Welcome the Boys Back Home

Annotation — Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs

The gospel song "Welcome the Boys Back Home" (Westbound Records # 040) celebrated the end of the war. The narrator thought that "they've been away too long", and sent out a prayer to "the mother who had a son over there", as well as the wives of the soldiers. The song also noted that some would return with serious injuries: "some coming crippled, some coming lame", but the singer was just pleased that "its come to an end". Bill Moss (1931-2007) came from Selma, Alabama, and moved to Detroit, Michigan in the 60s where he formed the Celestials with his wife Essie Moss.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Welcome the boys back home / They've been gone so long / They've been away too long / Aren't you glad they're back home... / So you say, we had to help my friend / I'm just glad to know its come to an end / Somebody must bring a prayer / I thought about the mother / Who had a son over there / Welcome the boys back home... / Some coming crippled, some coming lame / Still we're glad to have than back just the same... / I thought about the lady / Who had a husband over there

Notes

Westbound Records W 40 (W 2365), stereo, psychedelic swirl label; "Welcome the Boys Back Home" (W. Moss), 3:25, Bridgeport Music, Inc., BMI, ℗ 1973 Westbound Records, Inc.; produced by Bill Moss for Westbound Records, Inc.; distributed by Janus Records, N.Y., N.Y. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Gospel singer Bill Moss Sr. (1931-2007), born in Selma, Alabama - brother of Mattie Moss Clark and uncle of the Clark Sisters - formed the Celestials in Detroit in the 1960s with his wife Essie, one of the first gospel groups to use electric instruments; 'Welcome The Boys Back Home' (Westbound W 40) was his own composition and production. He died in a Detroit-area hospital in June 2007. [Source: Wikipedia; Philadelphia Inquirer obituary]

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · Vet

In collections

Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs