Herman Löhr wrote this delightful piece in 1911. I have sung it all my life, but nothing will ever top the time it was sung to me—in person—by the Queen Mother at a private dinner party in London in 1984. I had just finished singing
A Perfect Day when she asked me to sit with her a moment and talk about the beautiful old songs. I asked her if she knew one called
Little grey home in the West. She answered, “Know it? Why it was one of the favourites in my youth!” Then, to my astonishment, the Queen Mother clasped my hands in hers and, waving them back in forth in rhythm, proceeded to sing the whole song to me, to the delight of the other dinner guests!
from notes by Robert White © 1995
CDH55156
Helios (Hyperion's budget label)
