In the Gloaming (song)

"In the Gloaming" is an 1877 song composed by Annie Fortescue Harrison with lyrics taken from a poem by Meta Orred. Orred's poem (of the same title as the song) appeared in her 1874 book Poems.[1] The 1877 song was very popular in the United States that year.[1]

Although being an Irish song, it was popularised in the 1910 throughout America by The American Quartet with Will Oakland. This love song tells the story of Annie Harrison, the penniless daughter of a Sussex MP when she met Lord Arthur Hill, the second eldest son of the Hillsborough estate. As they were of different social classes, Hill’s parents objected their love, so Annie fled to England, afraid she’d break up the family. Annie composed this song to express her sorrow for losing her love but that it was best for both of them. Since Arthur was unable to find Annie, he married another woman, who died a year after their marriage. Years later, in a London concert, Arthur heard and identified this song as their parting song. They were both reunited, married and had one daughter.