Annelu Burns was born in
Selma, Alabama, on November 12, 1889. She studied at multiple schools, including
Judson College,
Boston Conservatory,
Brenau College, and
Leopold Auer School. She was the first woman to graduate from the violin program at Judson College. In 1917, her book of verse poetry,
Lyrics of Love and War was published by A. B. Caldwell Publishing Company. She wrote music alongside Ernest Ball, including lyrics for the songs ''I'll Forget You
and For the Sake of Auld Lang Syne''. Her poetry was composed into music by
Mana-Zucca,
James G. MacDermid,
Alexander MacFaydn,
Frank La Forge,
Cliff Friend, and
Max Kortlander. In 1918, Burns and Madelyn Sheppard composed the lyrics and music for the musical comedy,
Hooray for the Girls, with the book written by
Helen Smith Woodruff. The musical was staged in December the same year by the
American Committee for Devastated France as part of a post-war fundraising effort. Burns wrote the lyrics for the 1919 version of the musical,
Just Because. While the play was being readied for production in New York City,
Anna Wynne O'Ryan rewrote the comedy lyrics on behalf of Burns, who was unable to travel to the city from where she was staying in the Southern United States. In 1922, while still unable to return before the New York production, Burns sold her rights to the musical to Helen Smith Woodruff. The songs she sold included "Love-Just Simply Love", "It's Hard to Be A Lady All The Time", "I'll Name My Dolly for You", and "A Wedding is a Mournful Thing Unless it is Your Own." In Selma, Burns was leader of the Walton Theater Orchestra. She became a member of the
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 1924. From 1932 until 1942, she taught in
Pleasantville, New York, both in public schools and privately. Burns died on July 12, 1942, in
Mount Kisco, New York. ==Lyrics==