And now for something completely different. This week’s theme is, broadly speaking, ‘gathering’. This was the first song that came into my head when I saw the prompt.

Brits of a certain age (mine) will quite possibly remember listening to the BBC Light Programme early on a Sunday evening, when they would be entertained (sic) by the music of an earlier generation. Like as not, the singing duties would be performed by the married duo of Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth.

To many modern ears, of course, this song by Ivor Novello (from the musical ‘Perchance To Dream’) is far too cloying in its sentimentality, but it is of it’s time. The musical had its premiere in April 1945, so millions could relate to the idea of loved ones being far away. Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ has very similar sentiments.

We’ll gather lilacs in the spring again
And walk together down an English lane
Until our hearts have learned to sing again
When you come home once more

And in the evening by the firelight’s glow
You’ll hold me close and never let me go
Your eyes will tell me all I long to know
When you come home once more

Although you’re far away
And life is sad and grey
I have a scheme; a dream to try
I’m thinking dear, of you
And all I mean to do
When we’re together, you and I

We’ll soon forget our care and pain
And find such lovely things to share again

We’ll gather lilacs in the spring again
And walk together down a British lane
Until our hearts have learned to sing again
When you come home once more

And in the evening by the firelight’s glow
You’ll hold me close and never let me go
Your eyes will tell me all I want to know
When you come home once more

Written by Ivor Novello

Song Lyric Sunday 2 August 2020