The Fureys- I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen

[kathgorman1950]

i'm a kathleen. hated the name when i was a bairn but love it now. And no.. I'm not Scottish {not that i wouldn't mind) BUT I LOVE THE IRISH. PS. I'm from Yorkshire

[brinorl]

always thought of as an Irish song, but years ago I read it was written with another country in mind by the composer. Dont know who, or where, maybe someone does.

[patrickspoint]

@brinorl... As far as I know, it was written by an American, Thomas P. Westendorf – a teacher in Indiana - in 1875, based on an Irish song called, “Blow out the Candle.” He wrote it for his wife and it’s in the form of an answer to a popular song of the time, called, “Barney, Take me Home again.”

[itskathleeeen]

A customer at my work today told me to listen to this song because my name is Kathleen. Huge kudos to you sir!

[caitlindwiles]

Uncle Dick...for your mum xxx gee I miss her xx

[kiwihans]

fantastic! Just the right tone and power for this lovely song, great arrangement, made me cry! Pete 'Kiwi' Keegan

[brimand29]

my late grandads favourite song.

[vparonto]

My favorite version, thank you ever so much.

[kerrisamelia11]

my friends granddad sang this to her grandma, and she had it played her as her funeral song today, heartbreaking xxxxx

[Meninacristina]

I LOVE Irish music I know that if I was Irish and away from home it would make me sooooooo homesick if that makes sense thers music like it it has so much sentiment

[manutdforu]

Im Irish, have lived in Oz for 21 yrs and as good a country as it is, it's not home and I want to buried in my beloved Ireland when I'm gone, to be at peace, I LOVE my home.

[gilleygill]

this for my ma dead but not forgot luv 2 death always in my head rip katey gilmore xx

[Linda4Conor]

For Percy in Belfast where ever you maybe today... we are thinking of u singing this song hahahaha in the Malone Lodge Hotel lol

[moleire]

Sung today at my Gran' s graveside. I couldn't be there as I live abroad. Hope Grandad was waiting to take her home.

[georgekyros]

@moleire we played it Tuesday at my Dads funeral, now reunired with our Mum Kathleen who died 15 years ago. Sh was waiting for my Dad

[moleire]

@georgekyros Sorry to hear of your loss. I know they're all together now.

[gilleygill]

my ma wuz called kathleen 8 years she gone hope she rest in peice always luv my mum xx

[mikegarry1]

Kathleen was German.. Sorry to disappoint the Irish grief whores. It's just the way it is.

[MrJscplumber]

@mikegarry1 sorry mike being off Irish I haven,t met any Irish whores thank god

[KViscount]

I was named after this song :)

[philclark73]

me mam was kathleen and played at her funeral r.i.p mum

[dcconsi]

a special for the girlfriends of the hunger strikers

[dcconsi]

the greatest ireland was ever given. written by paul westerndorff frm munish

[dawnlvsemma]

i  love this..my nan is 83,her name is kathleen,she always crys when she hears it,my grandad (rip) used to sing it too her <3

[Mikebb5m]

Today would be my mother n law's (Kathleen Thompson) birthday. She was a saint. She died this past August 21st on my birthday. They played this beautiful song at her funeral. Happy Birthday Kate!!

[betz1511]

I would love to have this sung to me by a special Brit/Irishman who holds a special place in my heart. It is so gentle, soft, and real - just as I know he is deep down.

[aTruster]

When I read the lyrics of this song I thought of Messiah singing to one of His children. Where else can home be, but heaven?

[orion2sirius]

I dedicate this song in memory of My Mother...Kathleen, died Feb '85. Love you MOM!

[betz1511]

Sung so perfectly with such love and deep emotions. The voice is so tender and feeling.

[jl57]

Such a Beautiful song......German and Irish..WHatever......Just Great....

[kitty1066]

thank you for the memories x

[liamthedream]

The song was written by a German Emigrant for his wife. It became very Irish oriented due to the name Kathleen and the Fields fresh and green. All the heavy hitters have recorded it, Elvis and Perry to name a few.

[Duncoman]

A lovely song, though not originally an Irish song. Written by German-American Thomas P. Westendorf for his wife.

[paparazziFollower]

This was my baba's funeral song , she was an amazing woman

[tails731]

MY MUMS SONG SINGING IT IN HEAVEN IM SURE

[KatieBelleW]

I hope my children will play this at my funeral as my lovely husband used to sing this to me

[llezsoeg]

The ocean wild and wide is the Atlantic, right? Between Ireland and America. What else could Thomas Westendorf have meant? That's why Irish people sing it. Which makes it an Irish song, so it does.

