Morbid topic for pre-1910 sentimental songs

[EdisonSquirrel]

I have noted that there are at least two sentimental songs from the pre-1910 era about unhappy, neglected children who commit suicide. What a ghastly topic! I doubt that the following two songs would go over well today:

In the house of too much trouble was recorded by Harry Macdonough in May 1901 (Victor 3312) and relates the story of a young boy who was lonely and felt ignored. As he lies dying, he murmurs "Won't the angels let me play? When they take me up to heaven, will I still be in the way?"
http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/detail/id/8647

Is there any room in heaven for a little girl like me?, recorded by Harry Anthony and released as Edison 2-minute cylinder in September 1906, is the story of a young girl whose parents have no time for her. She sees heaven as a place "where there won't be business worries, where there's no society."
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/ ... l2748d.mp3



Rocky

[Lucius1958]

Well, sentimental songs about the death of children (not necessarily, in these cases, suicide) were pretty popular in an era when infant mortality was still relatively high.

In fact, sentimental songs about the death of any loved one were popular - think of "The Letter Edged in Black", or "The Baggage Coach Ahead", as well as the whole genre of disaster songs.....

[bbphonoguy]

Yea, I don't think this is about child suicide so much as it is about infant mortality (possibly children dying of a broken heart), and parents not learning to appreciate their children 'til it's too late.

[1923VictorFan]

WOW! Very cool! Does anyone know if there were any disc records with similar themes?