Frank Kidson and the much maligned W.H. Grattan Flood had an exchange regarding this tune in The Musical Times circa 1913. Flood presented a transcript of the melody and words as printed in Exshaw's Magazine (Dublin, September 1794), and argued that this "points more definately to an Irish origin than anything yet discovered . . . ." (Musical Times, May 1, 1913). Kidson countered that W.J. Lawrence had already pointed out this early reference in the Musical Antiquary (October, 1911). Further, Lawrence's examination of the musical contents of Exshaw's from 1743 through 1794 indicated that "with a very few exceptions, the whole are merely reprints of current English songs sung at the Public Gardens and elsewhere." (Musical Times, August 1, 1913).

There is much more citing of texts and manuscripts (most of which I've never seen), but the crux of their debate centers upon this Dublin printing, which - perhaps unsurprisingly - shines no new light on the origins of The Girl I Left Behind Me.

Here's the opening verse as it appears in Flood's piece . . . .

I'm lonesome since I cross'd the hills,
And o'er the moor that's sedgy;
With heavy thoughts my mind is filled
Since I parted Peggy
Whene'er I return to view the place
The tears do fall and blind me,
When I think on the charming grace
Of the girl I left behind me