Sunday WW1 Remembered...

Music of The First World War

"Till The Boys Come Home"

In 1914 Music Hall was by far the most popular form of entertainment and amongst the most well known performers were acts like, Marie Lloyd, George Formby Snr, Harry Lauder, Gertie Gitana and Harry Champion.

Initially at the outbreak of war in 1914 many of the popular songs were calls for recruitment with titles like "We don't want to lose you but we think you've got to go" but as the war progressed the sentiment changed to seeing the boys safely home and songs like "Keep The Home Fires Burning" bolstered morale, both at home and abroad.

Keep the Home Fires Burning, written by Ivor Novello with words by Lena Guilbert was first published on the 8th October 1914 as "Till The Boys Come Home". A new edition published in 1915 was entitled "Keep The Home Fires Burning"

Listen to a 2012 BBC Proms recording of

Keep the Home Fires Burning

Sung by Toby Spence

Keep The Home Fires Burning

Ivor Novello, Lena Guilbert 

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 cloud 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 made us do no less.

For no gallant Son of Freedom

To a tyrant's yoke should bend,

And a noble heart must answer

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 cloud shining,

Turn the dark cloud inside out,

Till the boys come Home.

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Sunday WW1 Poet...

The songs of the Great War

are

featured this month

Tune : Keep the Home Fires Burning

They were summoned from the hillside,

They were called in from the glen,

And the country found them ready

At the rallying 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 Freedom

To a tyrant's yoke should bend,

And a noble heart must answer

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

'Til the boys come home.

Composed by Ivor Novello with words by Lena Gilbert Ford.

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Sunday WW1 Poet...

The Songs of the Great War

is

my theme for this month's 

Tune:- It's a Long Way to Tipperary

Up to mighty London came

An Irish lad one day,

All the streets were paved with gold,

So everyone was gay!

Singing songs of Piccadilly,

Strand, and Leicester Square,

'Til Paddy got excited and

He shouted to them there:

It's a long way to Tipperary,

It's a long way to go.

It's a long way to Tipperary

To the sweetest girl I know!

Goodbye Piccadilly,

Farewell Leicester Square!

It's a long long way to Tipperary,

But my heart's right there.

Paddy wrote a letter

To his Irish Molly O',

Saying, "Should you not receive it,

Write and let me know!

If I make mistakes in "spelling",

Molly dear", said he,

"Remember it's the pen, that's bad,

Don't lay the blame on me".

It's a long way to Tipperary,

It's a long way to go.

It's a long way to Tipperary

To the sweetest girl I know!

Goodbye Piccadilly,

Farewell Leicester Square,

It's a long long way to Tipperary,

But my heart's right there.

Molly wrote a neat reply

To Irish Paddy O',

Saying, "Mike Maloney wants

To marry me, and so

Leave the Strand and Piccadilly,

Or you'll be to blame,

For love has fairly drove me silly,

Hoping you're the same!"

It's a long way to Tipperary,

It's a long way to go.

It's a long way to Tipperary

To the sweetest girl I know!

Goodbye Piccadilly,

Farewell Leicester Square,

It's a long long way to Tipperary,

But my heart's right there.

Extra wartime verse

That's the wrong way to tickle Mary,

That's the wrong way to kiss!

Don't you know that over here, lad,

They like it best like this!

Hooray pour le Francais!

Farewell, Angleterre!

We didn't know the way to tickle Mary,

But I learned how,over there!

This is easily one of the best remembered war time songs. It was first sung by the troops as they made their way to France in 1914.



It was written in 1912 by Jack Judge and Harry Williams.



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Sunday WW1 Poet...

The songs of the Great War

are

featured this month

Tune:- Mademoiselle from Armentieres

Two German officers crossed the line - parlez vous

Two German officers crossed the line –parlez vous.

These German officers crossed the line

On the lookout for some women and some wine

Inkey pinkey parlez vous.

They came to an inn on top of a rise -parlez vous

A famous inn of bloody great size – parlez vous

They saw a maid all dimples and sighs

They both agreed she’d lovely eyes”

Inkey pinkey parlez vous.

Oh landlord you’ve a daughter fair – parlez vous

Oh landlord you’ve a daughter fair parlez vous

Oh landlord you’ve a daughter fair

With lily white tits and golden hair

Inkey pinkey parlez vous.

Nein, nein mein Herr she’s much too young -parlez vous

Nein, nein mein herr she’s much too young –parlex vouz

Mais non, mon pere, I’m not too young

I’ve often slept with the parson’s son

Inkey –pinky parlez vous

The rest of the tale I can’t relate –

parlez vous

It’s a very old story but up to date –parlez vous

The story of man seducing a maid

It could offend – you’re too sedate

Inkey Pinkey -parlez vous.

It must be remembered that these songs were usually sung by the lower ranks to keep up morale.

Whilst some of the sentiments may appear offensive to us, it must be remembered that these were very different times and must be viewed as such.

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Saturday WW1 Poet ...

The songs of the Great War

are

featured this month

Tune:- I want to go home 

I want to go home. I want to go home

I don’t want to go in the trenches no more

Where whizzbangs and shrapnel

They whistle and roar.

Take me over the sea

Where the Alleyman can’t get at me

Oh my! I don’t want to die.

I want to go home.

I want to go home, I want to go home

Coal boxes and shrapnel they whistle and roar

I don’t want to go in the trenches no more

I want to go over the sea

Where the Kaiser can’t shoot bombs at me

Oh my! I don’t want to die

I want to go home.

It must be remembered that these songs were usually sung by the lower ranks to keep up morale.

Whilst some of the sentiments may appear offensive to us, it must be remembered that these were very different times and must be viewed as such.

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