Song of the Day - 14th February

Today's Song of the Day is naturally to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Legends say that St. Valentine of Rome was a priest who defied the Roman Emperor Claudius II's ban on soldiers getting married and continuing to marry couples in secret. Other stories say that he helped Christians escape Roman prisons and fell in love with the jailer’s daughter, writing her a letter signed "From your Valentine."

He was martyred and his body buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14, which has been observed as the Feast of Saint Valentine (Saint Valentine's Day) since at least the eighth century.

Valentine’s Day also has pagan roots alongside its connection to St. Valentine. It may have originated in Lupercalia, a festival of fertility celebrated on February 15 in ancient Rome. Lupercalia was dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunus, and the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. It was celebrated with animal sacrifices and gently slapping women and crop fields with goat hides dipped in blood, which was thought to help fertility.

The poem I have set to celebrate this day of love is called "To Mistress Barbara (A Valentine)" by poet Eugene Field (1850 – 1895), an American writer, best known for his children's poetry and humorous essays. He was known as the "poet of childhood".

He studied at the University of Missouri but was not a serious student and spent much of his time at school playing practical jokes. He then began work as a journalist for the St. Joseph Gazette in Saint Joseph, Missouri, in 1875 where he became known for his light, humorous articles written in a gossipy style. In 1883, Field moved to Chicago where he wrote a humorous newspaper column called Sharps and Flats for the Chicago Daily News in which, Field made quips about issues and personalities of the day, especially in the arts and literature. He sounds like a fun guy!

This poem tells the story of three suitors coming to woo the eponymous Mistress Barbara by singing to her of their adoration and ardour, hoping to win her favour.

Get the music for this song for free - find out how here.

To Mistress Barbara (A Valentine)

By Eugene Field

There were three cavaliers, all handsome and true,

On Valentine’s day came a maiden to woo,

And quoth to your mother: "Good-morrow, my dear,

We came with some songs for your daughter to hear!"

Your mother replied: "I’ll be pleased to convey

To my daughter what things you may sing or may say!"

Then the first cavalier sung: "My pretty red rose,

I’ll love you and court you some day, I suppose!"

And the next cavalier sung, with make-believe tears:

"I’ve loved you! I’ve loved you these many long years!"

But the third cavalier (with the brown, bushy head

And the pretty blue jacket and necktie of red)

He drew himself up with a resolute air,

And he warbled: "O maiden, surpassingly fair!

I’ve loved you long years, and I love you to-day,

And, if you will let me, I’ll love you for aye!"

I (the third cavalier) sang this ditty to you,

In my necktie of red and my jacket of blue;

I’m sure you’ll prefer the song that was mine

And smile your approval on your valentine.