"I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" is a

traditional pop Traditional pop (also known as vocal pop or pre-rock and roll pop) is Western culture, Western pop music that generally pre-dates the advent of rock and roll in the mid-1950s. The most popular and enduring songs from this era of music are known ...

song written by Thomas Paine Westendorf (1848–1923) in 1875. (The music is loosely based on

Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic music, Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions inc ...

's Violin Concerto in E Minor Opus 64 Second Movement). In spite of its German-American origins, it is widely mistaken to be an Irish ballad. Westendorf, born in

Bowling Green, Virginia Bowling Green is an incorporated town in Caroline County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,111 at the 2010 census. The county seat of Caroline County since 1803, Bowling Green is best known as the "cradle of American horse racing" ...

of German parents, was then teaching at the reform school known as the Indiana House of Refuge for Juvenile Offenders in

Hendricks County, Indiana Hendricks County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 174,788. The county seat is the town of Danville. Hendricks County is the third most populous county in the Indianapolis- Carme ...

. He wrote it for his wife (who was, however, named Jane Harrow), who had made a visit to her home state of New York due to homesickness. It is an

answer song An answer song, response song or answer record is a song (usually a recorded track) made in answer to a previous song, normally by another artist. The concept became widespread in blues and R&B recorded music in the 1930s to the 1950s. Answer son ...

to a popular ballad of the time, "Barney, Take Me Home Again," composed by Westendorf’s close friend, George W. Brown, writing under the nom de plume of George W. Persley.

Recorded versions

*A version by Will Oakland on Edison Amberol (catalog 1102) was popular in 1912. *On 30 January 2011

Jon Boden Jon Boden (born 17 March 1977) is a singer, composer and musician, best known as lead singer and main arranger of Bellowhead. His first instrument is the fiddle and he is a proponent of "English traditional fiddle style" and also of "fiddle si ...

released a version as part of his ''

A Folk Song A Day A Folk Song a Day was a project by the English folk singer and musician and Bellowhead member Jon Boden where he recorded and released a folk song each day for one year. The project ended on 24 June 2011. About The project started on 24 June 2 ...

'' project. *On March 31, 1971

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of his music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career. ...

sang a version of this song on the 56th episode of his television show ''

The Johnny Cash Show ''The Johnny Cash Show'' is an American television music variety show that was hosted by Johnny Cash. The Screen Gems 58-episode series ran from June 7, 1969, to March 31, 1971, on American Broadcasting Company, ABC; it was taped at the Ryman A ...

''. *Frank Connors (released by Varsity Records) as catalog number 519, with the B-side " When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"). * Eugene Conley, American operatic

tenor A tenor is a type of male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. Composers typically write music for this voice in the range from the second B below m ...

, recorded a version released by

London Records London Recordings (or London Records and London Music Stream) is a British record label that marketed records in the United States, Canada, and Latin America for Decca Records from 1947 to 1980 before becoming semi-independent. The London nam ...

. *

Michael Crawford Michael Patrick Smith (born 19 January 1942), known professionally as Michael Crawford, is an English actor, comedian and singer. Crawford is best known for playing the hapless Frank Spencer in the sitcom '' Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'', Cornel ...

performed the song for his album ''In Concert'' in 1998, and also in his concert tour. *

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian, entertainer and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwi ...

and

John Scott Trotter John Scott Trotter Jr. (June 14, 1908 – October 29, 1975), also known as "Uncle John", was an American arranger, composer and orchestra leader. Trotter was best known for conducting the John Scott Trotter Orchestra which backed singer and ...

's Orchestra (recorded on July 17, 1945, released by

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis after his acquisition of a gramophone manufacturer, The Decca Gramophone Company. It set up an American subsidiary under the Decca name, which bec ...

as catalog numbers 18721B and 28261, both with the B-side "

The Bells of St. Mary's ''The Bells of St. Mary's'' is a 1945 American musical comedy-drama film, produced and directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. Written by Dudley Nichols and based on a story by McCarey, the film is about a priest a ...

