In 1874, Cramer & Co., published a set of songs by Sullivan entitled The Young Mother, Three Simple Songs. The first two, Ay De Mi and Cradle Song (words anonymous) are included here. The latter was re-published by Metzler & Co., in 1876, retitled Little Darling Sleep Again. The third song, The First Departure, (words by Rev. E. Munroe) was also re-published in 1876 by Metzler & Co., with new words by Frederick E. Weatherly (1848-1929) as The Chorister. In this form the song gained greater popularity.

Weatherly wrote the lyrics to about fifteen hundred published songs, the most famous being The Old Brigade, Danny Boy and Roses of Picardy. He also translated Leoncavallo's Pagliacci and it is to him we owe the immortal line "On with the motley, the paint and the powder".

Enlarged version of the music cover.