Tune Req: Father, Come Home

Subject: Father, Come Home
From: Richard
Date: 28 Nov 97 - 03:42 PM

Looking for the tune of this 1800s song. Have some of the words.

Subject: RE: Father, Come Home
From: Bruce O.
Date: 28 Nov 97 - 04:37 PM

Words and music by Henry Clay Work. In Henry Clay Work Songs, c 1884. Reprinted by DeCapo Press, 1974.

Subject: RE: Father, Come Home
From: Richard
Date: 28 Nov 97 - 04:57 PM

Thanks Bruce - you're a living database

Subject: RE: Father, Come Home
From: Bruce O.
Date: 28 Nov 97 - 05:17 PM

I probably should have added that the song was origianlly published in 1864. The book of c 1884 was compiled by his nephew after Work died. The deCapo reprint is #19 of a series, 'Earlier American Music'.

Subject: RE: Father, Come Home
From: Richard
Date: 28 Nov 97 - 05:58 PM

The tune was used for a parody called "Mary, Come Home" , wherein a white miner tries to entice a native woman to come home with him to his cabin on the sleigh, with liquor as the lure. There ines of Chinook language in it. I think we have managed to figure out who the two women in the song actually were. It was written about 1868.

Subject: RE: Father, Come Home
From: Richard
Date: 28 Nov 97 - 06:09 PM

Should have mentioned that a version of "Mary" is in Phil Thomas's book of B.C. folksongs.

Subject: RE: Father, Come Home
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 30 Nov 97 - 06:46 PM

Henry Clay WOrk, who wrote it, called it "Come Home Father." If you search for [Father, Dear Father] you'll find it.