Arthur John Mills (1872–1919) was an English lyricist of

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...

songs, many written with

Fred Godfrey Fred Godfrey (17 September 1880 – 22 February 1953) was the pen name of Llewellyn Williams, a World War I songwriter. He is best known for the songs "Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty" (1916) and "Bless 'Em All" (1917), a 1940s hit record ...

and

Bennett Scott Bennett Scott (12 October 1871 – 1 June 1930)Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , pp.154-156 was an English writer of music hall songs. Born in London, of Jewish background, he started wo ...

Biography

He was born in

Richmond, Surrey Richmond is a town in south-west London,The London Government Act 1963 (c.33) (as amended) categorises the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames as an Outer London borough. Although it is on both sides of the River Thames, the Boundary Commis ...

. His early popular successes as a songwriter included "What-Ho! She Bumps" (1901) and "Just Like The Ivy (I'll Cling To You)" (1903), both written with

Harry Castling Henry Castling (19 April 1865 – 26 December 1933) was an English lyricist of music hall songs. Biography Castling was born in Newington, London, the son of a street musician. He began writing songs in the 1890s, often collaborating on both ...

. He then established a working partnership with Scott, setting up the Star Music Company, publishing one new song every week.Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , p.154 Their most successful songs included "By The Side Of the Zuider Zee" (with Scott, 1906), "

Ship Ahoy! (All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor) "Ship Ahoy! (All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor)" is an English music hall song from 1908, written by Bennett Scott and A. J. Mills of the Star music publishing company in London. Some sources credit Scott alone; others additionally credit their ...

" (with Scott, 1908), "Fall In and Follow Me" (with Scott, 1910), "When I Take My Morning Promenade" (with Scott, 1912), "

Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty "Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty" is a music hall song written by Arthur J. Mills, Fred Godfrey and Bennett Scott in 1916. It was popular during the First World War, and tells a story of three fictional soldiers on the Western Front (World War I), ...

" (with Scott and Godfrey, 1916), and "Down Texas Way" (with Scott and Godfrey, 1917). Mills, Scott and Godfrey also provided the songs for the 1916 show ''Three Weeks And A Bit''."A.J. (Arthur J.) Mills (1872–1919)", ''Fred Godfrey Songs''
Retrieved 16 July 2020 Mills died in

Westcliff-on-Sea Westcliff-on-Sea (often abbreviated to Westcliff) is an inner city area of the city of Southend-on-Sea, in the City of Southend-on-Sea, in the ceremonial county of Essex, England. It is on the north shore of the lower Thames Estuary, about 34 m ...

Essex Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and G ...

, in October 1919.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mills, A. J. 1872 births 1919 deaths English lyricists