Whence the phrase, "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride?" What was the original wording?

original wording:

"Thrice a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride"

Sher, that is neither what I have, nor does it tell where the phrase came from.

Unless it is an ancient proverb I cannot find, It appears from this source that "often a bridesmaid, but never a bride" originated in a 1924 ad for Listerine mouth wash, describing poor, pathetic Edna.

http://chnm.gmu.edu/features/sidelights/whoinventedbo.html

It was a song before the ads ran.
Why am I always a bridesmaid?
Why am I always a bridesmaid,
Never the blushing bride?[I]
[I]Ding! Dong! Wedding bells
Always ring for the other gals.
But one fine day-
PLease let it be soon -
I shall wake up in the morning
On my own honeymoon.

The song was made famous by Victorian singer Vesta Victoria, 1864-1952. It was written by Fred W. Leigh, who also wrote Don't Dilly Dally and Waiting at the Church


Leigh died in 1921 or 22, and the singer was known most popular as a young girl singer in music halls. Obviously, Listerine got the phrase from the song, rather than the song from the ad campaign.