PATRIOTIC SONGS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2271, 3 October 1914, Page 8

PATRIOTIC SONGS

ARRIVING IN SHOALS,

Our office is being inundated with a flood of patriotic songs, breathing a fine spirit of loyalty which here and there I lapses into plain "jingo." | "The Trooper's Farewell" is of the usual type of, farewell ballad, in which the departing trooper sings to his love that "his fondest thoughts will ever be of honour, heaven, home, and thee." The song, written in common time, is tuneful, but the obvious attempt to keep the. melody within the range of every voice on earth makes for monotony. "The Trooper's Farewell" was written by W. W. Boyes, and composed by Mr. Frank Wolfgang. • "Hands Across the Sea" (words and music by C. Spencer Conipton) embodies tho spirit of lusty strength and firm resolution to do. one's duty in tho hour of heed. Mr. Compton's music has the same spirit is bis words—it has the quality of vigour and vitality, and is far from being unmelodious. A. D. Willis, Ltd., of Wanganui, are the publishers. Hot off the press of A. Wildoy, of Christchurch, comes still another patriotic song entitled "Mrs. Tommy Atkins," tho sentiment of which is taken from Kipling's "Absent-minded Beggar," tho plea embodied in the refrain' being:—' "Have you got a bob for Mrs. Atkins f For her hubby did his country's call . obey; ■ . Ho has gone to fight for you, So the least that you oan do Is to help her' now that Tommy's gone away." Tho song has n sprightly melody, and should go well with the right man singing it. Both the words and- music are by C. L. Fleming. ' ' Messrs. Begg and Co. report that they havo never had such a boom with a song as "It's a Long, Long Way to • Tipperary," which has been "boomed" by the cablegrams as the song dearest to Tommy's heart as hb (joes off to do or die. This song is a lmisic-liall lilt with a catchy tune, which ••vould.have had a three months' vogue whether, there was a war or not. It just happened to be the tune that was being whistled about England when the war broke out, and was thcefore. known to every Tommy in + -he Kingdom.