How I Love to Laugh, or the Yawner

Broadside printed with the words of the popular song 'How I love to Laugh, or the Yawner' sung by the clown Joseph Grimaldi, in Harlequin and the Water Kelpe at Sadler's Wells theatre. The three verses printed in two columns on the bottom half of the sheet relate the mishaps of a singer prone to inapt yawns. The verses refer to the consequences of his yawning when on the verge of an appointment, when about to kiss the lady he hoped to marry, and while being shaved. The broadside is illustrated with an engraving of the man on bended knee yawning, his arm around the waist of the woman he is about to propose who is pushing him away in horror. The broadside was published on January 8th 1807.

Such broadsides printed with the words of songs sung in London's theatres were extremely popular. Mass printed they would be sold cheaply by street sellers, often standing outside the theatre to enable the theatre goers to sing along during the performance.