Rev James Thompson , from Holywell in North Wales, sent in the following email:

Now 73 years of age I still remember a most moving song once sung, I believe, by John McCormack in the 1940s when I was a projectionist at The Strand cinema, Belfast. They were lovely days and the people were superb.

However, the words went something like this: "lowly I wandered through scenes of my childhood" .... and went on about the school house and the old folks now gone. About the house deserted with no light in the window. And then it ended up with: "Why stand I here as a ghost and a shadow? Tis time I was leaving. Tis time I had gone".

I'd most dearly like to either get a CD, audio cassette or sheet of this music and if you would help me then I'll be very grateful indeed.

Listen to a small snippet (due to copyright restrictions) of this poignant song.

YOUR RESPONSES

John Callaghan - June '08
What a song---beautiful!

Steve Vipond - Feb '08
That snippet I believe is one song off the album with other tracks 'Those Endearing Young Charms' and 'Killarney.

I also believed song was featured on 'The Greatest Tenors Album' featuring Webster Booth, Richard Tauber, with the baritone voices of Australian Pete Dawson and American Paul Robeson.

I have in my possession Josef Lockes Greatest hits Album, where he performs that nostalgic number.

I do hope this information has assisted you to a certain degree relative to purchasing this song and performer the great John Mccormack.

Kind regards, and you can email me anytime if you require anymore information relatlve to this query.

Brian Whitters - Jan '08
Brian from Scotland on brianatauchinglendotcom is desperately looking for the sheet music for the beautiful Irish song Grace, can anyone help?

John Barwell - Jan '08
Do you know where I could purchase a recording of this song by John McCormack?

Bill McLean - Apr'07
My Dad was a singer and the song herein comes to mind. Some of your readers may know it.

"There's an old fashioned lady, with old fashioned clothes, And a smile that bids welcome to you.

There's an old fashioned bedside where she kneels and prays, When the toil of a long day is through.

Though she wears no fine clothes, or some rich silken hose, Sure there's something that makes her sublime.

'Tis the angels above, showed the way how to love, To that Old Fashioned Mother of mine.

Bob Landry - Mar '07
I will be singing "The Old House" and "Grace" next week for St Patrick Day Celebrations. I first heard both of them sung by Anthony Kearns on the Irish Tenors TV show. I love Irish ballads, but these 2 are my favorites. I perform over a dozen Irish songs in my presentaion, accompanying myself on guitar.
You may find this is strange, coming from a Louisiana "Cajun", direct full blooded descendant of the "Acadians" who were deported from Acadie (Nova Scotia) in 1755.

James Hennessy - Nov '06
The song 'The Old House' brings back sad memories of my dear mother 'Anne Hennessy ' of Kilmanagh co kilkenny who passed away in march 1994. I Remember her singing this lovely old haunting song when I was young lad around 1952, I was nine at the time and my brothers and I used to wander down a small road near where we lived, on that road were two or three deserted old houses, I remember walking on the slippery mossy cobbles in the yard of one of those old houses with it's broken windows and battered door. Even now I can remember staring at it for a long time thinking Mammy's song must have been written about this house, It was a dusky summers evening,somehow that made it more poignant. I had forgotten the words of the song, apart from the first line and a couple of hours ago i put it on google's search engine and up came this wonderful site. I would like to thank those people who took time to put the words of this song on this site. I have now book marked it and just in case this old antique computer of mine blows up, I have written the word down as well.

Ron Hall - Nov '06
Micheal Baumann if you will kindly email me your address I shall be pleased to oblige. In my view the more who have this beautiful song, the better. My email address is hazronuk @ aol.com

Michael Baumann - Nov '06
I wonder whether the invaluable Ron Hall is still offering his music service to 75-year-olds.... If so here's another 75-year-old Nostalgic who would love to have a copy of the music for The Old House and pay as necessary.

Nancy McGiveron - Oct '06
If you look on the National library of Music in Australia they have the song only it is Jeannine I dream of Lilac Time on their search engine. I have found that this is a mine of early 20 century songs that you can download the sheet music for.