[M374EVL]

@llezsoeg the irish sea tween britain and eire thats what he meant

[wrrncrrl]

it does'nt matter who wrote it or who first sang it first. This song is as Irish as you can get and it has different but equally deep meaning and emotions for us Paddy's

[crestaxxx]

I love his so very much ... it still makes me cry ... I LOVE YOU GUYS xxxx

[kincaid213]

I'll Take You Home Kathleen is not, in fact, a tune of Irish origin. It was written in 1875 by Thomas Westendorf, a public school music teacher in Plainfield, Illinois, and was the first public performance of the tune was in Plainfield's town hall. Westendorf wrote the tune for his wife Jeanie, while she was visiting her home town of Ogdensburg, New York.

[kincaid213]

check your facts its not an irish song

[SuperAnne47]

@kincaid213 Its a song thats beautiful my mother was called Kathleen and my father sang it too her , it would have been her birthday today and just for the record they were both Irish but its the memories that concern me not facts

[feckyfeckfeck]

My Nan used to sing this after a few whiskeys, many moons ago....Rest well StatiaXXXX

[upyastreet]

amazingggggggggg

[kathleenlowry]

Just for me !!!!!

[tonightwefly]

dedicated to my lovely friend john, thanks for being there and i love you so much

[chriscumming64]

my mum was called Kathleen I miss her so much she left us to go to heaven on October 2008 my dad followed her the following year 2009 his name was Hughie i miss them so so much life will never be the same god bless you all up above look after us God Bless the heartbroken family x

[oarfrost]

The funny thing is that the song isn't meant to be sad. Or at least, not that sad.

In 1875 Thomas Westendorf's wife Jennie went back to New York to visit her family. Thomas and Jennie had only been married a year and, because he missed her dreadfully, he poured his feelings into this song. But from all accounts Jennie returned and they lived happily ever after.

[alanthedrum]

@oarfrost The story I heard was different and sadder. The song is American, Kathleen was Irish. It was written as she was dying.

There are as many truths as there are people.

[msidnz]

this one always makes me cry - my Scottish father always sang it to my (Irish descended) mother ......... not the best version I've heard but notwithstanding that ..... I'm sitting here crying! Blessings to all Kathleens and those who love them <3

[puregloster]

@msidnz what a lovely person you are bless you xx my Mum was called Kathleen, she died in July aged 95, she loved Irish music and I wa brought up on it, I'm compiling a UTube playlist in her memory and this is on it. Thank youfor your blessing xx

[33344999]

@puregloster

What a lovely tribute to your Mum, you must have loved her very much, I may be English but we had friends in the 50's and 60's from Ireland who quiet often came to stay with us, one of them was name Kathleen. Their warmth and humour made those days very special to all our family I only wish I could relive those days again. Listening to the Fureys brings back all those happy memories what a great act they are.

[puregloster]

@33344999 I know what you mean. I sang Fields of Athenry (my Dad's favorite) and the Wild Rover at a Charity Night in Feb, they went down a storm, everyone with a heart loves Irish music so you got a heart, keep singing them old songs! xx

[MrDilly27]

My Mum was called Kathleen, my dad died on the 3rd of March this year. I had the privellage of him dying in my arms while I sang this song to him. his passing was so peaceful it was an honour for me to be there. I miss him so much did not do enough as a daughter x

[EamonnGiblin]

@MrDilly27 Privileged to read your post - my respects and sympathies - I also never realised how much I would miss my father until too late - Please check the Fureys "The old man" - Eamonn, Dublin, Ireland,

[christmas835]

my man was kathkleen rip tomorrow k. she sang this great song

[flatbroke4ever]

Great song!

[ugizzat]

What a wonderful AMERICAN song.

[VMDICKS]

It is sad that all verses of this lovely tune are never sung. A complete story is told and it honors the composers to do so.

[bernadettemay]

beautiful song so moving it had me in tears.

[olivebabybee]

my dad used to sing this song to my mother , he sadly passed away and a little over a year later my mom passed , we played this at the funaral from him , now they are home with each other , rip kathleen and tom byrne

[jimrockone]

Seen these lovely people live, and they are Fantastic! So warm, so natural, so not up their own arses. Brilliant!

[infledermaus]

My mother loved this song. Her name was Catherine. I think she always wanted to be Kathleen. She certainly wanted Catherine to start with a k so she could be called Kate. Not long before she died, we got a copy of her birth certificate. Lo and behold, she was Katherine with a K! She waited 80 years to know that. Take Me Home certainly sounds Irish, but it's not. Check reliable resources regarding the origin if you really care. I did. Amerikanisch.

