Broadside ballads entitled 'The Moon is Out Tonight Love' and 'Mother Take Me Home Again'

Commentary

The first verse of 'THE MOON is out to-night Love OR, SWEET KITTY OF THE GLEN!' begins: 'THE moon is out to-night love, / Floating thro' the sky, / Little stars are laughing, As she passes by'. The chorus begins: 'The moon is out to-night love, / Meet me with a smile'. The broadside is decorated with sun motifs.

The first verse of 'MOTHER TAKE ME HOME AGAIN' begins: 'Mother all alone to night, / I have sat and thought of thee, / Thinking I could hear your voice, / Gentle as it used to be'. The chorus begins: 'There is no place on earth like home, / There my heart will ne'er remain'.

Whilst the first song has been attributed to the prolific Amercian songwriter and journalist, William Shakepseare Hays (1837-1907), it is unclear whether 'Mother Take Me Home Again' was also one of his compositions. Written in a very similar style, however, it does appear likely that it was. Hays is thought to have written around 350 songs during his lifetime.

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