Haydn Wood was born on this date in 1882. Although his name is pronounced “Hayden,” his parents, both musicians, indeed named him for Franz Joseph Haydn. Wood composed larger works for the concert hall, including concertos for piano and violin, and there was once a symphony, now lost, but his reputation rests on his light music and songs. He composed over 200 ballads.

This was one of his biggest hits, one of the great tear-jerkers of the First World War. Wood was riding atop a double-decker bus when the melody came to him. He hopped off and jotted it down onto an envelope by lamplight. The text was added by Frederick Weatherly.

During the war, the song sold 50,000 copies of sheet music. Its singing was used in the rehabilitation of shell-shocked soldiers, who had lost the ability to speak. It was recorded many, many times.

These days, it’s often employed to add flavor to period dramas. Of the earliest recordings, John McCormack’s rendition was notably popular.

Happy birthday, Haydn Wood!