He was the youngest of seven children: five boys, Larry (1895-1975), Everett (born 1896), Ted (born 1900), Harry (1903-1977, popularly known as Bing Crosby) and Bob; and two girls, Catherine (born 1905) and Mary Rose (born 1907). His parents were English-American bookkeeper Harry Lowe Crosby (1871-1950) and Irish-American Catherine Harrigan (1873-1964), (affectionately known as Kate), the daughter of a builder from County Mayo in Ireland. His paternal ancestors Thomas Prence and Patience Brewster were born in England and immigrated to the U.S. in the 17th century; Brewster's family came over on the Mayflower.
Bob Crosby started singing with Anson Weeks (1931-34) and the Dorsey Brothers (1934-35). He led his first band in 1935, when the former members of Ben Pollack's band elected him as titular leader. His most famous band, the Bob-Cats, was a Dixieland jazz group with members from the Bob Crosby Orchestra. Both the Bob Crosby Orchestra and the smaller Bob-Cats group specialized in Dixieland jazz, presaging the traditional jazz revival of the 1940s. Crosby's singing voice was remarkably similar to that of his brother Bing, but without its range.
The Bob Crosby Orchestra and the Bob Cats included (at various times) Yank Lawson, Billy Butterfield, Muggsy Spanier, Matty Matlock, Irving Fazola, Ward Silloway, Warren Smith, Eddie Miller, Joe Sullivan, Bob Zurke, Jess Stacy, Nappy Lamare, Bob Haggart, Walt Yoder, Jack Sperling, and Ray Bauduc.
Hits included "Summertime" (theme song), "In a Little Gypsy Tea Room," "Whispers in The Dark," "South Rampart Street Parade," "March of the Bob Cats," "Day In, Day Out," "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby," "Dolores" and "New San Antonio Rose" (last three with Bing Crosby). A remarkable bass and drums duet between Haggart and Bauduc, "Big Noise From Winnetka," became a hit in 1938-39.
Way Back Home
Bob Crosby Lyrics
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The winds are the gustiest
The gates are the rustiest
The pies are the crustiest
The songs the lustiest
The friends the trustiest
Way back home (Back home)
The days are the nappiest
The dogs are the yappiest
The kids are the scrappiest
The jokes the snappiest
The folks the happiest
Way back home
Don't know why I left the homestead
I really must confess
I'm a weary exile
Singing my song of loneliness
The grass is the springiest
The bees are the stingiest
The birds are the wingiest
The bells are the ringiest (The hearts?)
The hearts the singiest (The arms?)
The arms the clingiest
Way back home
(What about the sun?)
The sun's the blaziest (And the fields?)
Field's the daisiest (And the cows?)
Cows the graziest (And the help?)
The help's the laziest
The boys (are the wittiest)
The girls (are the prettiest)
Way back home
(The pigs are the snootiest)
(The owls are the hootiest)
The plants the fruitiest
Stars the shootiest
(The grins the funniest)
The smiles the sunniest
Way back home
Don't know why I left the homestead
I really must confess
I'm a weary exile
Singing my song of loneliness
The food is the spreadiest
The wine is the headiest
The pals are the readiest
The gals are the steadiest
The love the liveliest
The life the loveliest
Way back
Way back
Way back home (No place like home)
Sweet home
Bob Crosby's song Way Back Home depicts a nostalgic longing for the place where one grew up. The song portrays the roads as dusty, the winds gusty, and the gates rusted, giving a sense of antiquity and ruggedness to the place. The pies are crusty, and the songs and friendships are full of passion and trust, which amplifies the feeling of belonging and warmth in the place one calls home. The trees are sappy, and the days are nappy, which vividly illustrates the peacefulness and relaxation the singer feels.
The third verse of the song is more introspective, and the singer confesses that they are a weary exile singing his song of loneliness. Here, the nostalgia is deepened, and the listener can't help but feel the singer's desire to go back to the place he once called home. The fourth verse further explores the attributes of the singer's hometown, mentioning the attributes of the sun, the fields, the cows, and the help, giving a wholesome sense of community that the singer misses.
The final verse exudes joy and happiness, where the food is the spreadiest, the wine is the headiest, and the love is liveliest. The song concludes with the line "no place like home," a sentiment echoed by the listener. The lyrics speak to the longing and sense of belonging that exists within human nature, and the tune is ideal for anyone who misses or yearns for their hometown.