"; also as catalog number 23789B with the B-side "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral"). *

Merv Griffin Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer, later appearing in film and on Broadway theatre, Broadway. From 1962 to 1986, G ...

(released by

RCA Victor Records RCA Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside Columbia Records (its former longtime rival), Arista Records and Epic ...

as catalog number 20-4749, with the B-side "Wild Colonial Boy"). *Irish tenor

Josef Locke Joseph McLaughlin (23 March 1917 – 15 October 1999), known professionally as Josef Locke, was an Irish tenor. He was successful in the United Kingdom and Ireland in the 1940s and 1950s. Background Born in Derry, Ireland, he was the son of a ...

recorded a version around the late 1940s. *Danny Malone (recorded November 27,

1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...

, released by

as catalog number 12052A, with the B-side "All That I Want Is in Ireland"). *

Mitch Miller Mitchell William Miller (July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010) was an American choral conductor, record producer, record-industry executive, and professional oboist. He was involved in almost all aspects of the industry, particularly as a conductor ...

– ''Favorite Irish Folk Songs'' – Originally released in 1959 (now Sony BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT – USSM10020418). *Henry Moeller (released by

Gennett Records Gennett Records () was an American record company and label in Richmond, Indiana, United States, which flourished in the 1920s and produced the Gennett, Starr, Champion, Superior, and Van Speaking labels. The company also produced some Supertone, ...

as catalog number 10069, with the B-side "Sing Me To Sleep"). *Popular English-born singer Cavan O'Connor recorded and regularly performed the song. Peter Coles, "Obituary: Cavan O'Connor", ''The Independent'', 23 October 2011
Retrieved 22 January 2021 *British novelty pop band

Lieutenant Pigeon Lieutenant Pigeon are an English novelty musical group popular in the early 1970s, originating in Coventry. Career A spin-off from an experimental music band Stavely Makepeace, the group was fronted by Rob Woodward and managed by him and dru ...

(released by Decca Records in 1974 as Decca F13486), with the B-side "Big Butch Baby", reached #3 in Australia. *

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

released a version (with overdubbed accompaniment) of him singing to his own piano-playing on the 1973 self-titled album called ''

Elvis Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Presley's sexuall ...

'' on RCA Records, better known as ''The Fool'' album. He can be seen rehearsing the song by himself in the 1981 documentary '' This Is Elvis'' as taken from the footage for the 1970 film '' That's the Way It Is''. He can also be heard performing the same song while in the Army while stationed in Germany in the so-called "Bad Neuheim Medley" of the 1997 RCA CD boxset ''Platinum: A Life In Music''. * Oscar Seagle (recorded in September 1915, released by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

as catalog number A-5718, with the B-side "The Bloom Is on the Rye"). *Vaughan Quartet (released by Vaughan Records as catalog number 725, with the B-side "When Honey Sings an Old Time Song"). *Tenor and Chorus with Orchestra, Walter Van Brunt. Edison Diamond Disc, 1914, Disc 80160-R. B-side "On The Banks of the Brandywine". *Lew White (released by

Victor Records The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer, incorporated in 1901. Victor was an independent enterprise until 1929 when it was purchased by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and became ...

as catalog number 27467, with the B-side "On the Wings of Song"). *

Clarence Whitehill Clarence Eugene Whitehill (November 5, 1871 - December 19, 1932) was a leading American bass-baritone who sang at the Metropolitan Opera from 1915 to 1932. He sang on both sides of the Atlantic and is remembered for his association with the musi ...

