Keep the Home Fires Burning

John McCormack, Ivor Novello

About Keep the Home Fires Burning

Keep the Home-Fires Burning (Till the Boys Come Home) is a British patriotic First World War song composed in 1914 by Ivor Novello with words by Lena Guilbert Ford (whose middle name was sometimes printed as "Gilbert"). The song was published first as "'Till the Boys Come Home" on 8 October 1914 by Ascherberg, Hopwood and Crew Ltd. in London. A new edition was printed in 1915 with the name Keep the Home-Fires Burning. The song became very popular in the United Kingdom during the war, along with It's a Long Way to Tipperary. James F. Harrison recorded Keep the Home-Fires Burning in 1915, as did Stanley Kirkby in 1916. Another popular recording was sung by tenor John McCormack in 1917, who was also the first to record It's a Long Way to Tipperary in 1914. (See External links below to hear these recordings of Keep the Home-Fires Burning.) Other versions include one by Frederick J. Wheeler and one by the duet Reed Miller & Frederick Wheeler. There is a misconception that Ivor Novello's mother wrote the lyrics for the song (propagated—for example—by patter in recorded performances of British musical comedy duo Hinge and Bracket) but Lena Ford (an American) was a friend and collaborator of Novello, not a blood relation. 


Year:
2016
3:03
#1

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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
'Til 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.

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Ivor Novello

Ivor Novello (15 January 1893 – 6 March 1951), born David Ivor Davies, was a Welsh composer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. He was born into a musical family, and his first successes were as a songwriter. His first big hit was "Keep the Home Fires Burning" (1914), which was enormously popular during the First World War. His 1917 show, Theodore & Co, was a wartime hit. After the war, Novello contributed numbers to several successful musical comedies and was eventually commissioned to write the scores of complete shows. He wrote his musicals in the style of operetta and often composed his music to the libretti of Christopher Hassall. In the 1920s, he turned to acting, first in British film… more »

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Written by: IVOR NOVELLO, LENA GUILBERT FORD

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Composition
"Keep the Home Fires Burning" is a British patriotic song composed by Ivor Novello in 1914 with lyrics by American Lena Guilbert Ford.
Real-life Inspiration
The song was composed during the early era of World War I, which formed as the backdrop of its inspiring and patriotic lyrics.
Ivor Novello
Novello was a Welsh composer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. He composed "Keep the Home Fires Burning" when he was just 21.
John McCormack
John McCormack, an Irish tenor and actor, is associated with this song. Although he did not participate in its composition, his rendition of the song is one of the most popular.
Popular Worldwide
"Keep the Home Fires Burning" grew in popularity among British soldiers during World War I and eventually spread around the world, becoming a staple song for any occasion that called for a demonstration of British patriotism.
Multiple Versions
The song was also published with the title "'Till the Boys Come Home" on the cover.
Cultural Impact
The phrase ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’ has entered the English language as a way of communicating the strength of home ties, long after the song has faded out of everyday use.
Song Survivors
Both the song's composer, Ivor Novello, and its most popular singer, John McCormack, survived World War I, unlike many who sang their song in the trenches.
Ivor Novello Awards
The song's composer, Ivor Novello, received recognition for his music contributions in the form of annual awards named after him. The 'Ivor Novello Awards' are given for songwriting and composing.
Modern Recognition
In 1997, the song was used for the finale of the Last Night of the Proms.
Streaming Platforms
Even after a century, the song "Keep the Home Fires Burning" is still available for listening on several online music streaming platforms such as Spotify and YouTube.

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