Parlor Music

Mother, Thou’rt Faithful to Me

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1851

“Mother, Thou’rt Faithful to Me” was submitted for copyright deposit on March 18, 1851, by F. D. Benteen of Baltimore. 

According to Evelyn Foster Mornweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family:

Mr. & Mrs. Brown

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1864

“Mr. & Mrs. Brown” was submitted for copyright deposit on January 23, 1864, by Horace Waters of New York. George Cooper authored the lyrics.

My Boy Is Coming from the War

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1863

There is no record of copyright entry or deposit for “My Boy Is Coming from the War,” but the copyright claim on the title page is for 1863. George Cooper authored the lyrics.

My Brodder Gum

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1849

WARNING: This is a blackface minstrel song, a genre that features demeaning caricatures rooted in racism and white supremacy.

“My Brodder Gum” was submitted by Firth, Pond & Co. on October 1, 1949. While the title on page three read “My Brodder Gum” the title page read “My Brudder Gum.” In the text of the song both spelling are used and were probably both included in Foster’s original manuscript.

My Hopes Have Departed Forever

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1851

“My Hopes Have Departed Forever” was entered for copyright deposit on August 4, 1851, by Firth, Pond & Co of New York. The text is a paraphrase of verses two through four of Percival’s “The Winds of the Winter Are Over.” The text also appeared under the same title in a sheet music edition issued by John Cole of Baltimore in 1822 or 1823. It is possible that Foster knew the song from childhood. 

The title page on some of the early published sources indicate it was “written and composed by a lady.”

My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night!

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1853

WARNING: This is a blackface minstrel song, a genre that features demeaning caricatures rooted in racism and white supremacy.

“My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!” was entered and deposited for copyright twice. One occurred on January 11, 1853, with no title page. The second occured on January 31, 1853.

“My Old Kentucky Home” was arranged for guitar and submitted for copyright deposit on August 23, 1853, also by Firth, Pond & Co.

My Wife is a Most Knowing Woman

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1863

“My Wife is a Most Knowing Woman” was submitted for copyright deposit on November 20, 1863, by Horace Waters of New York. George Cooper authored the lyrics.

Nell and I

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1861

“Nell and I” was submitted for copyright deposit on December 3, 1861, by John J. Daly of New York.

Nelly Bly

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1850

WARNING: This is a blackface minstrel song, a genre that features demeaning caricatures people rooted in racism and white supremacy.

“Nelly Bly” was submitted for copyright deposit on February 8, 1850, by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York. 

According to Evelyn Foster Mornweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family:

Nelly Was a Lady

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1849

WARNING: This is a blackface minstrel song, a genre that features demeaning caricaturesrooted in racism and white supremacy.

“Nelly was a Lady” was submitted for copyright deposit on July 18, 1849, by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York. A version of the song existed by December 5, 1848 when the title was entered for copyright in Pittsburgh. 

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