Saturday, February 27, 2016

Transcribing Love


   While cleaning out my maternal Grandmother's home after her death in 2009, the Sumter High School Class of 1939 Will and Class Prophesy were found. These are fun to read as they discuss class members and what they were "leaving" to the undergraduates and predictions of what the future would hold for the Seniors. 
 
Shorthand Notes
©Cheri Hudson Passey

   Recently, I discovered a few handwritten notes on some of the pages. One was written in shorthand. Not knowing how to transcribe it, I posted the page on several Facebook  Genealogy Group pages in hopes of finding someone who could let me know what it said.
 It didn't take long. Within just a short while there were a couple of people who had a translation for me. 
                                                                        It appeared to be the words of a song. 

    Typing the phrases into google, the results turned up this 1939 song, You Taught Me To Love Again by Tommy Dorsey.
                                    
photo credit: Wikipedia


               The lyrics are:
                                  Said I was through with love and romance
                                  Friendless and blue I hadn't had a chance
                                  Then you taught me to love again.

                                  Maybe I'm wrong to feel like I do
                                  But right or wrong I'm trusting in you
                                  For you taught me to love again.

                                  The first time we kissed 
                                  I tried to resist
                                  But you set my heart aflame
                                  No wonder I feel
                                  The way that I feel
                                  Whenever I speak your name

                                  Say what you will, I'll kneel at your shrine
                                  Oh what a thrill to know you're mine
                                  For you taught me to love again

                                 Say what you will, I'll kneel at your shrine
                                 Oh what a thrill to know you're mine
                                 For you taught me to love again
                                 Oh what a trill to know you're mine
                                 And we're in love again.
                                  
I even found it on youtube!




    It's not clear when my Grandmother, Azile Juanita (Daughrity) Roberts Sullivan (1921-2009) met and started dating my Grandfather, Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr. (1920-1944) we only know from stories she told they met in Sumter, South Carolina. According to Grandmom, he had come from Camden, South Carolina with some friends. 
                                                                   They were married in October of 1940.
   Was she thinking of him when she wrote down the words of this love song? I don't know, but I can imagine her doing so.

       
Azile and Gilbert
Circa 1939
©Cheri Hudson Passey
       
          
                                   Thank you to the genealogy community for your willingness to help in transcribing love. 

Taking a second look at sources lead to a touching find. Have you given any of yours another look? You may discover a treasure. 
  

Are we kin? Please contact me. Together we can find our people.
Thanks so much for stopping by!




4 comments:

  1. Isn't it grand when you can ferret you a bit of social history to add understanding to the lives of ancestors?! The photo of Azile and Gilbert -- fabulous!
    --Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, nancysfamilyhistory.blogspot.com)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was thrilled to find it! My Mom (their daughter) has been imagining them dancing to it. She didn't know her father because he died in WWII. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment on my post, Nancy. I really appreciate it!

      Delete
  2. What a great find! I too was imagining them dancing to that song. It is really neat that you were able to find it on YouTube. I love that we are able to find bits of the past online to help us learn more about our ancestors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Shannon! All these little clues are so important. You never know what you will find!.

      Delete