Two Lovely Black Eyes

Album: Music Hall Classics (1886)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The music hall star Charles Coborn wrote this in 1886 as "a parody upon a stupid American semi-ballad"; this was "My Nellie's Blue Eyes" which was sung by Ida Morris. Coborn wrote in his autobiography: "The air was tuneful enough, but the words were so trivial that I felt that it screamed out to be parodied..." The parody went down much better than the original, although Coborn said he didn't claim that the words were much better. The Coborn song was arranged by Edmund Forman and published by Francis Brothers & Day of London that same year.
  • In his long career, Coborn sang and recorded "Two Lovely Black Eyes" many times. In the 1979 discography British Music Hall On Record, Brian Rust lists a recording at London circa 1905 with the chorus in nine languages - Coborn made a habit of this sort of thing - another circa January 1913 with the chorus in eight languages; and circa November 1924 with the chorus in nine languages again. The song was also recorded by Stanley Holloway. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

Brenda Russell

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.