Back to the old home again

First Published 1894
Writer/composer Felix McGlennon Roud RN25902

Music Hall Performers Vinney Bishop
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Sumner, Thomas; Canada: Ontario: 1962
Poleson, Andrew; Scotland: Shetland: 1971		 

Back to the Old Home Again.
Copyright, 1894, by Frank Tonsey.
Words and Music by Felix McGlennon.

There's a place that will ne'er be forgotten by me,
"Its the cottage wherein I was born,
And though years have rolled on, yet in fancy I see
It there, 'mid the tall waving corn.
Twas humble, 'twas lowly, but ah, it contained
My nearest and dearest on earth,
And where'er I go, I am longing to be
Once more in the home of my birth.

Back to the old home again, 
Down In the old country lane,
Back to the spot I've never forgot, 
Back to the old home again.

The green Ivy clustered around the old walls,
The breath of sweet flow'rs filled the air,
The birds built their nests in the cozy thatched roof,
Their songs drove away every care:
I'd roam through the meadows, I'd climb o'er the hill,
In childhood's sweet innocent glee,
My life was all sunshine, no sorrow or care-
Oh, how I am longing to be- 

I've seen many lands, but no place seemed so fair
As that dear little old-fashioned cot;
I've made many friends, but my dear parents' love
I've never, no, never forgot.
They're anxiously waiting to welcome me home,
They're eager their fond love to show:
I'm tired of the wand'ring and trials of life,
And so once again I will go-

One of a number of sentimental songs written by Felix McGlennon which enjoyed some success on both sides of the Atlantic . It has been collected from the singing of traditional singers both in Canada and the Shetland Isles . You can hear Andrew Poleson of Whalsay singing it on the School of Scottish studies website.

The British library holds sheet music published in 1894, but it appears that the song was being sung as early as February 1888 by Miss Vinney Bishop :

Feb. 11, 1888; The Era 

Miss Vinney Bishop was the stage name of Johanna Lavina Farrell (b?-1927) a performer who appeared regularly in all the major Halls between 1876 and 1891. According to her notices she “excelled as both a singer and a dancer .” It is difficult to get any biographical details about her, but the fact that she was represented by Hugh Didcott, one of the most successful agents, is likely to indicate that she was relatively successful.

Not to be confused with the blackface Minstrel song: Come back to the old home again (First Line: The mother’s heart was o’erladen with care)which seems to have been regularly performed in the 1870s on both sides of the Atlantic.

Sources: