Who Wrote the Happy Birthday Lyrics
The lyrics of "Happy Birthday to You" were written by two American sisters, Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill, in 1893. They were educators and songwriters from Kentucky who created the song as a simple classroom greeting called "Good Morning to All."
How the Song Became a Birthday Anthem
Over time, people began singing the melody with different lyrics for birthdays. The combination of the tune and the birthday words spread widely through schools, families, and public events, eventually becoming the standard birthday song in the United States and beyond.
Copyright and Commercial History
The song was later commercialized, and its copyright was managed by various companies for decades. In 2016, a U.S. court ruled that the copyright claim was invalid, making the song freely usable. You can read more about the history on the Britannica website.
