Silver Threads Among the Gold

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"Silver Threads Among the Gold", first copyrighted in 1873, was an extremely popular song in the United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Today it is a staple of barbershop quartet singing. The lyrics are by Eben E. Rexford, and the music by Hart Pease Danks.

In the late 1800’s, Eben Rexford wrote a number of stories published in the magazine Girls of Today, a Beadle and Adams publication. Interestingly, in 1876, three years after the publication of the song, Mattie Dyers Britts published a story in Girls of Today titled “Silver Threads Among the Gold.”[1]

The metaphor of “silver threads” was also used in an Italian song of the time, “Threads of Silver,” but the theme of that song is quite different from the theme of “Silver Threads Among the Gold.” The Italian song sings, “Each thread of silver is a love once vainly plighted, . . . Each an illusion blighted, . . . Fated dreams undone.”[2]

In 1930, an Associated Press story published in the New York Times gave some background on the writing of these lyrics. We quote the article:

"Silver Threads Song Traced to Poet’s ‘Re-Hash’ on Order"

Shiockton, Wis. (AP).—The love ballad, “Silver Threads Among the Gold,” which has stirred the hearts of more than one generation, was not the inspiration of an aging poet but a “re-hash” produced on order.

The story developed after the unveiling of a monument here in honor of the author of the words, Eben E. Rexford, who died in 1916.

Rexford made a living by writing verse and flower and garden articles for magazines. When he was 18, he wrote and sold for $3 some verses entitled “Growing Old.”

Later, H. P. Danke, composer of the music for “Silver Threads,” wrote to him requesting words for a song. Rexford dug into his scrapbook and revised “Growing Old.” [3]

When Rexford spoke about the song, he explained that he worked his way through college by writing, and it was when he was in college that Danks sent him a request for lyrics, offering to pay three dollars for each song. Rexford submitted nine songs and received $18.00, but no accounting of which six had been accepted or which three had been rejected. In telling the story of the song, Rexford said that he didn't know whether he had been paid $3.00 for it or nothing, since he didn't know if it had been among the six accepted or the three rejected. Rexford first heard the song when a company of Oneida Indians gave a concert in Shiocton and sang it.[4]

[edit] Lyrics

The lyrics are as follows: 1. Darling, I am growing old, Silver threads among the gold, Shine upon my brow today, Life is fading fast away. But, my darling, you will be, will be Always fair to me, Yes, my darling, you will be Always young and fair to me.

Chorus:

Darling, I am growing old, Silver threads among the gold, Shine upon my brow today; Life is fading fast away.

2. When your hair is silver white, And your cheeks no longer bright, With the roses of the May, I will kiss your lips and say, Oh! My darling, mine alone, alone, You have never older grown! Yes, my darling, mine alone, You have never older grown!

3. Love can never more grow old, Locks may lose their brown and gold; Cheeks may fade and hollow grow, But the hearts that love will know, Never, never winter’s frost and chill; Summer warmth is in them still; Never winter’s frost and chill, Summer warmth is in them still.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Girls of Today, vol. 1, no. 24, May 13, 1876.
  2. ^ Elson, Louis C., Ed. Modern Music and Musicians for Vocalists, Vol. V. New York: The University Society, Inc., 1918, pp. 1458-1459.
  3. ^ New York Times, October 19, 1930, section 3, page 6
  4. ^ Hall, Jacob Henry. Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers. New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1914, pp. 257-258.
  5. ^ Elson, Louis C., Ed. Modern Music and Musicians for Vocalists, Vol. VI. New York: The University Society, Inc., 1918, pp. 1626-1628.