Tour Scotland Video Keep the Home Fires Burning SSAFA Christmas Concert St Johns Kirk Perth Perthshire

Tour Scotland video of Lesley Mackie and Kenneth MacIver singing Keep the Home Fires Burning with the Highland Scotland's Army Reserve Military Band. Classical musicians performing in military marching bands and smaller ensembles during their spare time, on visit to the SSAFA WW 1 themed Christmas Concert in St Johns Kirk on ancestry visit to Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. The song was published first as Till the Boys Come Home on 8 October 1914 by Ascherberg, Hopwood, and Crew Ltd. in London. A new edition was printed in 1915 with the name Keep the Home-Fires Burning. The song became very popular in the United Kingdom during World War I.

They were summoned from the hillside,
They were called in from the glen,
And the country found them ready
At the stirring call for men.
Let no tears add to their hardships
As the soldiers pass along,
And although your heart is breaking,
Make it sing this cheery song:
Keep the Home Fires Burning,
While your hearts are yearning.
Though your lads are far away
They dream of home.
There's a silver lining
Through the dark clouds shining,
Turn the dark cloud inside out
Till the boys come home.
Overseas there came a pleading,
"Help a nation in distress."
And we gave our glorious laddies -
Honour bade us do no less,
For no gallant son of Freedom
To a tyrant's yoke should bend,
And a noble heart must answer
To the sacred call of "Friend."
Keep the Home Fires Burning,
While your hearts are yearning.
Though your lads are far away
They dream of home.
There's a silver lining
Through the dark clouds shining,
Turn the dark cloud inside out
'Til the boys come home

In recognition of their service to the Nation, SSAFA works to ensure that the needs of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families are met in an appropriate and timely way. Thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Andy Middlemiss for organising this seasonal event.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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