‘Till the boys come home, a song from 1915.
words by Lena Guilbert Ford
music by Ivor Novello (David Ivor Davies)
This is the second edition. It was originally copyrighted in 1914 as “Till the Boys Come Home” by Ascherberg Hopwood & Crew, London. Subjects: World War I, homesickness, soldiers, families.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
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 hardship
As the Soldiers pass along
And although your heart is breaking
Make it sing this cheery song
Chorus
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
Honor 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”
Sung here by Fred Feild: