"BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE, THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME"

Few songs in American history have touched the people as much as the old favorite, "Home, Sweet Home." From it's composition in 1822, the first four lines of the song have etched themselves on the hearts of succeeding generations of Americans:

"Mid pleasures and palaces,

Though we may roam;

Be it ever so humble,

There's no place like home."

There is, perhaps, no other earthly word, besides "mother" that is more meaningful to us than the word "home." Home speaks to us of security, privacy, quietness, serenity, warmth, coziness, rest, love, relaxation, fun, good food and countless other joys.

Home is where you go at the end of a hard day--maybe vent a little, take off your shoes, sit in your easy chair, and relax with a glass of iced tea, a good book, or maybe a crossword puzzle...often with some quiet music for relaxation. Or you may enjoy sitting on the back porch on a summer's day, semi-dozing, or watching the birds eat from their feeder. Others may want to dig in the flower bed, smelling the freshly turned earth.

Home is the place where brand new sons and daughters are brought from the hospital-- to crawl on the floor, toddle, walk, start to school, and finally grow up. All the wonderful values and meanings of life are tied up with the experiences of home, beginning with a loving young couple, standing at the altar to start a NEW HOME. The love of parents, children, brothers, and sisters, all stem from that couple.

Many will remember their childhood homes where they grew up. Or even remember grandmother's old farmhouse on a cold frosty morning, with the woodstove going in the kitchen, and the smells of coffee, bacon, eggs, ham, sausage, and pancakes wafting through the house.

During the Civil War, "Home, Sweet Home" was the favorite of both Northern and Southern armies (with "Lorena," the Civil War sweetheart song being a close second.) There was no night fighting in that war and the armies often camped near each other.  The regimental bands of both sides would play "Home Sweet Home," often together.  The troops would sing along, the nostalgic words and melody touching their homesick hearts.  Some reports say that the song caused desertions; others say that it strengthened the soldiers' resolve to fight for their cause. 

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary, invited the Italian singer, Adelina Patti, to sing at the White House.  The Lincolns were mourning the loss of their young son, Willie, who had died of typhoid fever.  At the end of the program, she asked if they had any requests.  The weeping president asked for "Home, Sweet Home."   (Alas, we know he was never to see his Springfield home again.)

The music to "Home, Sweet Home," was written by an Englishman, Sir Henry Rawley Bishop, (1786-1855). Sir Henry, who wrote many operas, and other works, wrote the song as a part of the opera "CLARI."  The words were written by the American, John Howard Payne (1791-1852.) It was always enormously popular, particularly in America, and continues to be today after almost 200 years.

The entire text by Payne is quoted here:

"Mid pleasures and palaces, though we may roam,

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.

A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there,

Which, seek thro' the world is ne'er met with elsewhere.

An exile from home, splendor dazzled in vain,

Oh, give me my lowly thatched cottage again;

The birds singing gaily that come at my call;

Give me then with the peace of mind, dearer than all.

Refrain:

Home! home! sweet, sweet home!

There's no place like home,

There's no place like home.

Someone has said: "There's nothing any better in this world than to return home from a long trip." Mil's saying: "The only thing better than that, is to STAY AT HOME." (Mil traveled much in his early life.)
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"Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." 

 Robert Frost

"Home, the spot of earth supremely blest - a dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest."

Robert Montgomery

"A house that does not have one warm, comfy chair is soulless."

Mary Sarton

"I'd rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world." 

George Washington

"Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. from "Homesick in Heaven."

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Deanna Durbin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB7PVkf-37g

 Kiri Te Kanawa:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R67rji5aTI

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By Mil, 2-26-12

Sent from my iPad