R - Oct '06
It doesn't sound like anyone has been able to find the sheet music to"Janine, I dream of Lilac Time" yet, but if you have, I'd appreciate your information. My friend Janean is having a birthday soon & would love it. Thanks! colemankandr @ tds . net

Jim Simpkins - Sep '06
I was raised in Rush, County Dublin by my grandparents and my grandmother often sang this song as she went about the housework.

Lonely I wander through scenes of my chidhood, They bring back to memory those happy days of yore.
Gone are the old folk, the house stands deserted, No light at the window, no welcome at the door.

Here's where the children played games in the heather, Here's where they sailed their wee boats on the burn.
Where are they now? Some are dead, some have wandered.
No more to their home will those children return.

Lone is the house now and lonely the moorland.
The children are scattered, the old folk are gone.
Why stand I now like a ghost and a shadow?
It's time I were moving, it's time I passed on.

There may be other verses that I have since forgotten.

This song sums up everything that Ireland means to me.
In the late 40's my parents brought me to England and life changed.
You can visit the scene but you only visit the time in your memory.

Janine Shurr - Sep '06
I too was named by my parents after the song "Janine I think of lilac time" my father was a muscian duing the big band era, he and my mother would also sing this song to me. Both have passed on, and I was curious about finding the song. Great sight I will frequent it to read. Thanks Janine

Robert Downes - Aug '06
I always remember my late father singing "The Old House" in the 50's & 60's, generally when shaving in the bathroom! I remember thinking at the time how the lyrics were so sad and now even more so that I have left the "scenes of my childhood".

Frank Bowe ,Dunmore East , Co. Waterford - Aug '06
Rev.J Thompson, sheet music, Olde House, could probably be got at chappels, in Bond ST. London.
I would like the words of a song, My fairest child I have no song to sing you, by McCormack, also Abscense, sung also by McCormack.
Regards.

Terry Gourlay - July '06
Hello There,
if anyone has found the lyrics for Janine I dream of Lilac Time,I would be grateful to have them,It was a very popular song in Australia for a long time tjgourlay @ hotmail.com Thanks Terry.

Janine Anderson - July '06
This is amazing. I was also given the name Janine because of this song. My mother used to sing it to me but all I can remember is the first line. I'd love to have the song on a CD or even the sheet music.

Ron Taylor - June '06
My name is Ron Taylor & I am emailing from Aberdeen Scotland, Hello and good evening to all contributors in this discussion thus far; particularly in connection with both 'Grace' and 'The Old House'.
Myself, along with some family members have recently been in to see the Dubliners at the Celtic Connections in Glasgow earlier this year, where the group played both these melodies (See thier 40 years reunion twin DVD live from the Gaiety theatre in Dublin Celtic Collections CCDVD 290). Banjo Player Barney McKenna's version of The old house is beautiful - no additional accompaniment.

As a harmonica player playing Folk, Irish & Scottish Jigs, reels & Hornpipes etc. purely for my own pleasure; I too am having difficulty finding the sheet music for these two lovely old songs,

I would in turn be willing to purchase said copies - or contribute to a/your nominated charity reference copyright rules & the age of these songs.

My E Mail address is rashp at btinternet.com. I would welcome any help & assistance. My thanks in appreciation

Rosemary Conry - June '06
Dear Reverend Thompson,
I am so happy to find this website and to read so many wonderful comments and memories of 'The Old House.' My father used to sing it at musical evenings in our home in Dublin and the memory of his voice, together with the words of the song still move me to tears.

I have written a memoir about growing up in Dublin in the 1940's, with the title 'Why Stand I Here,' and so needed to be reminded of the words of the song. My first memoir, 'Flowers of the Fairest' was published in 2002 by Brandon

Hing Y Watt - May '06
I am looking for the accompaniment for the song The Old House.
I have the J. McCormack recording and the lyric. The lyric I can share with you. I don't know whether it is legal to email the recording. But if anyone can tell me how to obtain the piano accompaniment, I would be most grateful.

