with you & your family. This lovely song is a reminder of precious times. With love & thanks for sharing the gift of music. Ian

[@MusicOfTomRoush]

Thanks, Ian

[@happygrandma2010]

@@MusicOfTomRoush slim dusty

[@BillyDBunny]

Awesome.

[@22julip]

20 million copy's of sheet music plus countless millions of us stooge fans who never new we were listening to a classic song i enjoyed it.thanks for posting you do learn something new every day

[@itsmebryangh0stboi277]

Nyuk nyuk nyuk

[@bbrj127]

My mother and I both loved and enjoyed listener to your version; I can't think of how it could be improved; it says published Jan 21, 2017 here but I'm sure I've been listening to your version since at least 2009 and I've never grown tried of hearing; it's wonderful!

[@MusicOfTomRoush]

Thanks!

[@len-zeplin480]

Heckle & Jeckly Full Throttle!

[@kagemaru259]

SOITENLY!!

[@petestaint8312]

😅😅😅

[@ScottCinsavich]

I can't believe how hard I to search for a performance of the song as it was originally intended. It was Abraham Lincoln's favorite song. Really!

[@stevetraskell726]

Scott Cinsavich I thought Lincoln's favorite song was "Blue Tail Fly"

[@jeremyhoke1782]

He may have related it to the loss of his own early love, Ann Rutledge.

[@tylerfrisk4320]

This is awesome. There is a Speakeasy style bar near me that got its name from this. It's in the back of a barbershop called whistling dicks, which is the nickname of the barber the writer got the medley from! Awesome song!

[@Middlesbrough250]

I lost a Fiancé 13 years ago, this song I can relate to

[@DuelingBongos]

This is the first time I have heard this song in about 55yrs. I thought about it because a mockingbird has been singing in my backyard day and night for the past two months. I always had the impression it was a fun, happy little song, but these lyrics are so dark and somber I cannot believe it.

[@lindarutherford1127]

I had a mockingbird in my backyard for years. All of a sudden it has disappeared and I sure do miss it. I hope God sends me another one.

[@DuelingBongos]

@@lindarutherford1127 Where I live the mockingbirds are seasonal. They show up in the Spring and usually move on by June. This year a mockingbird arrived in February--very early--and he stayed around until early July. It was wonderful listening to his songs every night for five months.

[@tommurphree5630]

@@lindarutherford1127 It tears the soul when a mocking bird disappears from it's little domain . I worked at a place where a mocking bird sang on top of the office building everyday. One day I took a short cut back to another building . I saw it's feathers on the ground . A local stray cat got it . I felt empty , sorrowful , and sad . I still do if I think about it .

[@lindarutherford1127]

@@tommurphree5630 I think mine died. It had been at my house for years and years and then all of a sudden it was gone. So far I haven’t had another one to replace it. I’m still waiting.

[@lindarutherford1127]

@@DuelingBongos they are like no other! I loved hearing mine too. So amazing all the sounds they make.

[@helencampbell2248]

Awesome Bravo 👏

[@larrysteimle2004]

Well done! Thank you.

[@jksteven1]

Wonderful!

[@elijahhodges4405]

Widow pictures were very popular during the Civil War.

[@lordbeaky3496]

I am a time traveler and yes they sound good live

[@andrewmorrice9139]

HEY MOE! Whatsamattahwit'you? Heeeeey watchit!

[@petestaint8312]

😆😆😆

[@itzheraldo]

Now this is the theme of the three stooges.

[@SmashupMashups]

This was best known as the original theme music to _The Three Stooges_ from 1935 to 1939. I love this tune more than "Three Blind Mice" as it's way overused in _Three Stooges_ media than "Listen to the Mockingbird".

[@robbenn69]

I'm here because of The Waltons episode, "The Burn."

[@PaulDonaldRoy]

The Three Stooges brought me here.

[@luisalvarado7669]

a mi tambien xD

[@birdfanboi]

Looney Tunes brought me here, that and Heckle and Jeckle.

[@justdustino1371]

You brought the three stooges here....obviously they are looking for a fourth.....

[@jimwheeler4482]

Moe Howard claimed that the brief tune heard as the theme for some of their movies was NOT Listen to the Mocking Bird. I think old Moe was off his gourd.

[@timlewis1380]

Me too!

[@anthursan]

"Pardon my Scotch" The Three stooges episode theme 1933..........

[@jimwheeler4482]

The woman with the pointing finger, seen around 2:20 might be dead. There was a time when dead relatives were propped up and photographed. I may have seen her photo in an article about that practice.

[@TheRealK93B]

This is interesting, I assumed maybe she was pinching her dress to keep it up or steady. I'm gonna read into that though, Thanks!

