[Sheet music] I Want to Go Home Accession Number: RC10872

Description

Sheet music for the song titled 'I want to go home', with music and lyrics written by Lieutenant Gitz Ingraham Rice. This copy of the sheet music is the 6d (six pence) popular edition that was published by Herman Darewski Music Publishing Company in 1918.

The song is written from the point of view of a soldier who has had enough of the war and wants to go home. The lyrics describe his experiences, recalling illnesses, shelling and dealings with the mud and bad weather.

This copy of the music originally belonged to Private Ernest Alfred Nicholls and features his name stamped in the top right-hand corner of the front cover. It is part of a collection of sheet music that was donated to the Memorial in 1971, and is symbolic of the concerts, theatre and other musical performances that Australian soldiers took in whilst on leave in London during the First World War.

Gitz Rice was a Canadian singer, entertainer, songwriter and pianist who served as a gunnery officer with the First Canadian Contingent before joining a comedy troupe attached to Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

Towards the bottom of this page is a sound recording of this sheet music, or a parody, that was created as part of the Music and the First World War project. More information about this recording, including names of the performers, can be found on the catalogue record for the sound recording. A link to the catalogue record for the sound recording can be found at the bottom of this page, under the heading ‘Related objects’ where it can be identified with the prefix [sound recording].

Details

People

• Gitz Rice

Conflicts

• First World War, 1914-1918

Tags and Groups

• Entertainment
• Concert
• Sheet music
• Concert party
• Music
• Singing
• Emotions
• Performance
• Song
• Original sheet music