Janine Giambalvo - May '06
Hard to believe, but yet again, another Janine named after the song! My mother used to sing it to me as well. How amazing--my grandmother (on my father's side) loved lilacs and said I should be growing a bush in the home we built seven or eight years ago. She has since passed on, but my mother brought some to plant when she came for a visit several years ago. We've since moved to an older home about two years ago, and lo and behold, I have a beautiful, HUGE lilac bush in the corner of our yard. My mother doesn't remember the words and I do play the piano, so if anyone out there has the sheet music for "Janine, I Dream of Lilac Time", would you please let me know? Thanks ever so much!

Geraldine - April '06
Help, saw an earlier post looking for exactly what I'm looking for, the sheet music for piano and voice for "Grace".

Ivan Gilbert
For Juanita Sizemore - March '06
I have downloaded quite a few of John McCormack's songs and have them on my hard drive. They are a treat to listen to along with a lot of other pre war artists. Does anyone know the legality of me emailing the song or songs you want (unless you already have a copy) I have no sheet music though, my mom, before she died, had a piano stool full of beautiful old pieces but they seem to have disapeared.

Dr Ryan Curran - April '06
Hi,
I See the Rev Thomson's article about a dear old song "the old house".As I child I remember my grandmother singing this to me (I was brought up with her), and since her death over a month ago, I have a real desire to hear the song again - only I cant find it anywhere!!!

Any suggestions where to get it?

Thanks,

Ryan.

Jack Burdall - April' 06
Re the old house. This is on an LP by John McCormack called "Great Ballads of the Century". It was my stepfather's and it had a glossary with it which I'm still looking for.

Mary Borshell - March '06
Would be pleased to pay for a copy if its legal can someone email a copy ? thanks in anticipation, Mary.

Juanita Sizemore - March '06
I was named after the song, "Juanita". I would like to get a CD with this song on it.

Mary McCrickard - Mar 06
Since paying a visit recently to the scenes of my childhood, and finding only a bare hillside where once were cottages, I find myself singing The Old House constantly, along with other half forgotten old family favourites - Little Grey Home in the West, Macushla, and Nirvana to name just three. When we gathered at Granma's house on Sunday afternoons for a sing song, each person sang in turn, always the same song, which became known as their song.My granma's song was Juanita.

Mary Borshell - Jan '06
Share your sentiments, beautiful piece of music. I to would love to have the sheet music. Mary in Canada.

Janine Harrison - Jan '06
My father named me after the song, "Janine I Dream of Lilac Time," and I am writing a memoir entitled Lilac Time. My parents are buried in the lilac section of a cemetery, so lilacs inform the story frame.

I'm pasting the words that my mom wrote down when my father sang them below; I'm not certain if they are correct. My questions are: who do I give credit to for this song? And are the lyrics that I have correct?

Any input would be appreciated.

Janine, I dream of lilac time

Your eyes they gleam at lilac time

Your winning smile and cheeks blushing like a rose

Still all the while you smile like nobody knows

Janine, I dream of lilac time

When I return and make you mine

For you and I, our love will never die

Janine, I dream of lilac time

Méabh - January '06
For : Robert M Savage,
I have been looking for ages to find sheet music for 'Grace' if you could send me information on where to find it i would be very grateful.
Thank you,
Méabh.

The Rev. James Thompson - Jan '06
Thanks a million to dear Ron Hall, I now have a copy of the sheet music to THE OLD HOUSE. Indeed, if anyone can send me a copy of sheet music for JANINE I DREAM OF LILAC TIME, then I'll be more than grateful to receive the same and happy to pay for costs incurred.
Isn't it incredible the interest that these two songs I mentioned have since raised? These songs really speak to one's soul and - to my mind - reflect an age expressive of deep compassion, sentiment and pathos as well; so lacking in contemporary 'music' so called. But then I'm 75 and, no doubt, a trifle old fashioned.
Yes, I AM a sentimentalist (and proud to be one). I'm actually on BBC2 on Thursday January the 26th at 10pm blessing animals as well as humans; but if that is not relevant to this article then feel free to omit it!
Much love to each one of you,
Rev. James Thompson, Peacehaven, Holywell.