[@jimwheeler4482]

@@TheRealK93B , there is at least one site that has photos of dressed-up dead folks. This woman's eyes look re-touched.

[@user-ssrl08p77]

“WOOOOB WOB WOBWOBWOBWOBWOB” -Curly

[@harryzhang4660]

T'was at the siege of Vicksburg, of Vicksburg, of Vicksburg. T'was at the siege of Vicksburg, when the Minnie-balls are whistling through the air. Listen to the minnie-ball, listen to the minnie-ball, the minnie-balls are whistling through the air. Listen the to the minnie-ball, listen to the minnie-ball, the minerals are whistling through the air. How well well we remember, remember, remember, tough mule meat June sans November, when the parrot shells are whistling through the air. Listen to the parrot shell, listen to the parrot shell, the parrot shells are whistling through the air. Listen to the parrot shells, listen to the parrot shells, the parrot shells are whistling through the air.

[@ferociousgumby]

Jesus!

[@ferociousgumby]

NRA?

[@BillyDBunny]

The South was doomed from the start. Without British recognition, it was all over. Holding onto slavery drove the last nail in her coffin.

[@eduardobraivein8496]

Oustanding performance! Bravo!!

[@jimwheeler4482]

There is a chance that the lady with the pointing finger and the flowered curtain behind her right shoulder is dead and propped up for the photo. Photographing dead relatives in life-poses was popular at one time.

[@troyslaughter5611]

Alice Hawthorne, a/k/a Septimus Winner. T’was his name de plume.

[@waliurrahman1054]

Like

[@tonyrussi7777]

remember when Jetherine on Beverly Hillbillies played this on the piano.

[@natalya6091]

Who's singing this lovely song?

[@MusicOfTomRoush]

It is me, Tom Roush

[@natalya6091]

@@MusicOfTomRoush Tom, what did you graduate from?

[@MusicOfTomRoush]

@@natalya6091 I attended 3 colleges but never graduated from any due to finances.

[@punkisinthedetails1470]

what style of music are we calling this

[@scottdog1165]

American

[@lilyflower50099]

1850's

[@beri4138]

Folk

[@toniacianciulliwisharts2427]

Who are the ladies in the photographs? I am writing a book about the late Newfoundland opera singer, Georgina Stirling (1867-1935). In an interview a cousin of hers commented she would sing this catchy melody at their home in Back Harbour, NFLD.

[@MusicOfTomRoush]

Most of them were American actresses from the 1800's.

[@angiel7535]

The couple at 3:04 are George Armstrong Custer and his wife Libbie

[@fiddlemusik]

Charlotte Cushman, the greatest American actress of the day. @2:37. Played both male and female roles well. 1816-1876

[@mmarston332]

Woo-woo-woo!

[@itzheraldo]

U mean whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop!

[@petestaint8312]

😄😄😄

[@DLee1923]

I never even think about it being about death. ha It's just a fun song !

[@MusicOfTomRoush]

Most folks don't think it is about death because it was played as an instrumental on the TV show 'The Three Stooges.'

[@Iggywiggywoo]

This wasn’t actually recorded in 1855 was it?

[@ilarymedri9653]

1855 listen to the mockingbird 2019 listen to the hackingbird

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

Where's the melody that plays in plays in spongebob dammit

[@Rowebot15]

la la, la la la lala la, la lala la, la lala la

[@TheVideoMaker1999]

The Three Stooges

[@orf5223]

Lil Nas x industrial baby

[@faithlessberserker5921]

Only 1820s kids would understand.

[@IrisMusic]

a tiktok posted on my friend’s snapchat story about James Buchanan being gay brought me to his wikipedia page which brought me to Harriet Lane’s wikipedia page which brought me here.

[@aaronhuang8425]

This is hilarious.

[@tajinurbegum6718]

I am here by reading Henry Ford's International jews

[@OMAROMAROMAboa]

Can you be more specific?

[@tajinurbegum6718]

@@OMAROMAROMAboa while reading The international jews I found some songs mentioned there. after Zionists started investing in music industry of amarica they started mixing nudity and drugs, alcohol in music.Before that American music were pure and heavenly and Henry ford mentioned some singers like Tom roush

[@paterofmater1690]

Same bro😄

[@paterofmater1690]

Im reading bangla translation of this book..Title 'Secret of the zionism'

[@bo0tsy1]

This is the ACTUAL Traditional. not the hippie ones. It's contemporary. The intro and the outros change, but words don't.

[@mmarston332]

Wasn't this a Union song?

[@johnmaldonado2397]

Mocking Bird, thy name is Trump.

[@StrangeMan0-s2p]

Who’s listening in 1893 👇