Civil War Music: Home, Sweet Home

The original source of “Home, Sweet Home” was an opera known called Clari, or The Maid of Milan. The lyrics were written by John Howard Payne and set to music composed by Sir Henry Bishop (1786-1855).

‘Mid pleasures and Palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble there’s no place like home!
A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there,
Which seek through the world, is ne’er met with elsewhere.
Home! Home, sweet sweet Home!
There’s no place like Home! There’s no place like Home!

An Exile from Home, Splendour dazzles in vain!
Oh! Give me my lowly thatch’d Cottage again!
The Birds singing gaily that came at my call,
Give me them with the peace of mind dearer than all!
Home! Home, sweet sweet Home!
There’s no place like Home! There’s no place like Home!

To thee, I’ll return overburdened with care,
The heart’s dearest solace will smile on me there.
No more from that cottage again will I roam,
Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.
Home! Home, sweet sweet Home!
There’s no place like Home! There’s no place like Home!