The Little Man Who Wasn’t There

10/19/23 • -1 min

Hughes Mearns wrote “Antigonish” in 1910. Composers Harold Adamson and Bernard Hanighen added the melody to the poem and crafted the song “The Little Man Who Wasn’t There” in 1939...and picked up songwriting credits for doing so. In July of that year, Glenn Miller, his orchestra, and Tex Beneke released this record on the Bluebird label.

The poem’s eerie lyrics have been used in films, tv, books and other songs, and were based on reports of a haunted house in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

This episode was co-written by Hasmik Djoulakian (Joo-lock-ee-en), part of the Sound Beat Class Partnership.Photo credit: https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/142/356275548_063f0133fd_z.jpg?zz=1

The poem’s eerie lyrics have been used in films, tv, books and other songs, and were based on reports of a haunted house in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

This episode was co-written by Hasmik Djoulakian (Joo-lock-ee-en), part of the Sound Beat Class Partnership.Photo credit: https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/142/356275548_063f0133fd_z.jpg?zz=1

Previous Episode

Der Graf von Luxemburg

It’s that age old tale of love and marriage...and money.
You’re listening to the Opening Overture of Franz Lehar’s 1910 operetta Der Graf von Luxemburg. We are often our own harshest critics; before it’s debut, Lehar called the piece ‘Sloppy work, completely useless.’ Despite his opinion, the play ran for 299 straight performances in its original run. The story tells of a bankrupt playboy count, approached by a Russian prince with a...semi-indecent proposal. He’ll pay the Count’s debts if the Count agrees to marry the object of his affection.
Alas, she is but a lowly opera singer, and beneath his marrying station.
The marriage would be a sham, (but, really, what marriage isn’t? Sorry...happy anniversary, honey.) Anyway, the move would make her royalty, a divorce would make her single, and the Prince would make her his wife.
How could it possibly go wrong? Find out right here.

This episode was written in part by Syracuse University student Craig Kober as part of the Sound Beat Class Partnership.

Next Episode

Your Cheatin’ Heart

Legend has it this song came to Williams while with fiancé Billie Jean Horton. Just driving around, talking about standard fiancé stuff...like, his ex-wife.

You’re on the Sound Beat.

While telling his future bride about his former’s infidelities, he cried out that one day Audrey’s “Cheatin’ Heart” would pay. A hit was born, and, probably, so was a discussion re: whether or not he was really over his ex-wife.

MGM released the song in January 1953, just weeks after Hank’s death at age 29. In 2004 “Your Cheatin’ Heart” was named #1 in CMT’s list of the 40 Greatest “Done-Me Wrong Songs”.

This episode was co-written by Alexis Lisser, part of the Sound Beat Class Partnership. Find out more right now at soundbeat.org

Sound Beat is produced at the Belfer Audio Archive, Syracuse University Libraries.