In recognition of the upcoming July 4th holiday celebration, this month's free tab is arrangement of a song originally written around the theme of soldiers having to leave their loved ones behind to go off to war - "Blue Bell".  The song was written in 1904 by Theodore Morse (music), and Edward Madden (lyrics),  and probably referred to the Philippine-American war, although the general theme is, unfortunately, timeless.

Theodore Morse was born on April 13, 1873 in Washington D.C. As a boy, he studied both the piano and violin and at the age of 14, left the Maryland Military Academy to start a song writing career on Tin Pan Alley in New York City. He worked in a music shop in Harlem and then as a salesman for the Oliver Ditson Music Company.

His first published song came in 1897 with “Goodbye Dolly Gary” (written with Will D. Cobb and Paul Barnes) and published by his own company, Morse Music. The company folded and Morse took a job with Howley, Haviland and Dresser, working as a pianist, composer and arranger. He soon became the principal composer and full partner of the firm.

Morse collaborated with several lyricists from Tin Pan Alley, chiefly Edward Madden, Richard Buck, Howard Johnson,  and his wife, Theodora Morse.  Among his other most well-known songs were "M-O-T-H-E-R", "Hail! Hail! The Gang's All Here", and "Keep On the Sunny Side". 

The legendary guitarist Merle Travis recorded the tune in 1956, and it has since become a standard tune for finger-style guitarists.  Here's a link to a YouTube video of Doc Watson performing this tune:

Cheers,

--Tull