Marilyn Monroe tweaked the lyrics to sing “Happy Birthday, Mr President” for President John F Kennedy at a celebration of his 45th birthday in the year 1962. It has since become one of the most famous renditions of the song. [1]
Patty Smith Hill and Mildred J. Hill were American sisters dedicated to early childhood education and music. Patty, an educator, and Mildred, a pianist and musicologist, worked together at a kindergarten in Louisville, Kentucky. They wrote a simple tune called Good Morning to All, intended as a cheerful greeting for young children. The melody was catchy and easy to remember, making it popular among teachers and students.
Patty first published the song in 1893 in the book Song Stories for the Kindergarten as a classroom greeting that teachers could sing to their students. The book was translated into French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Swedish and had over 20 editions.
Over time, people began adapting the lyrics for different occasions, with the birthday version gradually emerging in informal settings.
The complete text of ‘Happy Birthday to You’ first appeared in print as the final four lines of Edith Goodyear Alger’s poem ‘Roy’s Birthday‘, published in A Primer of Work and Play, copyrighted by D.C. Heath in 1901, with no reference to the words being sung.
By the early 20th century, Happy Birthday to You had become widely popular. In 1924, Robert H. Coleman included the song in a songbook, publishing it with the now-famous birthday lyrics. Its popularity skyrocketed in 1931 when it appeared in an Irving Berlin musical, and in 1934, it was first recorded, ensuring its place in popular culture. However, legal disputes over copyright ownership developed, leading to decades of controversy. Eventually, in 2015, a lawsuit ruled that Happy Birthday to You remains in the public domain, allowing free use.
Though they never sought fame, Patty and Mildred’s song became a global tradition. Today, Happy Birthday to You is sung in countless languages and remains the most recognised song in the world, according to Guinness World Records.
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