J Powers's video: Maggie My Own by George J Gaskin - 1897 Columbia Brown Wax Cylinder Record 4097

(Turn up the volume. Click "Show More" to see the lyrics) Early Columbia brown wax record entitled "Maggie, My Own" by George J Gaskin. This is Columbia record # 4097. The announcement states "Maggie My Own sung by Mr. George J Gaskin for Columbia Phonograph Company of New York City." Based on the announcement, I am dating this to 1897. This particular record is very scarce, as I have been unable to find any audio of this recording online. Thus, I am uploading it here for posterity. But unfortunately, the sound is quite faint (as is common w/ records this early) and it has acquired a significant amount of mold during the course of 123 years in storage. Mold eats away at the wax and cannot be reversed, so we are left here with a rough sounding recording. That said, Gaskin's voice is still quite audible and any astute eardrum should be able to hear the twinkling piano accompaniment in the background. George J Gaskin (1863–1920) was born in Belfast Ireland and came to the USA in his youth. He was only the 2nd vocalist to make commercial records for Edison, and soon became quite possibly the most popular and prolific recording artist of the 1890s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_J._Gaskin The song Maggie, My Own was composed in 1895 by Andrew Mack. The lyrics are below: MAGGIE, MY OWN. Copyright. 1895, by T. B. Harms & Co. Words by Alice. Music by Andrew Mack Maggie, my own: Maggie, my dear, Happy am I when you are nigh, I love you more and more. Dry that bright tear, be of good cheer: Wherever I wander, though years may roll on, You've a place in my heart, Maggie dear. Chorus. Maggie, my own: Maggie, my dear, Happy am I when you are nigh, I love you more And more; Oh! fight of my life, be my little wife, My own sweet Maggie Asthore. Maggie, my own; Maggie, my dear, By night and day for you I'll pray; Think of me, love, alone. Though far away, still I'll be near; The light of your eyes my bright beacon will be, And guide me to you, Maggie dear.- Chorus.