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.

~***~