WHEN LOVE COMES STEALING

(Walter Hirsch (m) / Erno Rapée (l) ) (Lew Pollack?*)

As sung by Lewis James March 4 1924 on Victor records.
Also recorded by Bob Haring and the Regent Club Orchestra

Springtime may melt into summer
Summer may fade into fall
Then at last comes winter's blast
Ready its robe over all.

From a carol its glory
But soon comes night sweet as story
If winter comes, if winter comes
Then spring is not far behind.

When love comes stealing into my heart
And sings a song divine.
Then loves revealing what I'd impart
When my heart calls to thine.

For love is you and not only true
An everlasting shrine
When love comes stealing into my heart
I know that the world is mine.

(bridge)

For love is you and not only true
An everlasting shrine
When love comes stealing into my heart
I know that the world is mine.

NOTE: *The Victor record 19326-A containing this lyric, 
does not credit Lew Pollack as a co-author of this song.


(ALTERNATE)

Alternate lyrics from the 1928 film 'The Man Who Laughs' 
(Conrad Veidt as the disfigured Gwynplaine and Mary Philbin 
as the blind Dea)
Directed by Paul Leni

When love comes stealing into my heart
And sings a song divine
Then love reveals just what I'd impart
When my heart calls to thine.

For loving you, and you loving me
Would be a lasting shrine.
When love comes stealing into my heart
Then I know the world is mine.



NOTES:

The history of these very pretty lyrics and music running 
alongside the sometimes grotesque plot present an interesting 
dichotomy. The music is commonly referred to as the 
'Love Theme from The Man Who Laughs'. One might think from 
this title, that the film could present as a wonderful love story.
 At the same time, another might argue that this is in fact, 
 a horror film.

The film 'The Man Who Laughs' was released by Universal 
Studies in November 1928.

The film was based on a book written by Victor Hugo, the famous 
French novelist. It was first published as the 'L'Homme qui Rit' 
in April 1869.

It's macabre and extremely disturbing visual content (aside from 
this very poignant love song) was a bit too much for most audiences 
but none the less, opinion was sharply divided. Historically it's 
seen as a classic horror film but as reviews state, despite it's 
visual content, it's still an influential silent classic.



(Contributed by David Story- April 2014)