[sintenolwe]

I remember the Star Trek episode "The naked time" where an Irish guy started to sing this song and ordered ice cream for everyone :D

[smitmurphy]

r.i.p kathleen

[TheIrishgalxxx]

This song was played at my grannies funeral last year! Brings back so many memories it was always sang to her! Its such a beautiful song! Her name was Kathleen R.I.P Granny miss her sooo much everyday x x x

[puregloster]

My mum is called Kathleen and she loves this she's now 93 years old and used to sing it to me when I was little.

[gatinha797]

The American gentleman who wrote this song deserves to be an honourary Irishman.

The song conveys the un-dying pain and homesicknes s of many Irish people who crossed the ocean wild and wide,searching for survival in America. Has anyone read Angela´s Ashes by Frank McCourt?

If you read the book, you can understand what the song means---and nothing else matters.

[ugizzat]

T'was not only the Irish who suffered. Many Scots were forced out of their homes in the" Highland Clearances" and many died of cold and starvation. Those who survived fled to the already overcrowded Scots Cities or to America. "Hush Hush" as sung by the Corries is a dedication to all those people and is as relevant to the Irish as it was to the Scots "Kathleen" was written by a man for his wife and not as a lament for those who lost their lives and/ or their heritage.

[bushcelt1]

does it matter where it first came from...just enjoy...a tune thats universal!!

[oarfrost]

@bushcelt1 "a tune thats universal!! "

Quite right.

It was written by a chap who missed his wife, something that happens all over the world and is a lot more common than folk tend to think.

[ugizzat]

@oarfrost Oh! its Universal now is it?. and

there's me thinking all those vho voted my

comments down actually KNEW the song

to be Irish in origin

.Its not, and that shows them up to be the

thickos they are,donnit?

All those vote downs and yet, im still correct.

The tune and words are wholly American, no

more no less.

[ser132]

@ugizzat The song is American in origin, yes. But the feelings expressed in it ARE universal.

[ugizzat]

@ser132

The salient point i was making,( and for

which my comments warranted so many

"vote downs".,Which says much about the

*INHERENT RACISM* of the voters), was

the song is NOT Irish or EVER will be.

*( anti American)*

[ugizzat]

Oh, yes and this song is still NOT Irish.

Never will be in a MILLION years 'cause

it's AMERICAN!!!

Live with it,saddos.

[yukonnahanni]

@ugizzat , Hello there . all my best to you :)) But sorry there , this song does have its origins , in Ireland ... Definitly not American, but hey, did you not think, about the Irish Americans who brought the song over :))) This song belongs to all

[ugizzat]

QUOTE:- "I'll take you home again Kathleen" is NOT, in fact a TUNE of IRISH ORIGIN it was written by T, WESTENDORF. Westendorf, a public School teacher from Plainsfield Illinois, wrote it for his wife Jeanie who was visiting her family home in Ogdensburgh, New York. Thre song was a "reply" to another song of the same period "Barney take me home"( 1870s) The music and lyrics of "Kathleen" are wholly American in origin no matter how fondly you or others, wish it otherwise.

[BobMonkfish]

Mutley, tell me, when I grow up, does that mean I'll love sentimental tripe?

[andrewlewis963]

knew a cathy once didnt have the understanding to take her home

[protoville]

I didn't expect to like this rendition when it started, but I quickly realized it is quite beautiful.

[BobMonkfish]

A bit too syrupy sweet for my liking. I'm sure they'll be playing this when I enter the old folks home.

[BobMonkfish]

Aye, I'll enjoy it more when I'm "grown up". Til then, I'll consider this song schmaltz, syrup, sickly sweet etc.

[bushcelt1]

peace and love to all those who remember and love all our KATHLEENS.

[TiminCalgary1]

my father died a week after listening to this..song that reminde dhim of his youthh..a scotsman and celtic fan..we argued and fought but when he he heard this song in the hospice he cried and took my hand and we made up ove many years..after six years it still like a knife in thhe heart

[bushcelt1]

my grandfather died on un service in the congo(1960) serving for peace with the irish army. he left behind a family(2 boyys aged 12 and a girl aged 8). he also left behind a beautiful wife(my nan). her name was KATHLEEN and i miss her so much....always thinking of you now you are together at last..xxxxxxxx

[ugizzat]

This is not an Irish song:-It was written by an American for his wife who's name was Jeanie, not Kathleen.

[ps0u1159]

Don't know why everyone's given you the thumbs-down, the song was written by Thomas P. Westendorf, an American.

[ugizzat]

Because they are pig ignorant and

proud of it?

[ps0u1159]

This is youtube after all.

[BobMonkfish]

or maybe they just don't share your musical taste. Don't expect everyone to. I have heard some of the Fureys' music and enjoyed it, but this is baaad!