(recorded on July 30, 1914, released by

as catalog number 74425 (a single-sided record); also as catalog number 1275, with the B-side "In the Gloaming"). *

Victor Young Albert Victor Young (August 8, 1899– November 10, 1956)"Victor Young, Composer, Dies of Heart Attack", ''Oakland Tribune'', November 12, 1956. was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. Young was posthumously awarded the ...

and his Orchestra (released by

as catalog number 28194, with the B-side "My Mother"). *

Slim Whitman Ottis Dewey "Slim" Whitman Jr. (January 20, 1923 – June 19, 2013) was an American country music singer and guitarist known for his yodeling abilities and his use of falsetto. Recorded figures show 70 million sales, during a career that spanne ...

recorded a version in 1957, on Imperial 8310, also issued in the UK on London HLP 8403. *

Daniel O'Donnell Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell, MBE (born 12 December 1961) is an Irish singer, television presenter and philanthropist. After rising to public attention in 1983, he has since become a household name in Ireland and Britain; he has also had co ...

recorded the song, where it was released on the album, ''he Daniel O'Donnell Irish Collection'', in 1996. *Scottish tenor Robert Wilson released a version in the late 1940s. * Dexys (a.k.a. Dexys Midnight Runners) recorded a version for their 2016 UK Top 10 album ''Let The Record Show: Dexys Do Irish And Country Soul''. *Being a well-documented song publicised by

EFDSS The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS, or pronounced 'EFF-diss') is an organisation that promotes English folk music and folk dance. EFDSS was formed in 1932 when two organisations merged: the Folk-Song Society and the English Folk Dan ...

, and Mainly Norfolk, the song was recorded by

Oli Steadman Oliver "Oli" Steadman is a British-South African multi-instrumentalist. Stornoway Steadman is a founding member of Stornoway and through them is a volunteer with many nature conservation trusts including HIWWT, RSPB, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, ...

for inclusion in "365 Days Of Folk".

Popular culture

* The song was utilized in the radio program "Orphans of Divorce" * Arrangements of the song where used in films "

Mrs. Parkington ''Mrs. Parkington'' is a 1944 drama film. It tells the story of a woman's life, told via flashbacks, from boarding house maid to society matron. The movie was adapted by Polly James and Robert Thoeren from the novel by Louis Bromfield. It was ...

" and "

Magic Town ''Magic Town'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by William A. Wellman and starring James Stewart and Jane Wyman. The picture is one of the first films about the then-new practice of public opinion polling. The film was inspired by the ...

" *In the second series episode "Antony's Birthday" of the British TV series ''

The Royle Family ''The Royle Family'' is a British sitcom produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series from 1998 to 2000, and specials from 2006 to 2012. It centres on the lives of a television-fixated Manchester family, the Royles, com ...

'', the family's neighbour Joe Carroll (played by Peter Martin), normally quiet and retiring, gives a well-received rendition of the song. *In the '' Star Trek (TOS)'' episode, "

The Naked Time "The Naked Time" is the fourth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek''. Written by John D. F. Black and directed by Marc Daniels, it first aired on September 29, 1966. In the episode, a str ...

" (first aired on September 29, 1966), the crew of the Enterprise is affected by a substance, unknowingly picked up from an uninhabited, frozen planet named Psi 2000 about to break up, which brings repressed feelings and behavior to the surface. One crewman, Lt. Kevin Thomas Riley, who "fancies himself a descendant of Irish kings" (as described by Science Officer Spock), locks himself in Engineering and shuts the engines off, causing the ship to decay its orbit toward the disintegrating planet. While the behavior-altering disease spreads throughout the ship and the ship continues to fall toward the planet, Riley adds to the stress by repeatedly singing, "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" in a half-drunken manner through ship-wide communication speakers. * From the Argosy picture "Rio Grande," directed by John Ford, 1950. The Sons of the Pioneers as the regimental singers, with lead vocalist Ken Curtis, serenade Maureen O'Hara as Kathleen Yorke. * In Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives sings the drunken gardener this song.

References

External links

''I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen''
sheet music at the

New York Public Library The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second-largest public library in the United States behind the Library of Congress a ...

Digital Collections
Lyrics and MIDI

Willie Sutherland version on Youtube.

Blow the Candle Out – Irish folk tune {{authority control 1875 songs American songs Traditional pop songs Slim Whitman songs