Ives, Songs My Mother Taught Me

If I had it to do over again, I might argue in favor of including this song in our collection of traditional songs Hurrah and Hallelujah. No, it’s not really a traditional song. It was written by the American composer Charles Ives in 1895. And while it has the simplicity of a folk song, it belongs more on the “learned” side of the scale. But it captures the essence and purpose behind our collection: the critical value of passing on a treasure of music from one generation to the next.

Ives (1874-1954) dedicated this song to his own mother. She was reportedly from a Connecticut farming family, had little education, and knew little about music. Ives, on the other hand, would attend Yale and become quite successful in a field unrelated to music. Many who knew him in the business world knew little or nothing about his composing.

The song was also set by Anton Dvořák in 1880 and his setting is quite well known. Professor Carol has written recently about Dvořák’s version. The text comes from the Czech poet Adolph Heyduk (1835-1923). It was translated to English by Natalie Macfarren.

Songs my mother taught me in the days long vanished,
Seldom from her eyelids were the tear drops banished.
Now I teach my children each melodious measure;
Often tears are flowing from my memory’s treasure.