Jeanine Pausche - Jan '06
For Anne Auclair. I, too, am searching for the words to "Janine I Dream of Lilac Time". My mother (now 82) used to sing that song to me in the mornings to wake me up. If you have found them, would you please let me know? Thank you so much and I'm glad I happened upon this website. Blessings to all.

Robert M. Savage, Jr - Jan '06
To Mr Ron Hall -
Here is my mailing address: Robert M. Savage, Jr, 22118 Solomon Blvd Apt 166, Novi MI 48375
Many, many thanks! I truly appreciate this!
Sincerely,
Rob Savage

Ron Hall - Jan '06
Dear Robert Savage,
Let me have a forwarding address and I will gladly send you a copy of the music 'The old House'
Regards,
Ron Hall

Robert M Savage, Jr - Jan '06
To Mr Ron Hall - I would also dearly love to have the sheet music for "The Old House." As I said in my previous posting, I am a singer myself and would love to include this song in my repertoire. By the way, I have found sheet music for "Grace," so if anyone is interested in that song, I can pass along the information on where to find it.

Anne Auclair - Dec '05
For Beverley Bird. If you have not found the lyrics to: "Janine I Dream of Lilac Time" I believe I have them on some sheet music. Now, it would take a bit of searching, but I'm sure I can find them.
Do you still want them or has someone already supplied you with those lovely words??
I've never posted anything on line before - but music will always get my attention! I found this site because I just had a John McCormack CD on and thought to see what I could find on the web!
Merry Christmas to all - Dec.22/05

Beverley Bird - Dec '05
Hello, everyone...this is the first time I have ever done this. It is rather strange talking to folks from all over, isn't it? I'm in Australia. I googled "Janine I Dream of Lilac Time" and up you popped. I am trying to find the lyrics for same, but have been stumped so far. The other song is truly lovely, too. Really nostalgic "lump in throat" stuff. I danced on stage to "Janine" when a very little girl and have always loved it. My dancing teacher named her daughter after the song. During a bout of breast cancer and intense chemo, I met a young woman whom had recently lost her mum to the disease. She was wonderful to me while I was ill. She does a great deal of fund raising for breast cancer, and is sunny and loving, and always adds a ray of sunshine to my shopping days at the local Coles supermarket (where she works) when I am lucky enough to bump into her. I call her "Daffodil Girl" even though her name reminds me of lilacs, because when I first spoke to her she was selling the daffodils for cancer funding. I would like to find the lyrics so as to honour her and her late mother. I suspect that some of the lyrics may be appropriate, but am not sure. If not, I will prabably parody, as I often do, but would love the base of the song on which to work. In hopes of some success with my request...I wish you all a wonderful, peaceful loving and giving Christmas. Much Love Beverley.

Rt. Rev'd Dr. Aaron R. Orr - November '05

Dear Rev'd Mr. James Thompson.

Warmest Greetings to you and to everyone on this really, truly magnificent list. When you were in the Strand Cinema I was a wean at my mother's knee. Your religious experience of Belfast was one that was possible in those troubled times. When the Celts have a common foe they never fight one another. I, too, have marvelled at the poigniant tenderness of "The Old House." It ranks with Robert Burns' "Bonnie Wee Thing," or maybe with Thomas Moore's, "Oft in the Stilly Night." At any rate, dear Sir, it is a song worthy of recall in these days of the post nuclear family, when young folk are looking a generation behind to discover what it was that made us Celtic peoples last so long. God less you Brother Thompson and keep a song in your soul for the journey!

