Goin' Home

This song about dying, which is popular for funerals, was written by American composer, music historian and writer, William Arms Fisher (1861–1948), based on the Largo melody of the second movement of Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 in E Minor "From the New World".

Many people assume that the tune was originally an African American spiritual which was used as the basis of Dvorak's work.  In fact the opposite is true:  the symphony inspired the creation of the folk-song.   And as a student of Dvorak's, Fisher developed particular understanding of his work.

The song was originally published in 1922 by the Oliver Ditson Company. It is now in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1923, and in many other places between it is now more than 70 years since Fisher's death.

Hymn books where it has been published include:



Downloads

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Examples

Large choir, unaccompanied:


Soloist and professional choir with orchestra:


Boy's choir, piano accompaniment, competition performance:


Instrumental - orchestral arrangement:


Lyrics

Goin' home. Goin' home. I'm a-goin' home.
Quiet-like some still day, I'm just goin' home.
It's not far, just close by, through an open door.
Work all done, cares laid by, goin' to roam no more;
Mother's there 'xpecting me, father's waiting, too,
Lots of folks gathered there, all the friends I knew.

Morning star lights the way, restless dream all done.
Shadows gone, break of day, real life just begun.
There's no break, there's no end, just a-living on;
Wide awake, with a smile, going on and on.
Going home. Going home, I'm just going home.
It's not far, just close by, through an open door.

See also


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