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Half Way 'Round the World

(Bob Nolan)

This vagrant breeze it came from who knows where?

I whisper, Darling, are you really there?

And then your fingers brush my hair

From halfway ‘round the world.

This flower I found upon a lonely vine

It’s velvet touch compares with only thine

And so your lips are pressed to mine

From halfway ‘round the world.

I promise you the joys we knew will still come true again, Dear.

I promise you and heaven, too, I’ll be with you, till then, Dear,

Each night a prayer I’ll send through open space,

In ev’ry dream I dream - behold your face,

Forever, Dear, in your embrace

Though halfway ‘round the world.

            Martha Mears introduced Bob Nolan's lovely "Half Way 'Round the World" in her 10-2-4 Ranch radio program on St. Patrick’s Day, 1944. The word "vagrant" in her arrangement (and in the 1^st line of the original lead sheet) became "fragrant" on the Sons of the Pioneers’ recording in 1966. Shorthand notes of the original song transcription confirm that "vagrant" was the word Bob intended. He was partial to the word. Indeed, he was partial to the idea.

            Ken Griffis, in his book "Hear My Song, the Story of the Celebrated Sons of the Pioneers" told us how the song came to be:

           "While Lloyd [Perryman] was stationed halfway around the world in Burma, a deeply moved Bob Nolan wrote “Half Way ‘Round the World” for Lloyd and his wife, Buddie (Violet). Needless to say, the song made a lasting impression on both of them and Lloyd was to include it years later in an album of Nolan songs. He would have recorded it sooner, but as he recalled, 'Every time I started to do the song, my voice would break as it reminded me so much of those years I spent apart from my family.'" (Hear My Song, 1994, p. 35)

 Lloyd eventually included it in an album of Nolan songs, The Sons of the Pioneers Sing the Songs of Bob Nolan RCA Victor LPM/LSP 3554, 1966 01 19 and this is the arrangement you are listening to as you read this.