Sincerely,

Rt. Rev'd Dr. Aaron R. Orr -
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Rev. Pastor James Thompson - November '05
I certainly seem to have created a whole lot of interest in my request - now two years ago! - concerning John McCormick singing: The Old House!

How very thoughtful and exceptionally kind are those who have responded to my query! I feel quite ashamed not to have replied before now to those who've offered me a copy of the song; and, not least, to the one who has offered me a music copy. It so happens that I have since been able to get a CD from the Chester HMV shop; but - regrettably - not the music anywhere!

Consequently, I have sung - two years on running - during an early New Year holiday in Llandudno - both 'The Old House' and also 'Janine I Dream Of Lilac Time' (another of John Mc Cormack's). But, unfortunately, I sang unaccompanied as I could not hand the music for either pieces to the hotel's organist. Nevertheless, both songs still went down exceptionally well and I was actually asked if I'd ever considered changing professions? Well, hardly, at 75!

So, if dear Ron Hall's offer still stands for sending me a copy of the sheet music for 'The Old House' then I'll be most grateful indeed. And should someone else have sheet music for 'Janine I Dream Of lilac Time' I'd also be equally most grateful.

I spent eighteen months of my life as a young man in Belfast - sampling Christianity from the one extreme of the Open Brethren to the other extreme of the monks at Clonard! Yes, and all that went between! And regardless of sectarian rivalries, the differing people were amongst the loveliest I've ever had the honour and privilege to meet.

Indeed, I refer to such breathtaking days in my early autobiography just published: 'Young Spiritual Tramp' (ISBN: 0 9523022 3 3). Should a Review Copy be required, just let me know. Thank you again

Rev. James Thompson

James Jones - November '05
I can remember as a small boy listening to John McCormack singing The Old House and now in my later years I can still hear the singing in my ear I remember my father buying a Marconi radio and us kids sitting around it listening to John McCormack and Dalia Murphy's Three lovely Lassie's from Bannion from Radio Athlone I have tried to get the music of The Old House here in New Zealand but without success.

Monica O'Hara-Keeton - July '05
What a beautiful, poignant song. I should love to quote it, preferably in its entirety, within the context of an Irish novel on which I am currently working. Can anyone tell me the position about copyright? My late father used to sing this when I was a child in our old house in Bailieborough, Co. Cavan. It's a real tear-jerker, isn't it?

Ron Hall - July '05
Dear Rev James Thompson,

Re 'The Old House'

Having seen the comments on this website regarding this song I had no idea it was of such great interest.

I am 72 and still travel around the Midlands area entertaining and if the audience be of the 'more mature type' I sometimes include this song. A few weeks ago I was asked by a gentleman aged 93 if I knew the song and he sang it with me. He obviously had had a beautiful tenor voice in his younger days and he told me later that he had the honour of singing it with the great John McCormack at a concert in Cardiff 'just before the war'.

I have this song on a CD I have produced and also have the sheet music which I would gladly let you have copy of (assuming this is legal?) Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Ron Hall

Alan - June 05
Around Christmas, Frank Hennessey played this song a couple of times on his show Celtic Heartbeat on Radio Wales. The version he played was by an Irish girl. Josephine Mulvenah (spelling?). The version was much softer than the Josef Locke style.

Bernadette Wright - May '05
It is just over a year since my mother passed away. She was born in Castlederg Co. Tyrone and lived in Derry for the first 19 years of her life. Her father played the fiddle and had a lovely singing voice. She often reminised about her early and the songs her dad sang. One that stuck in her mind was the old house which she would sing with great feeling. Now that song sticks in my mind and I can hear her sing it and know where she was coming from. The words are very appropriate to where I am today with our family home sold and some of us scattered. Its funny how things come around. This song is now known by my children and they smile when they remember their nana singing it.

