《送别》原歌曲是美国《梦见家和母亲》（Dreaming of Home and Mother ）， J.P Ordways写的。这英文的歌词其实不咋样（下面附录），但经过李叔同改写的歌词，这首歌变成了中国（华人社会） 人耳熟能详的一首！英文歌词唱起来反而拗口，意境下乘，俺曾经一度认为这首歌应该是属于中国人创作的，因为歌词和旋律契合，很有东方的味道，不似西方音乐！更没有摇滚乐的因素。当然这首歌John P. Ordway在1868年所写的，当时美国也没有摇滚音乐，要到1970年代才出现摇滚音乐。所以当时许多美国的世俗歌曲，其实是带有东方音乐的元素的。没有意大利歌剧或西方古典音乐的味道。比如《科罗拉多之月》，是地道的美国当代流行歌曲。
原歌词英文唱起了其实相当拗口，字节与旋律不是那么配合。比如"Home of my childhood and mother"对上"芳草碧连天”，字节不一样多，8个对5个，音符只有7个，所以 “mother”要变成2个同音的音符，取代“天”的一个四拍长音符。
原英文歌词：
Dreaming of home，dear old home! Home of my childhood and mother; Oft when I wake 'tis sweet to find， I've been dreaming of home and mother; Home，Dear home，childhood happy home， When I played with sister and with brother， 'Twas the sweetest joy when we did roam， Over hill and thro' dale with mother. (Chorus) Dreaming of home，dear old home， Home of my childhood and mother; Oft when I wake 'tis sweet to find， I've been dreaming of home and mother. Sleep balmy sleep，close mine eyes， Keep me still thinking of mother; Hark! 'tis her voice I seem to hear. Yes，I'm dreaming of home and mother. Angels come，soothing me to rest， I can feel their presence and none other; For they sweetly say I shall be blest; With bright visions of home and mother. (Chorus) Childhood has come，come again， Sleeping I see my dear mother; See her loved form beside me kneel While I'm dreaming of home and mother. Mother dear，whisper to me now， Tell me of my sister and my brother; Now I feel thy hand upon my brow， Yes，I'm dreaming of home and mother.
