Old Birthday Song

Interesting! Our family uses the exact same song, adding the regular "Happy Birthday to you" at the end. Another family I know switches the order, beginning with "A very happy birthday," following with the "As years go by" part, then ending with "Happy Birthday to you."

I have no idea of the origination of the song, though. It would seem possible that it's an old Primary song. I can't ask my mother, who taught us the song, as she is long deceased.

The lyrics sound wonderful – but I wonder if someone could share the music or tune or something, such that we could begin using it, as well – Thanks!

Hmm, good idea. I'll see what I can do.

Marsha Ward

Well, that was fun, and took much more time than I really should have spent on it, but here's a link to a post on my blog, Writer in the Pines, where I have a short article about this adventure, and links to both an mp3 file to download/listen to and a pdf file to download/print so your family can learn the words.

Just follow the printing tip for best results.

Enjoy!

~Marsha Ward

NEW INFORMATION. "A Very Happy Birthday," credited to Beth Marchant, was published in the January, 1949, issue of "The Children's Friend" magazine. A box to the side says, "A NEW BIRTHDAY SONG. This birthday song is suggested for Primaries in place of the Primary Penny Song."

In 2008, my sister's daughter-in-law discovered this in the BYU Library, and acquired a photo image of the page, which she sent to my sister. I just received the image.

~Marsha Ward

Thanks, ladies!

I was searching for this song, just now, that we sang in Primary when I was a chorister in my teens. I wanted to send it via facebook to one of my daughters.

I still sing it to my adult children on their birthdays, along with several others. It's a mother's privilege.  : }

FYI: I'll be 70 years young in October.