Robert M. Savage, Jr. - May 05
I fell in love with this song when I heard Anthony Kearns sing it on the DVD "The Eseential Irish Tenors - The Belfast Concert." If anyone can tell me where I might find sheet music (for piano and voice) I would greatly appreciate the help. Being a singer myself (but only part Irish; nobody's perfect) I would love to be able to include this song in my repertoire. Thank you in advance for any help anyone can give me. I am also desperately seeking sheet music (again, for piano and voice) for a song called "Grace" by Sean and Frank O'Meara. This song tells the story of Joseph Mary Plunkett and his lady love, Grace (Gifford?). Having taken part in the Easter Rising, Mr Plunkett has been condemned to death, but is given a few moments to marry Grace. "Grace" tells the story of their last moments together.

Please, if anyone knows where to find sheet music for these two songs, I would appreciate the help.

Walter Crawford, Magherafelt - February '05
I have a cassette of the great John McCormack singing this beautiful song, as we get older the words ring very true:

"Lonely I wander through scenes of my childhood.
They bring back to memory the happy days of yore
Gone are the old folk, the house stands deserted.
No light in the window, no welcome at the door"

If the Rev. Thompson cares to email his postal address to me ( via the form at the foot of the page ), then I shall be more than happy to send a copy of the cassette, which includes a number of other songs by McCormack - accompanied on the piano by the great Gerald Moore.

Theresa Hussey - December '04
My mother died in March 1996 after a long and painful battle and my father and I found a written copy of these lyrics in her final diary. At the time this extraordinarily poignant piece of verse caused more tears than the event of her death which was such a blessed relief, as it seemed to be an illustration of how she must have been thinking and feeling in the weeks of her final collapse.

It is only recently that I have felt the need to discover the actual source of the words and it is indeed wonderful to discover that these were lyrics sung by the great John McCormack. I believe that my mother's mother was a cousin of the man himself and would explain how mum would have come across the song.

Of course I shall never know if the diary entry really reflected how she felt but for someone with such a strong sense of history and family, it will have struck many a chord. Now I can read the lyrics without a tear in my eye, I will try to find a copy.

J W Mugan - December '04
'The Old House' was written for John McCormack’s farewell tour of 1938 which included Belfast as one of the stops. Sir Frederick O’Connor wrote the words and adapted the music from an old Welsh air ('The Ash Grove'). McCormack recorded the song in late 1939 and his recording is presently available in the UK on at least three different CDs – Regis RRC1092 - “JMcC – Irish Tenor Ballads”, Prism PLATCD289 - “JMcC - The Voice of Ireland”, and ASV AJA5224 “- JMcC - The Minstrel Boy”.

Alan Kershaw - November '04
Along with Josef Locke's Galway Bay, this was one of the first songs that I remember hearing as I small boy in Derry / Londonderry. We had a wind - up gramophone branded 'Craneophone' which I think my grandfather had bought in the 'thirties from Crane's (Tughan Cranes) of Belfast. Anyway, I can still remember how much I loved the voice of the great Michael O'Duffy singing The Old House on a 78 rpm, His Master's Voice (HMV) single - well, it had to be a single; there weren't any LP's - except in far Americay maybe. I still sing The Old House to myself. It calls back to memory those happy days of yore. There are some songs you never lose.

Alexander Thompson - October '04
Dear Reverent James Thompson,
In response to your request for, among other things, an audio cassette containing "The Old House", I have an old copy on cassette of Kenneth MacKeller singing it.
If you are still seeking a copy, I should be glad to send you a copy if I can sort it out.
In closing may I just say that we Thompsons must stick together.
Yours sincerely,
Alex.

Joe Kenny - April '04

The Old House
by John McDermott

Lonely I wander through scenes of my childhood
They bring back to memory the happy days of yore
Gone are the old folk, the house stands deserted
No light in the window, no welcome at the door

Here's where the children played games on the heather
Here's where they sailed their wee boats on the burn
Where are they now? some are dead, some have wandered
No more to their home will the children return

Lonely the house now, and lonely the moorland
The children have scattered, the old folk are gone
Why stand I here, like a ghost or a shadow?
'tis time I was movin', 'tis time I passed on.