When the Boys Come Home
{{Infobox song
| name = When the Boys Come Home
| cover = When the Boys Come Home.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Sheet music cover
| type =
| written = 1915
| published =
| writer =
| composer = Oley Speaks
| lyricist = John Hay
}}
"When the Boys Come Home" is a World War I song. It was first published as sheet music in 1915 with music by Oley Speaks and lyrics by John Hay.{{cite book|last1=Vogel|first1=Frederick G.|title=World War I songs: A History and Dictionary of Popular American Patriotic Tunes with Over 300 Complete Lyrics|date=1995|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc.|location=Jefferson, North Carolina, and London|isbn=0899509525|page=271}}
1917 version
Oley Speaks composed the song. John Hay wrote the lyrics. The piece was written for both voice and piano. The song, written in first person, takes on a positive tone. The lyrics detail the happiness and celebration that will be felt when the soldiers return home from war.{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/2009440236/ |title=When the boys come home |author= |website=Library of Congress |access-date=9 December 2015}}
Another song published in 1918 with the same name had lyrics by John Hay and music by Calvin W. Laufer.{{cite book|last1=Vogel|first1=Frederick G.|title=World War I songs: A History and Dictionary of Popular American Patriotic Tunes with Over 300 Complete Lyrics|date=1995|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc.|location=Jefferson, North Carolina, and London|isbn=0899509525|page=271}}
1919 recording
The 1919 version was performed by Louis Graveure and recorded on February 13, 1919. The song was released by Columbia Records.{{cite web |url=http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/talent/detail/8350/Graveure_Louis_vocalist_baritone_vocal |title=Louis Graveure (vocalist: baritone vocal) |author= |website=Discography of American Historical Recordings |access-date=9 December 2015}} It reached the number nine spot on the US song charts in June 1919.{{cite web |url=http://www.musicvf.com/Louis+Gravieure.art |title=Louis Gravieure Songs |author= |website=Music VF |access-date=9 December 2015}}
Notable performances
It was performed in Richfield, Utah in 1918 by Mrs. R. G. Clark.{{cite book|last1=Heintze|first1=James R.|title=Music of the Fourth of July: A Year-by-Year Chronicle of Performances and Works Composed for the Occasion, 1777-2008|date=2009|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=9780786439799|page=248}} and in Allo Allo by Lieutenant Gruber.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16614coll23/id/69 View sheet music and song MP3 at the Illinois Digital Archive]
Category:Songs with music by Oley Speaks
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