The Blighty Bust!: ‘The Bridge Across the Stream’ by Ivor Novello & J.E. MacManus

‘The Bridge Across the Stream’ was originally published in the 1917 Blighty Christmas Special. The lyrics were written by J.E. MacManus (1862-1921) — Blighty's editor, who, before the war, had written lyrics for several music hall songs, often in collaboration with the actor and singer Leo Stormont (1860-1923). They tended to be jingoistic affairs, with titles such as ‘John Bull’s Protest’ and ‘The Fighting Man’. A short biography of MacManus will appear on this site imminently.

The music for the piece was written by none other than Ivor Novello (1893-1951). Regarding how this collaboration came about, I highly suspect it was propaganda and linked to the National War Aims Committee (NWAC), which is briefly discussed as part of a longer article on propaganda here. I believe this to be the case because propaganda efforts at the start of the war concentrated on a high-brow, literature-based approach. In 1916, it became more visual in nature, with the use of photographs, cartoons, and, most notably, the cinema with the Battle of the Somme film released that year. In 1917, propaganda took on a more populist form, infiltrating both the music hall and the theatre. One of the companies involved was the entertainment agency Keith, Prowse & Co, which the NWAC approached to arrange short speeches by 'prominent actors and music hall stars' to be held in theatres.¹ They also happened to have the 16 January 1918 Blighty magazine dedicated to them.² There is also evidence that J.E. MacManus was involved with the NWAC, and my 'current line of investigation' is that Blighty may well have been a NWAC creation.³

As for Ivor Novello: in 1914, then aged 21, he wrote one of the best-known songs of the war, 'Keep the Home Fires Burning', which became an anthem and would launch his career. In June 1916, he was conscripted into the Royal Naval Air Service as a pilot, though one commentator described his flying skills as 'doing more damage than the Luftwaffe'.⁴ As a result, he was transferred to a desk at the war office in 1917. Unfortunately, none of the biographies I have found mention the type of work he undertook there, instead focusing on his musical output in this period. However, I believe the two are interlinked. Proof of his involvement with propaganda does exist. It was widely reported in the press that he was sent on a propaganda mission to Stockholm in 1918 where he performed at Rolf's Cabaret club for three months, playing several patriotic and British tunes.⁵

I have compiled an audio file of the verse and the refrain — I will caution you that my enthusiasm for music is greater than my skill, but it should give you an idea of how it sounded. With no reference, I have played it moderato, as that seems to provide a chance for the singer to breathe between lines, and there does seem to be a mistake at bar 26 with an extra C listed on the third cord, which I have omitted.

Another reason for believing this was propaganda; the Christmas and Summer Specials were produced for the home front, and the lyrics in the song are clearly aimed at that audience, and not Tommy Atkins in the trenches, a point I will return to in due course.

The Bridge Across the Stream’

by Ivor Novello & J.E. MacManus'

Verse 1

I mind the meadows waving
When the breeze was warm in June;
And the song the woods were singing,
Of the summer all in tune.
The Trees gave just a whisper,
And the birds were half asleep;
But the air was full of music
That murmured soft and seep.

Refrain

And the bridge was where we waited
Till our sweetheart came along.
With her smile as bright as summer,
And her voice as soft as song.
We're far from home and country,
Old times seem like a dream,
But the girls we love will wait for us
On the bridge across the stream.

Verse 2

It was cool beneath the shadows
Where the drooping branches fell,
And the sound of rippling waters
Was like a silver bell.
You could see the blue sky mirrored
When the pools were deep and calm.
It was grand to be alive and young,
And we didn't care 'a dalm.