To D. H. O, - Falmouth Is A Fine Town

By William Ernest Henley

Ballad
    O, Falmouth is a fine town with ships in the bay,     And I wish from my heart it's there I was to-day;     I wish from my heart I was far away from here,     Sitting in my parlour and talking to my dear.     For it's home, dearie, home - it's home I want to be.     Our topsails are hoisted, and we'll away to sea.     O, the oak and the ash and the bonnie birken tree     They're all growing green in the old countrie.     In Baltimore a-walking a lady I did meet     With her babe on her arm, as she came down the street;     And I thought how I sailed, and the cradle standing ready     For the pretty little babe that has never seen its daddie.     And it's home, dearie, home . . .     O, if it be a lass, she shall wear a golden ring;     And if it be a lad, he shall fight for his king:     With his dirk and his hat and his little jacket blue     He shall walk the quarter-deck as his daddie used to do.     And it's home, dearie, home . . .     O, there's a wind a-blowing, a-blowing from the west,     And that of all the winds is the one I like the best,     For it blows at our backs, and it shakes our pennon free,     And it soon will blow us home to the old countrie.     For it's home, dearie, home - it's home I want to be.     Our topsails are hoisted, and we'll away to sea.     O, the oak and the ash and the bonnie birken tree     They're all growing green in the old countrie.     1878

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a poignant exploration of longing, displacement, and the enduring call of home. Through the lens of a sailor yearning for his homeland and loved ones, the poet paints a vivid picture of a life divided between the welcoming comforts of the familiar and the relentless demands of the sea.

The poem's structure, consisting of four stanzas, mirrors the ebbs and flows of a sailor's life, with each stanza introducing a new perspective or element of the protagonist's longing. The repeated lines, "And it's home, dearie, home..." serve as a chorus, which not only intensifies the poem's nostalgic tone, but also provides a rhythmic and thematic anchor, emphasizing the sailor's deep yearning for home and the anticipated joy of return.

The use of imagery is also significant, particularly the "oak and the ash and the bonnie birken tree," which symbolize the enduring, natural beauty of the sailor's homeland, and the "wind a-blowing, a-blowing from the west," which represents the forces propelling him homeward. These images serve to contrast the sailor's transient, uncertain life at sea with the stability and permanence of his homeland.

The poem concludes on a hopeful note, with the uplifting image of the wind blowing the sailor 'home.' This final stanza reinforces the poem's overarching theme of longing and return, and leaves the reader with a sense of the protagonist's hopeful anticipation for the journey ahead.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.