Tin was born in Mandalay on 11 February 1894 (7th waxing of Tabodwe 1255 ME) to Daw Thein and her husband U Yan Aung, a former official in the service of the last Burmese king Thibaw.
In his leisure time Tin took up playing his concertina, exploring its sounds, and studying traditional Burmese music.
Tin met up with an old classmate Tha Khin Ba Thaung, and joined his political movement, Dobama Asiayone (We Burmese Association).
Tin himself gave the first ceremonial rendition of the song on the flat ground of Shwedagon Pagoda at 5:00 pm on 20 July 1930.
The Burmese government awarded him the title Wunna Kyawhtin (the beautiful-famous) on the Independence Day, 4 January 1948.