Line by Line Meaning
The roads are the dustiest
The roads back home are the most familiar, having been traveled the longest by the locals
The winds are the gustiest
The winds back home are the strongest, having crossed familiar terrains of the region for ages
The gates are the rustiest
The gates back home are the most vintage, having weathered through winds and rains over a long time period
The pies are the crustiest
The pies back home are the most traditional, with ancestors having passed down recipes over the generations leading to thick and flavorful crusts
The songs the lustiest
The songs back home are the most lively, having been inherited from ancestors and being an integral part of the community's culture
The friends the trustiest
The friends back home are the most loyal, having grown up with the individual and standing by them through thick and thin
The trees are the sappiest
The trees back home are the most lush, having grown in the area for a long time and having received the necessary nutrients and water
The days are the nappiest
The days back home are the most lazy, with a unhurried yet comfortable pace of life
The dogs are the yappiest
The dogs back home bark more than usual as they are familiar with all the sounds of the place and want to alert everyone of new visitors
The kids are the scrappiest
The kids back home are the most mischievous, creating a stir with their antics yet being loved and accepted by everyone
The jokes the snappiest
The jokes back home are the most witty, dry and sarcastic humor that can immediately make you laugh
The folks the happiest
The people back home are the most content, living in harmony with each other and embracing the slow pace of life
Don't know why I left the homestead
The singer expresses his confusion over why he ever left home and is now feeling a sense of homesickness
I really must confess
The singer acknowledges that he has made a mistake and was wrong to leave home
I'm a weary exile
The singer is feeling tired and lost as he is far away from the comforts of home
Singing my song of loneliness
The singer is expressing his emotional state of being lonely and missing the warmth and love of his homeland
The bells are the ringiest (The hearts?)
The bells back home ring the loudest at church, signaling the beginning of a new day or celebration. The hearts back home feel more connected with each other and their homeland
The hearts the singiest (The arms?)
The hearts back home sing with joy and contentment, as they find solace in their homeland. The arms back home are the most welcoming and embrace anyone who wants to connect with the warmth of the land
The arms the clingiest
The arms back home are the most affectionate, clinging on to loved ones and providing comfort and security
The sun's the blaziest
The sun back home is the brightest and hottest, making the clear skies feel welcoming and warm
Field's the daisiest
The fields back home are the most scenic with a valley of daisies, providing a stunning view
Cows the graziest
The cows back home graze freely in lush open meadows, symbolizing the free and happy lifestyle of the region
The help's the laziest
The people in the region are laid-back, simple and not so difficult to please. Therefore the help back home is relaxed and free of all urgency and pressure
The boys (are the wittiest)
The young boys in the region are sharp and quick-witted, amusing others around them with their wit and humor
The girls (are the prettiest)
The girls in the region are the most beautiful, not just for their physical looks but also for their grace and humility
The pigs are the snootiest
The pigs back home are the most pampered and picky, as everyone wants to make sure they are fat and happy for a delicious feast
The owls are the hootiest
The owls back home hoot more frequently as the silence of the night makes them more audible than usual
The plants the fruitiest
The plants back home grow the most delicious fruits, a testament to the fertile soil and perfect climatic conditions of the region
Stars the shootiest
The stars back home shine the brightest, making the night sky appear magical and mesmerizing
The grins the funniest
The grins back home are the most contagious, reflecting the happiness and fun-loving nature of the people
The smiles the sunniest
The people back home have the most genuine and welcoming smiles, creating an aura of happiness and warmth
The food is the spreadiest
The food back home is the most abundant and versatile, with feasts being a regular part of local culture
The wine is the headiest
The wine back home is the strongest and most flavorful, with local vineyards indulging in the long tradition of winemaking
The pals are the readiest
The friends back home are the most available, never too busy to catch up and always ready to help out each other
The gals are the steadiest
The girls back home are the most loyal and committed, always sticking to their word and following through
The love the liveliest
The love back home is the most overpowering, forming the strongest bonds and being at the core of all familial and friendly relationships
The life the loveliest
The life back home is the most beautiful and meaningful, with the simplicity and harmony of the place making every aspect of life a treasure and valued memory
Way back
Way back
Way back home (No place like home)
Sweet home
The singer repeats the importance of home and how there is no place like it and expresses his longing and attachment for the place by saying 'sweet home'
Contributed by Peyton I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.