Lyr Req: message from home

Subject: message from home
From: GUEST,Guest / Laura
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 09:20 PM

I am looking for the words to a song that my grandmother sang about a cowboy. Some of the words went something like this: It's only a message from home sweet home, from the loved ones back on the farm, from father and mother, from sister and brother .... I think there is a cowboy named Jack in it, but it is not the Cowboy Jack song. If anyone knows the words or even the name of this song, I'd really appreciate the help. Thanks!

Subject: Lyr Add: A LETTER FROM HOME
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 09:34 PM

A LETTER FROM HOME

VERSE 1:
All around a western water tank, I met with a reckless crew
And one cowboy said to another, 'Jack, there's a letter here for you.'
'It may be from his sweetheart, boys!' cried a gruff voice from out in the crowd;
With a laugh and a jeer they all gathered near, while Jack read his letter aloud.

(chorus)
This is only a letter from home sweet home, from loved ones down on the farm;
From wife and mother and sister and brother, praying to keep you from harm.
And baby's lisping a prayer tonight, to guard you wherever you roam--
We would welcome you, Jack, if you'd only come back, that's our message from home sweet home.

VERSE 2
'Then fare you well, my friends,' he said; 'I'm headed for that land.'
And one by one all the cowboys came and clutched him by his hand.
One said, 'If we'd had homes like yours, we'd all be better men;'
'Jack, before you go, old pal, won't you read us your letter again?'

CHORUS

From the Stoneman Family. Pop Stoneman recorded it 50 or so years ago.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: message from home
From: GUEST,Laura again
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 09:41 PM

I remembered a few more words of the song that hopefully might help. It starts like this:

Out on a western range one night, I met a reckless crew, said one cowboy to another, "Jack , there's a message here for you.

Then part of the chorus goes like this:

...... is lifting a prayer tonight. God bless you wherever you roam. You're welcome dear Jack if you'll only come back. Tis a message from home sweet home.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: message from home
From: masato sakurai
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 09:46 PM

Earlier thread: Lyr Req: A letter from home........ ~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: message from home
From: GUEST,Laura
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 09:49 PM

Thank you Catspaw49! By the time I put the second message in, you had given me the lyrics. My grandma always sang old songs to me and I really enjoyed them, so I've been trying to get the words to keep and sing them too. Thanks again! Laura

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: message from home
From: Louie Roy
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 09:55 PM

This song was writen and recorded by Harry MacDonough in 1902 on a cylinder Edison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: message from home
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 10:09 PM

Very neat Louie Roy!! Great info.

Spaw

Subject: Lyr Add: ONLY A MESSAGE FROM HOME SWEET HOME
From: masato sakurai
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 06:27 AM

Harry Macdonough (1871-1931) can be heard to sing "Only a Message from Home Sweet Home" HERE.

Performer heading: Haydn Quartet (Vocal group) / Macdonough, Harry, 1871-1931
Performer: Haydn Quartet, with orchestra
Title: Only a message from home sweet home / [Carroll Fleming, lyrics] ; [Edward N.]
Florant, music
Generic Label: Berliner
Transcribed Label: Victor
Sub Label: Grand Prize
Numbers: Issue no.: 4561
Matrix no.: B2922
Take no.: 2
Miscellaneous no.: 2 ; D
Notes: Distributor: Berliner Gram-O-Phone Co. of Canada, Montreal
Manufacturer: Berliner Gram-O-Phone Co. of Canada , Quebec ,Canada
Recorded: [5 Dec 1905] , Camden, NJ by Victor Talking Machine
Issue Type: Primary Label
Comments: Single sided disc; sunken label; brown disc; Victor Talking Machine Co. matrices, sales/use licence in Canada only, appears arcing as a double-line across top of label; HMV symbol on label; "His Master's Voice"; trademark; patented Feb. 24, 1897"Awarded First Prize, Buffalo, St. Louis and Portland Expositions", appears arcing across bottom of label
Authority: disc; The Encyclopedic Discography of Victor Recordings, recording date;
Catalogue of Printed Music in the British Library, composer/lyricist
Physical Description: 1 sound disc : 78 r/min (78rpm) ; 25cm (10 inch).
Genre: Popular Music , songs
Language: Performed in English
Location: OONL , 78/10 NLC 10 457

Lyrics are HERE (line divisions mine).

"Only A Message from Home Sweet Home," song hit of 1905 written by Carroll Fleming.

'Twas in a gay resort one night there met a reckless crew,
When one said to another, 'Jack, this letter came for you.'
'I'll bet it's from a woman, boys,' said one among the crowd.
With a laugh and jest they gathered 'round and Jack replied aloud:

CHORUS:
'It's only a message from Home Sweet Home, from the loved ones down on the farm:
Fond wife and mother, sister, and brother, praying to guard me from harm.
And baby is lisping a prayer tonight to bless me where'ere I roam;
"We'll welcome you, Jack, If you'll only come back" was the message from Home Sweet Home.

'I'm going boys, goodnight,' said Jack, 'I know you'll understand.
Then one by one his comrades came and shook him by the hand.
Said one: 'If we had homes like that we'd all be better men;
And now before you go just read that letter once again.'

CHORUS

Brownie Ford's singing of "Only a Message from Home Sweet Home" is HERE (sound clip).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: message from home
From: GUEST,W. Douglas Armstrong
Date: 12 Mar 03 - 11:01 AM

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My beloved grandfather, WILLIAM KAYE, just passed away on Sunday morning, March 2nd, 2003. God bless him - I loved the man SOOOOOO much, with all my heart, and I will always ALWAYS miss the man I affectionately knew as "Papa".

Among so much wisdom, and life's experiences, he handed down to me (even to the time he died: I am 30, and he died at 90) - he LOVED to sing. He sang SO many great songs to me through the years. I always liked music of my OWN generation... but I ALWAYS had a special place reserved in my heart for Papa's music.

And now... now that my loved one is passed... I fully, fully feel the resonance that his era's music always held for him.

Fortunately, I had the good foresight to VIDEOTAPE him singing most of his treasured songs. But to my great sadness, I realized very soon after he passed last week that I DID NOT have what was probably MY favorite of his favorite songs: A song with a melody of heartfelt longing, about a cowboy named Jack, with words that went "...'we'll welcome you, Jack, if you'll only come back', was the message from Home Sweet Home."

To Masato Sakuri, Louis Roy, Catspaw49, and the guest Laura who asked in the first place: Thank you SO MUCH for these song lyrics, and the other great artist info. You have helped a 30 year old man who is desperately grieving the loss of his grandfather... more than you could EVER know.

I am so glad THIS song in particular, now will NOT die with my Papa. Just as Papa will live on forever in my memory, and the stories I hand down to my 3 children... so also, now, will this moving, touching song from a wonderful, bygone era of this nation's history.

May the Peace of our Lord go wherever you may.
-DOUGLAS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: message from home
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 03 - 11:10 AM

Oh, ONE MORE THING!!

Please... if you can recommend a reputable RECORD/MUSIC STORE, or even online website, that is good at stocking these kinds of "folk/cowboy/storytelling music" (and ALSO has knowledgable personnel), PLEASE let me know their info.

My e-mail is "[e-mail]".

THANK YOU SO MUCH, IN ADVANCE!
-DOUGLAS