"I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen"
一首被認為是愛爾蘭民歌, 面世之後成為美國流行樂壇具影響力的重要歌曲之一。根據 "Library of Congress 美國國會圖書館" 的資料, 此曲是來自一位不具名氣的業餘曲詞人, 德國裔的 Thomas P. Westendorf, 1848年生於美國 Virginia 維珍尼亞州, 在 Indiana 印第安那州 Hendricks County, Plainfield 小鎮的公立學校任職音樂老師。1875年, 與妻子 Jane 婚後兩年, 因她思鄉心切, 返回遙遠的 New York 紐約州 Ogdensburg 娘家之後, Thomas 每天仍惦念着妻子, 有寂寞難耐之感....
"Barney, Take Me Home Again"
有一天, 收到摯友 George W. Brown 一篇以筆名 George W. Presley 的樂譜, 另交由 Arthur W. French 撰上歌詞的作品 "Barney, Take Me Home Again", 讓他藉着此曲一解相思之苦, 内容是妻子對丈夫傾訴, 和感謝可以回到家鄉與母親相叙, 亦旦願以後可再返家鄉。
一篇獻給好友個人的歌曲作品, 至今有文字記載衹有三位歌手曾經演繹過, 最早是1910年 - Philip Ritte, 1913年 - William Thomas (Thomas Jackson), 與及1923年 - Sydney Coltham, 可惜沒法找到他們或任何歌手的聲频錄音, 唯一的錄音是2020年由 Alan Thompson 編曲、彈奏、演繹和錄製, 收錄在 "Youtube" 他個人在的歌曲平台。
"Barney, Take Me Home Again" - Alan Thompson (2020)
Youtube Link : Alan Thompson's Songs of Bygone Eras
"Barney, Take Me Home Again - 1875
Music: George W. Persley
Lyrics: Arthur W. French
To see my home across the sea
Where all the days were joy impearl'd
Before I went to roam with thee
I long beneath its roof to rest
Where never comes a care or pain
In all the earth it is the best
Oh, Barney, take me home again
Oh, take me home, yes, take me home
To where my heart will feel no pain
I'll go with thee across the sea
Oh, barney, take me home again
Barney, dear, in happy dreams
I live once more the dear old days
By flowery dells and sun kissed streams
Sweet recollection fondly strays
I see each well remembered face
And hear their voices glad refrain
As memory, its steps retrace
Oh, Barney, take me home again
Oh, take me home, yes, take me home
To where my heart will feel no pain
I'll go with thee across the sea
Oh, Barney, take me home again
Barney, dear, why did we roam
To seek a fortune in the west
When love and peace in that old home
We're better than all the rest
For what is fame and wealth and all
When life is dark with care or pain
The past is far beyond recall
Oh, Barney, take me home again
Oh, take me home, yes, take me home
To where my heart will feel no pain
I'll go with thee across the sea
Oh, barney, take me home again
"I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen"
Thomas P. Westendorf 收到两位摯友贈予一篇曲詞作品 "Barney, Take Me Home Again" 之後, 馬上執筆並完成一曲 "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen", 以表對妻子的關愛, 更承諾她可再得償所願, 會與她一同返回家鄉與家人見面和相敘; 歌曲旋律的結構是基於德國作曲家、鋼琴家和指揮家 Felix Mendelssohn 的小提琴樂曲 "Violin Concerto in E Flat Minor Opus 64 Second Movement"。
Felix Mendelssohn "Violin Concerto in E Flat Minor Opus 64 Second Movement"
1875年的作品, 有記載首次錄製唱片是1907年, 由英國男高音 Ernest Pike 演繹, 可惜沒法找到他的錄音, 有聲頻最舊的錄音是1912年, 由美國知名 "Countertenor 反串男高音" 歌手 Will Oakland, 以其極高音域如女中音腔調的演繹, 但有別於原作品的民歌格調。
"I'll Take you Home Again, Kathleen" - (Countertenor) Will Oakland - 1912
I'll take you home again, Kathleen
Across the ocean wild and wide
To where your heart has ever been
Since you were first my bonnie bride.
The roses all have left your cheek.
I've watched them fade away and die
Your voice is sad whene'er you speak
And tears bedim your loving eyes.
Oh! I will take you back, Kathleen
To where your heart will feel no pain
And when the fields are fresh and green
I'II take you to your home again!
I know you love me, Kathleen, dear
Your heart was ever fond and true.
I always feel when you are near
That life holds nothing, dear, but you.
The smiles that once you gave to me
I scarcely ever see them now
Though many, many times I see
A dark'ning shadow on your brow.
Oh! I will take you back, Kathleen
To where your heart will feel no pain
And when the fields are fresh and green
I'II take you to your home again!
"Response Song 回應歌曲"
妻子的心願已償, 與丈夫的承諾, 兩首同是美國內戰之後1875年的民歌, 錄製唱片面世之後, 成為美國流行樂壇後來被稱為 "Response Song 回應歌曲" 的典範; 两曲的名字、內容的人物丈夫"Barney" 與妻子 "Kathleen" 並非真有其人, 卻恰巧是愛爾蘭男女普遍的名字, 由於離鄉別井的內容, 觸發起愛爾蘭裔美國人的思鄉情懷, 因此, 這兩篇溫馨與恩愛的作品, 同被視為愛爾蘭民歌亦順理成章, 與歷史上任何一首愛爾蘭民歌, 包括來自英格蘭的經典 "Danny Boy" 同樣是愛爾蘭人尊崇的作品。<
Thomas P. Westendorf (1848-1923)
他一生的作品近達五百篇, 當中有些從沒有公開, 不少衹是獻給朋友和家人, 之外亦喜歡把歌曲送給剛認識的人, 藉此展開交流。"I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" 這一曲面世至今已有近七十多位歌手翻唱的錄音版本面世, 當中最為樂迷認識的流行歌手或組合有 Bing Crosby, The Platters, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, 而多數樂迷較為喜愛 Elvis Presley 富感情的演繹!
"I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" - Elvis Presley (1973) - Lyrics