Keep the Home Fires Burning (1915 song)
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| "Keep the Home-Fires Burning" ('Till the Boys Come Home) |
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 Sheet music cover (1915) |
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| Music by | Lena Guilbert Ford |
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| Lyrics by | Ivor Novello |
| Written | 1915 |
| Language | English |
"Keep the Home-Fires Burning ('Till the Boys Come Home)" is a British patriotic First World War song composed by Ivor Novello in 1915 with words by Lena Guilbert Ford. A popular recording of the song was made by John McCormack.
Contents |
[edit] Lyrics
- They were summoned from the hillside
- They were called in from the glen,
- And the country found them ready
- At the stirring call for men.
- Let no tears add to their hardships
- As the soldiers pass along,
- And although your heart is breaking
- Make it sing this cheery song:
- Keep the Home Fires Burning,
- While your hearts are yearning,
- Though your lads are far away
- They dream of home.
- There's a silver lining
- Through the dark clouds shining,
- Turn the dark cloud inside out
- 'Till the boys come home.
- Overseas there came a pleading,
- "Help a nation in distress."
- And we gave our glorious laddies
- Honour bade us do no less,
- For no gallant son of Britain
- To a tyrant's yoke shall bend,
- And no Englishman is silent
- To the sacred call of "Friend."
- Keep the Home Fires Burning,
- While your hearts are yearning,
- Though your lads are far away
- They dream of home.
- There's a silver lining
- Through the dark clouds shining,
- Turn the dark cloud inside out
- 'Till the boys come home.[1]
[edit] Cultural references
- The song was included in the 1969 musical Oh What a Lovely War and in the 1970 musical film Darling Lili.
- In the 2002 film Gosford Park, the guests at a country house are entertained by Novello (played by Jeremy Northam), who performs the song on the piano
[edit] References
- ^ Ford, "Keep The Home-Fires Burning" (Sheet music).
[edit] Bibliography
- Ford, Lena Guilbert (w.); Novello, Ivor (m.). "Keep the Home-Fires Burning ('Till the Boys Come Home)"(Sheet music). New York: Chappell & Co. Ltd. (1915).
[edit] External links
- "'Till The Boys Come Home", James F. Harrison (Edison Blue Amberol 2773, 1915)—Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project.
- Vintage Audio: Keep The Home Fires Burning—www.firstworldwar.com.
