Till the Boys Come Home
Stanley Kirkby Lyrics


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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

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
'Til the boys come home.

Overseas there came a pleading,
"Help a nation in distress."
And we gave our glorious laddies
Honour bade 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."

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
'Til the boys come home.

Overall Meaning

The song "Till the Boys Come Home" by Stanley Kirkby, is a patriotic and sentimental song that was popular during World War I. The song is a tribute to the thousands of soldiers who left their homes and families to fight for their country. The first stanza suggests that men from all backgrounds have been called up to serve during the war. The song encourages the people left behind to remain strong and to keep their spirits up while their loved ones are away fighting. The chorus of the song, "Keep the Home Fires Burning," is a call to the people at home to continue with their daily lives, even though they are missing their loved ones.


The second verse of the song speaks about the reason why these soldiers have been called to serve in the first place. The soldiers were asked to help a nation in distress, and their sacrifice was necessary to preserve freedom. The song stresses the importance of a noble heart that answers the call of duty, even when it means going to war. The chorus repeats the message of the first verse, reminding the people at home to keep hope alive and to believe that their loved ones will return home soon.


Overall, "Till the Boys Come Home" is a reminder that during the difficult times of war, it is essential to keep a positive attitude and to remember the sacrifices made by those who served their country.


Line by Line Meaning

They were summoned from the hillside
Men were called to serve their country.


They were called in from the glen
The men were summoned from their peaceful lifestyles.


And the country found them ready
The men were eager and prepared to serve their country.


At the stirring call for men
When their country called for them to serve, the men answered without hesitation.


Let no tears add to their hardships
Do not weep for the men, as they face a difficult time.


As the soldiers pass along
As the men head off to serve.


And although your heart is breaking
And though it is difficult for loved ones to see them go.


Make it sing this cheery song
Keep a positive outlook and sing this uplifting song.


Keep the Home Fires Burning,
Maintain the home and await their return.


While your hearts are yearning,
Even though you miss them deeply.


Though your lads are far away
Your loved ones are serving their country abroad.


They dream of home.
Despite the distance, they long for home.


There's a silver lining
Even in difficult times, there is still hope.


Through the dark clouds shining,
Hope shines through the darkness of struggle and war.


Turn the dark cloud inside out
Stay positive and make the best of difficult situations.


'Til the boys come home.
Wait patiently for your loved ones' return from service.


Overseas there came a pleading,
A nation in distress called for help.


"Help a nation in distress."
That nation's cry for assistance.


And we gave our glorious laddies
Our country sent its brave young men to help.


Honour bade us do no less,
Out of a sense of duty and honor, we gave our support.


For no gallant son of freedom
A brave, free man would not submit to a tyrant's rule.


To a tyrant's yoke should bend,
They refuse to be subjugated by tyranny.


And a noble heart must answer
A good and brave person cannot ignore a friend in need.


To the sacred call of "Friend."
They must answer the call to support their friends in need.




Writer(s): Ivor Novello, Lena Guilbert Ford

Contributed by Caden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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