Eric Burke
01-25-2004, 10:09 AM
By George, I think I've got it!
After months and months of researching/finding references/etc. I've found that "Home Again" was indeed a very common period song. Mark Twain himself actually referenced the piece in one of his works, and the song is mentioned in the diaries of many Western federals. No one I have talked to has heard the song before, and I felt like I was digging up a treasure when I partook the "project". I did some research, and dug up the original 1850 sheet music for the piece at the Library of Congress. Now, I cannot read music so it presented a bit of a problem to me. My sister however, can read music and play the piano as well. She visited my family last night, and I printed the original music and gave it to her to play while recording with my camcorder so that I could correctly imitate the melody again.
Guys, I gotta say, this is truly a very moving period piece, and if you can read music/play the piano, I strongly suggest you getting a copy of the music here:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?dukesm:4:./temp/~ammem_osHu::@@@mdb=manz,eaa,aap,aaeo,rbaapcbib,aa sm,ftvbib,aaodyssey,hh,gottscho,mharendt,bbpix,bbc ards,magbell,berl,lbcoll,rbpebib,calbkbib,tccc,lhb cbbib,cdn,cic,cwband,cwnyhs,gmd,mtaft,cwar,cola,co nsrvbib,bdsbib,coolbib,coplandbib,curt,dag,musdibi b,fsaall,mfd,papr,aep,fine,fmuever,dcm,cmns,flwpab ib,afcreed,cowellbib,toddbib,lomaxbib,ngp,afcwwgbi b,haybib,raelbib,hurston,gottlieb,mtj,alad,wpa,mal ,scsm,mcc,mymhiwebib,mmorse,aipn,ncpm,ncpsbib,afcw ip,fawbib,omhbib,pan,afcpearl,vv,wpapos,psbib,pin, presp,lhbprbib,qlt,ncr,relpet,mussm,dukesm,afcesnb ib,mesnbib,llstbib,denn,amss,uncall,fpnas,svybib,r unyon,wtc,lhbtnbib,detr,hlaw,lhbumbib,upboverbib,v arstg,horyd,mgw,hawp,nawbib,suffrg,awh,awhbib,nfor ,sgp,wright
It is my hope to share this great song with everyone on these boards in order to introduce yet another TRULY AUTHENTIC song to the community! I have made a mediocre-recording of the melody on my banjo (In un-authentic Clawhammer technique), but don't take it as the authentic way to play the song, I'm just trying to relay the melody so that others can take up their own endeavours.
To download my recording, visit: http://www.dkompanie.com/ha1.wav
The lyrics (I have found no other renditions) are as follows:
Home again, home again,
From a foreign shore,
And oh, it fills my soul with joy,
To meet my friends once more.
Here I dropped the parting tear,
To cross the ocean's foam;
But now I'm once again with those
Who kindly greet me home.
Home again, &c.
Happy hearts, happy hearts,
With mine have laughed in glee,
But oh, the friends I loved in youth,
Seem happier to me;
And if my guide should be the fate
Which bids me longer roam,
But death alone can break the tie,
That binds my heart to home.
Home again, &c.
Music sweet, music soft,
Linger round the place,
And oh, I feel the childhood charm
That time cannot efface.
Then give me but my homestead roof,
I'll ask no palace dome,
For I can live a happy life,
With those I love at home.
Home again, &c.
[When it makes reference to "HOME AGAIN, &c" as the chorus, all its referring to is the first part of the first verse of the song, which also serves as the chorus. I've bolded that text in order to make it easier to recognize. The chorus is sung after each verse.
I'd really like some opinions/discussion here, as I'm excited to have dug up a song that I had never heard, yet seems to have been so popular during the time period (especially in the West)!
Hope this helps!
After months and months of researching/finding references/etc. I've found that "Home Again" was indeed a very common period song. Mark Twain himself actually referenced the piece in one of his works, and the song is mentioned in the diaries of many Western federals. No one I have talked to has heard the song before, and I felt like I was digging up a treasure when I partook the "project". I did some research, and dug up the original 1850 sheet music for the piece at the Library of Congress. Now, I cannot read music so it presented a bit of a problem to me. My sister however, can read music and play the piano as well. She visited my family last night, and I printed the original music and gave it to her to play while recording with my camcorder so that I could correctly imitate the melody again.
Guys, I gotta say, this is truly a very moving period piece, and if you can read music/play the piano, I strongly suggest you getting a copy of the music here:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?dukesm:4:./temp/~ammem_osHu::@@@mdb=manz,eaa,aap,aaeo,rbaapcbib,aa sm,ftvbib,aaodyssey,hh,gottscho,mharendt,bbpix,bbc ards,magbell,berl,lbcoll,rbpebib,calbkbib,tccc,lhb cbbib,cdn,cic,cwband,cwnyhs,gmd,mtaft,cwar,cola,co nsrvbib,bdsbib,coolbib,coplandbib,curt,dag,musdibi b,fsaall,mfd,papr,aep,fine,fmuever,dcm,cmns,flwpab ib,afcreed,cowellbib,toddbib,lomaxbib,ngp,afcwwgbi b,haybib,raelbib,hurston,gottlieb,mtj,alad,wpa,mal ,scsm,mcc,mymhiwebib,mmorse,aipn,ncpm,ncpsbib,afcw ip,fawbib,omhbib,pan,afcpearl,vv,wpapos,psbib,pin, presp,lhbprbib,qlt,ncr,relpet,mussm,dukesm,afcesnb ib,mesnbib,llstbib,denn,amss,uncall,fpnas,svybib,r unyon,wtc,lhbtnbib,detr,hlaw,lhbumbib,upboverbib,v arstg,horyd,mgw,hawp,nawbib,suffrg,awh,awhbib,nfor ,sgp,wright
It is my hope to share this great song with everyone on these boards in order to introduce yet another TRULY AUTHENTIC song to the community! I have made a mediocre-recording of the melody on my banjo (In un-authentic Clawhammer technique), but don't take it as the authentic way to play the song, I'm just trying to relay the melody so that others can take up their own endeavours.
To download my recording, visit: http://www.dkompanie.com/ha1.wav
The lyrics (I have found no other renditions) are as follows:
Home again, home again,
From a foreign shore,
And oh, it fills my soul with joy,
To meet my friends once more.
Here I dropped the parting tear,
To cross the ocean's foam;
But now I'm once again with those
Who kindly greet me home.
Home again, &c.
Happy hearts, happy hearts,
With mine have laughed in glee,
But oh, the friends I loved in youth,
Seem happier to me;
And if my guide should be the fate
Which bids me longer roam,
But death alone can break the tie,
That binds my heart to home.
Home again, &c.
Music sweet, music soft,
Linger round the place,
And oh, I feel the childhood charm
That time cannot efface.
Then give me but my homestead roof,
I'll ask no palace dome,
For I can live a happy life,
With those I love at home.
Home again, &c.
[When it makes reference to "HOME AGAIN, &c" as the chorus, all its referring to is the first part of the first verse of the song, which also serves as the chorus. I've bolded that text in order to make it easier to recognize. The chorus is sung after each verse.
I'd really like some opinions/discussion here, as I'm excited to have dug up a song that I had never heard, yet seems to have been so popular during the time period (especially in the West)!
Hope this helps!