Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-15
"HOME, SWEET HOME -
The Author and the Origin of the
Touching and Immortal Song.

John II. Payne, the author of that touch
ing and immortal song, "Home, Sweet
Home" was not only poor in pocket, but
homeless wanderer. In conversation with
a friend, he once gave expression to the fol-
lowing recital:
Chow Often" said he, "haye been in
the heart of Paris, Berlin, and London, or
some other city, and heard persons playing
"Sweet Home" without shilling to buy
the next meal, or place to lay my head.
The world has literally sung my song until
every heart is familiar with its melody.
Yet I have been poor Wanderer from my
boyhood. Ny country has ruthlessly turn
ed me from office, and in my old age have
to submit 10 humiliation for my daily
bread"
He had the most exact and beautiful ex-
preston of the hearts emotion regarding
home, and yet personally he was stranger
to all its tender, loving influences. A wan
derer, and sometimes vagsbond, he has
moved the human heart to its very depshS
by his exquisite lines.
Disguised with his treatment In his own
country, and still impened by his disposition
to roam, his only wish was to die in for
eign land, and to be buried by strangers,
and sleep in obseurity. He obtained an ap-
pointment as United States Consul at Tunis,
where he died.
We now turn to period antecedent TO
the composition of his song. At times he
was greatly depre ssed, and seemed to feel
most acutely his utter loneliness. One day
a friend called to him, and on entering,
said:
show are you to-day, Payue?"
"Down-hearted enough; but last night /
had one of the most glorious visions in a
dream that ever met mortal eye"
Cab, indeed, what was tip"
"Well, l will tell you. L suppose you
think it is a scene OF vast wealth, Of pal
ace, or something else Of that kind that
mans desires are set upon. It was nothing
of the kind. l don't often have dreams,
but when l do they impress me greatly.
In this dream | was in home of most
transcendent rural beauty. 1t was all that
poet and painter could imagine. The
lsnscaps was composed of gentle rolling
hills, and sweet, still valleys, with meander-
ing streams. There were flowers and
birds, crops, focks and herds. In the midst
of this stood various habitatiOns OF men,
women and children, and heard pleasant
voices, laughter, music and song"
"Truly, a beautiful picture Of human
contentment," said the friend.
"The life long imagery of my brain"
cried the poet, ''of home, sweet home" All,
how my soul reveled in the picturel But
gradually it faded from my hit. was
transfxed. l strained my eyes to catch its
outlines as they grew fainter and fainter;
but at last it had faded. Then looked up,
and saw a dark cloud gathering, which
grew dark and terrible.
"Ab," said 1, ''that cloud is significant of
my own lot
Gas l said these words, saw traced up
on it in burning letters-these words Of the
Almighty to another miserable man:
"'A fugitive and vagabond shalt thou be
on EARTH .. $780,.
"In terror l recognized my doom, and
awoke to find it both dream and a sad
reality"
The unhappy man buried his face in his
hands, and for some time he seemed to be
in the deepest misery.
ga very wonderful dream" said his COM
panion. .......
"Well, do you know what l am going to
do?" said Payne, looking up. "Tll tell you.
I've been thinking a great deal over the
matter, and l intend to write song called
Home, Sweet Home The picture of my
dream shall be my inspiration for the task,
and my lonely heart will give touching
pathos to my words"
Not long after, the song of 'Home, Sweet
Home" was given to the world by John
Howard Payne. The dream is more spe-
cially recalled by the closing verse:
An exile from home, pleasure dazzles in vain!
All, give me my lowly, matched cottage again!
The birds singing sweetly, that come at my call
Give me then that peace of mind, dearer than
all,
Home sweet Home!
There's no place like home.