Composed by Ivor Novello and Lena Guilbert Ford in 1914, “Keep the Home Fires Burning” was a popular WWI-era British patriotic song.
The following is one of the most popular contemporary recordings of “Keeping the Home Fires Burning,” along with the lyrics.
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 hardships
As the soldiers pass along,
And although your heart is breaking,
Make it sing this cheery song:
Refrain
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
Till the boys come home.
Overseas there came a pleading,
“Help a nation in distress.”
And we gave our glorious laddies –
Honour 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.”