Keep the Home Fires Burning - Poetry and Pop Music

In this episode of the A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine discuss Ivor Novello’s 1914 hit “Keep the Home Fires Burning”.  They explore Novello’s life and WW1 service, his collaboration with lyricist Lena Guilbert Ford and her tragic death in a Zepplin raid on London in 1918.  Alongside this their conversation covers the sad tale of WW1 poet and composer Ivor Gurney and Novello’s connection to another WW1 poet, Seigfied Sassoon.

To listen to all the songs mentioned in the episode please visit their Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN

REFERENCES

Mr Fogg’s Tavern Sing-a-long
https://www.mr-foggs.com/event/tavern-cockney-sing-a-long/

Ivor Novello - Blue Plaque
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/ivor-novello/

Ivor Novello - Biography / Locations
https://britainunlimited.com/ivor-novello/

Ivor Gurney - Biography
https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/world-war-i-articles/ivor-gurney-composer-poet-soldier/

Heytesbury House in Wiltshire (home to Sassoon and Gatty)
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1198088

Pics of Ivor’s West End Flat
https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/heritage-architect-creates-west-end-home-for-cameron-mackintosh/5097491.article

Till the Boys Come Home - Roger Foss
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Till-Boys-Come-Home-British/dp/0750960663

Heytesbury House in Wiltshire (Sassoon’s Home)
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1198088

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
00:50 Opening Chat
01:50 K = Keep the Home Fires Burning
02:57 The Life of Ivor Novello
10:07 The Tragic Story of Ivor Gurney
14:09 Novello in London
17:06 Lena Guilbert Ford's Contribution
19:20 The Premiere of 'Keep the Homefires Burning'
20:43 The Song's Impact and Reception
21:32 Siegfried Sassoon and Ivor Novello's Connection
22:06 Siegried Sassoon
25:49 Ivor Novello's Post-War Success
26:57 Novello's Military Service in WW1
29:48 Discussing the Sheet Music
31:31 Discussing the Lyrics
34:05 Discussing the Music
36:26 Discussing Recordings - Frederick Wheeler
37:37 Stanley Kirkby
40:19 John McCormack
42:11 Olive Gilbert
42:53 Our Favourite Recordings
44:20 If You Liked That You'll Like This ...
46:15 Mentioned in Dispatches
49:59 A Teaser for Next Week
50:24 Outro

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

You can follow the podcast on social media:
http://instagram.com/warsongspod
https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod

Find more information about Lili Redman here:
https://liliredman.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/
https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil

Or Tom Carradine here:
https://www.tomcarradine.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine
https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine

CONTACT THE PODCAST

If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at [e-mail]  to be "Mentioned in Dispatches".

LISTENING LINKS

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song