Manuel Romain - When You Were Sweet Sixteen (1909)
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Manuel Romain
“When You Were Sweet Sixteen”
Edison Amberol 331
1909
"When You Were Sweet Sixteen" was written by James Thornton in 1898.
The legend is that the song was inspired by Thornton's wife, Bonnie, when she asked her husband if he still loved her.
Thornton replied, "I love you like I did when you were sweet sixteen."
When first I saw the lovelight in your eye,
And heard thy voice, like sweetest melody,
Speak words of love to my enraptured soul,
The world held naught but joy in store for me.
Even though we're drifting down life's stream apart,
Your face I still can see in dream's domain.
I know that it would ease my breaking heart
To hold you in my arms just once again.
I love you as I never loved before
Since first I met you on the village green.
Come to me, or my dream of love is over.
I love you as I loved you when you were sweet,
when you were sweet sixteen.
Manuel Romain was born on October 1,1872, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, according to a book by Edward Le Roy Rice titled Monarchs of Minstrelsy (Kenny Publishing Company, 1911).
Jim Walsh noted that one source identified Romain's birthplace as Boston while other sources suggest Gibraltar or Spain.
Romain spent much of his youth in the Boston area. He worked in a jewelry store for a time, then pursued a singing career.
The April 1916 issue of Edison Phonograph Monthly states that he confined himself to church and concert work until 1893. It also states, "Then he went into the minstrel field, appearing with Primrose and West, W. S. Cleveland, Primrose and Dockstader, W.H. West and Lew Dockstader's Minstrels--covering in all fifteen seasons. In 1906 he made his vaudeville debut and scored a tremendous 'hit' with some of his original compositions."
Rice reports, "In 1907 Mr. Romain entered the vaudeville field with an elaborate production entitled 'Down in Music Row,' and met with flattering success. Two years later he produced 'Before and After the Ball,' which, if possible, achieved even greater success..."
He was a composer as well as a performer. Songs written by the tenor include "I Would If I Could But I Can't," published in 1903, and, with lyricists Leighton and Leighton, "The Message of the Old Church Bell." The latter was published in 1905 by the Helf & Hager Company, owned by J. Fred Helf and Fred W. Hager. In his first few years as a record artist he cut many ballads written by Helf as well as other songs published by Helf's company.
Romain was more closely associated with Edison than any other company during his recording career. He made his debut with the two-minute cylinder "When the Blue Birds Nest Again, Sweet Nellie Gray" (9628), issued in September 1907.
The July 1907 issue of Edison Phonograph Monthly announcing its release identifies Romain as "a member of Dockstader's minstrels."
That first cylinder was followed in October by "Meet Me Sweet Kathleen in Honeysuckle Time" (9664).
“When You Were Sweet Sixteen”
Edison Amberol 331
1909
"When You Were Sweet Sixteen" was written by James Thornton in 1898.
The legend is that the song was inspired by Thornton's wife, Bonnie, when she asked her husband if he still loved her.
Thornton replied, "I love you like I did when you were sweet sixteen."
When first I saw the lovelight in your eye,
And heard thy voice, like sweetest melody,
Speak words of love to my enraptured soul,
The world held naught but joy in store for me.
Even though we're drifting down life's stream apart,
Your face I still can see in dream's domain.
I know that it would ease my breaking heart
To hold you in my arms just once again.
I love you as I never loved before
Since first I met you on the village green.
Come to me, or my dream of love is over.
I love you as I loved you when you were sweet,
when you were sweet sixteen.
Manuel Romain was born on October 1,1872, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, according to a book by Edward Le Roy Rice titled Monarchs of Minstrelsy (Kenny Publishing Company, 1911).
Jim Walsh noted that one source identified Romain's birthplace as Boston while other sources suggest Gibraltar or Spain.
Romain spent much of his youth in the Boston area. He worked in a jewelry store for a time, then pursued a singing career.
The April 1916 issue of Edison Phonograph Monthly states that he confined himself to church and concert work until 1893. It also states, "Then he went into the minstrel field, appearing with Primrose and West, W. S. Cleveland, Primrose and Dockstader, W.H. West and Lew Dockstader's Minstrels--covering in all fifteen seasons. In 1906 he made his vaudeville debut and scored a tremendous 'hit' with some of his original compositions."
Rice reports, "In 1907 Mr. Romain entered the vaudeville field with an elaborate production entitled 'Down in Music Row,' and met with flattering success. Two years later he produced 'Before and After the Ball,' which, if possible, achieved even greater success..."
He was a composer as well as a performer. Songs written by the tenor include "I Would If I Could But I Can't," published in 1903, and, with lyricists Leighton and Leighton, "The Message of the Old Church Bell." The latter was published in 1905 by the Helf & Hager Company, owned by J. Fred Helf and Fred W. Hager. In his first few years as a record artist he cut many ballads written by Helf as well as other songs published by Helf's company.
Romain was more closely associated with Edison than any other company during his recording career. He made his debut with the two-minute cylinder "When the Blue Birds Nest Again, Sweet Nellie Gray" (9628), issued in September 1907.
The July 1907 issue of Edison Phonograph Monthly announcing its release identifies Romain as "a member of Dockstader's minstrels."
That first cylinder was followed in October by "Meet Me Sweet Kathleen in Honeysuckle Time" (9664).