[ugizzat]

The point is its NOT an Irish song. After having bought and listened to "Emmet Spicelands" Album, "The First", (and only one) i know how a song of love and longing should be sung, their singing of "Mary of Dungloe" being classic if you've not heard it, you'll hear it on YouTube. Its worth a listen. Not a bad track on the album. Well thats my (wholly biased) opinion I rate many Irish singers an groups highly but, the jury is still out on my decision in regard to this one.

[ugizzat]

The point i was making was the song

is not Irish, nothing more.

I rate many Irish groups and singers

highly, the Jurys still out on this one.

Emmet Spicelands Album "The First"

being one of my favourites , " Mary of

Dungloe" track is a classic.

You can hear it on YouTube if you've not

already heard it

Its worth a listen, if nothing else.

[BobMonkfish]

Thanks for the tip, I'll certainly look it up. A lot of white American music and dance is heavily influenced by Scottish and Irish stuff... but the originals are usually better.

[ugizzat]

Re:-" the originals are usually better"

Emmet Spicelands rendering of the

"Mary from Dungloe" on Youtube is

taken from the original vynil LP "The

First" and is actually surpassed by the one on the (remake) version on

CD.The difference is small but it

makes the song that much better.

I hope you have the opportunity to

hear them both.

[BanPhotoRadar]

My grandmother was Kathleen O'Sullivan. She came to America from Australia after she married my grandfather during World War II. She only went back home to Australia once.

[lunchboxMark]

My Nan god rest her soul was called Kathleen and she was british but married a norwegian sailor during the war and moved to norway and he used to sing this to her. One day he went out on a fishing boat and the boat went missing and all they found was the nameplate of the boat and everytime she heard this song she sobbed her heart out. But I hold this song close to my heart

[geofflovett]

Reminds of me owl man,he used to sing it while having a shave in the sink(we never had a bathroom)

[mairenidhomnaill]

xcellente go raibh maith agat mo chairde x x Maire

[itsjustmacker]

A Pleasure to listen to the fureys again, that is the best rendering of the song i have ever heard. Thanks for uploading.

[mutley2000]

i love this! it reminds my of my lovely grandad he had this played at his funeral

[benny266698]

no one can pronounce Kathleen like the Irish love the accent

[pzzr1]

My mom was named after this song.

[gaelswed]

kathleen is a beautiful irish name,but it's actually the english translation of the gaelic caitlin,i named my beautiful red haired daughter so,and we'll be playing this for her 2nd birthday next week,slainte

[513dianne]

All Kathleens who desire so should be granted their wish. Long live Ireland.

[Ismaithsin]

My father often sang this song to my mother. She died when she was just 27 years old. This song brings back beautiful memories.

[joeygsmom]

oh my, lovely song what was your mom's name? Im twenty seven now, how sad but sure shes in heaven.

[billsmam1974]

god bless you and your family ,what a wonderful song to have as well as your memories xx

[kgraysonmorin]

Excellent, I was named after this song.

I always wanted to hear the words.

They are truely beautiful and Fureys

sing it with heart. I am proud to be named

after such a beautiful song.

Kathleen Morin

[yeahyep]

Missing my Dear Nana. R.I.P. The world lost a lady.

[kennyworth1967]

Dedicated to Kitty Kelly,of Brooklyn N.Y.

She passed on 8 feb 09 at the age of 101 years.

You had a good run.

Rest in peace Kitty.

[haxbybill2]

Saw the Fureys live earlier this year, still as good as ever, superb.

[SJM10303]

where did you see them?

[haxbybill2]

The Galtres Centre, Easingwold, N.Yorks.

[auntedna2]

God Bless all the beautiful Kathleens and their loved ones!

[kath81149]

they said Slim didn't do it like the others did , he change it a bit ..

[verbusen]

His 1957 version is on youtube if you want to hear it, its good, they really all are good!

[kath81149]

yes ,I have the records ,and the cds with it

[kath81149]

Thomas Westendorf/Slim Whitman/Scott Turner wrote this song together

[muzpunk]

Thought this was written by Thomas P. Westendorf in 1875, Slim Whitman was born in 1924?

[kharballou]

im called kathleen my grandad peace be with him used to sing it to me ive never heard it in full its a sweet song. I know why old people start singing it to me when my hear my name now.

[murphynick1]

Album is... The Fureys Finest.....And this IS a lovely song excellently performed.

[timdefatone]

thanks for putting this song on it means a lot thanks

[pedromendez999]

Please tell me what album this song is on? Need to know soon, thanks.

[DShannon08]

lovely excelent thanks for posting.

D

[sharonhenly]

brilliant!!!!!