Help: Home Again (1860 navy song)

Subject: Searching for a pre-Civil War Navy song
From: GUEST,Kate
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 02:32 PM

I've been using this site to find folk songs of various sorts for years, but this is my first time posting--because it's the first time I haven't been able to just find what I'm looking for. Knowing the knowledge that abounds here, I'm hoping one of you kind folks can help me out. I'm working on an edition of a letter dated 1860. In the letter, a song is mentioned. If possible, I'd like to be able to footnote it.

Here's the information that I have:
1. Its title is stated by the writer of the letter as "Home Again"
2. The song is played by a band on the decks of Old Ironsides in 1860, to welcome a group of Midshipmen returning from a summer cruise to resume classes at Annapolis.

The information I would like:
1. Lyrics and/or tune (does is even have lyrics, for that matter?)
2. Approximate date/century/place the song was written


I know it's not much to go on, and that it's thus unlikely that you guys will be able to help me. Nonetheless, I figured it might be worth a shot. If anyone even has a reasonable guess, I'd like to hear it--it might at least give me a better place to start in researching this item.

Thank you!

Subject: RE: Searching for a pre-Civil War Navy song
From: Severn
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 03:35 PM

There's no song listed as "Home Again" on it,but Geoff Kaufman has a recording out called "Huzza Old Ironsides!-Her Life & Times In Song"
(Cob's Cobble Music CCM 1003-Box 638 Mystic CT 06355) with nothing but songs concerning the Constitution. I'd have to listen again, as there are no lyrics given, to see if the song is there by another title. He sites a book he used for information and Historical continuity in making the Album, "A Most Fortunate Ship: A Narrative History Of 'Old Ironsides'", by Tyrone G. Martin. There is a USS Constitution Museum in Boston. You can cross reference and research those resources as a start. Good Luck!

Subject: RE: Searching for a pre-Civil War Navy song
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 03:43 PM

There's a song called "Home Again" to be found here :-

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mussm&fileName=sm2/sm1852/501000/501710/mussm501710.db&recNum=0&itemLink=D?mussm:28:

at a site called "Music for the Nation" at the Library of Congress

regards
Jake

Subject: RE: Searching for a pre-Civil War Navy song
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 03:59 PM

How about contacting the naval Academy direct??
this link should get you there:-

http://www.usna.edu///homepage.php

they've had a band since 1845!! it might still be in their reportoire.

jake

Subject: RE: Searching for a pre-Civil War Navy song
From: Anglo
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 04:47 PM

I think Jake has nailed it for you, Kate. Right period, right sentiment. Good going!

Subject: RE: Searching for a pre-Civil War Navy song
From: Peace
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 07:04 PM

Nice one, Jake.

Subject: RE: Searching for a pre-Civil War Navy song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Feb 06 - 08:07 PM

Well done, Jake!

You should get tops'l yards, t'gall'nts, and a taffrail for finding that one.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Searching for a pre-Civil War Navy song
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 02:59 PM

Jake, I think you just may have hit that one right on the head! It's at least something I can suggest as a possibility in my research. Thanks so much! (And thanks to everybody who had a look on my behalf!)