Lyr Req: I Passed by Your Window (Taylor/Brahe)

Subject: I PASS BY YOUR WINDOW
From: Francy
Date: 23 Feb 01 - 12:50 PM

An older friend, who was born in Scotland, but hasn't been back there in forty years, is the janitor at the school where Nancy teaches, and he's always singing these great ballads as he works. His voice is marvelous and he does many Robert Burns' songs. He asked to find the words for this old Scottish ballad I PASS BY YOUR WINDOW. Would appreciate any help I can get.
Thanks,
Frank of Toledo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I PASS BY YOUR WINDOW
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Feb 01 - 09:32 PM

Well, it doesn't ring any bells.  Have a look at this set of sheet music at Duke University:  I Passed By Your Window  just in case that's it.  If it isn't, at least we will have eliminated a suspect.  You might want to check your Caps Lock button, by the way.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I PASS BY YOUR WINDOW
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Feb 01 - 10:52 PM

I've just sent an email, with a link to this thread, to someone who has a website with a lot of scottish lyrics. Maybe they will know it, if the other isn't what you are looking for.

kat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Pass By Your Window (Scots)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 03:25 AM

Hi,
My mum is Scottish and remembers her mum singing this song to her (my gran was born in late 18th century)...
We are also trying to find the music and words, what my mum remembers is

I passed by your window in the still of the night
The lilies were walking so still and so quiet
Although I sang softly, so no one could hear,
Good night and God Bless you, my dear

Regards
Lorna Cairney
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Pass By Your Window (Scots)
From: BobKnight
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 05:32 AM

GUEST 23rd April - I think your gran may have been born in the 19th century. :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Pass By Your Window (Scots)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 09:56 AM

A pleasing little song, although those who requested it may have lost hope after nine years.

If you follow the link provided above, you will see that the song was distributed from New York, London, Paris, Melborne and Toronto, so it might have been sung anywhere.

I've prepared a MIDI of the tune, and I hope Joe can post it, so this song can be sung again. I can picture my sister singing it to her little granddaughter.

I have changed the key from E flat to D.

Subject: Lyr Add: I PASSED BY YOUR WINDOW (Taylor/Brahe)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 08:12 PM

I PASSED BY YOUR WINDOW
Words by Helen Taylor. Music by May H. Brahe.
New York: Enoch & Sons, 1916.

I passed by your window when the morning was red,
The dew on the rosebud, the lark overhead,
And oh! I sang softly though no one could hear,
To bid you good morning, good morning, my dear!

I passed by your window in the cool of the night,
The lilies were watching so still and so white,
And oh! I sang softly, though no one was near,
Good night, and God bless you, God bless you, my dear!


May Brahe (1884-1956) was Australian. She moved to London in 1912. She and Helen Taylor were frequent collaborators. Their most famous song was BLESS THIS HOUSE.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Passed by Your Window (Taylor/Brahe)
From: GUEST,Carol in Avon Lake Ohio
Date: 23 Apr 12 - 06:27 PM

I woke up one morning singing this song. I had been dreaming it but hadn't sung it in 60 years. The words were all there when I checked my memory with your website. I learned it from my 5th grade music teacher in Cleveland. Thank you. I am performing it tomorrow for a group of ladies. What a sweet song it is still.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Passed by Your Window (Taylor/Brahe)
From: GUEST,Ernie Browne in Grosse Pointe Michigan
Date: 07 Sep 13 - 10:23 PM

I learned this song in school in Detroit. I don't remember if we sang it in grade school or high school. Following, are the lyrics we were taught:

I passed by your window in the still of the night.
The dew on the rosebuds, the stars in the sky.
And oh I sang softly though no one was near--
good night and God bless you, God bless you my dear.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Passed by Your Window (Taylor/Brahe)
From: GUEST,Willy Murdoch Maliszewski
Date: 09 Feb 17 - 11:08 AM

I pass by your window when evening is nigh,
seeing your face in my mind's eye.
I whisper so softly only the lilies could hear
good night and God bless you till we meet again my dear.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Passed by Your Window (Taylor/Brahe)
From: GUEST,R.E Bailey
Date: 13 Nov 17 - 05:01 PM

I learned this song in grade school in the 1930's. Probably 36 or 37. A beautiful song which I hum or sing every once in a while. We learned many great songs which have faded away for the most part in today's environment. A shame,,.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Passed by Your Window (Taylor/Brahe)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 19 - 05:16 PM

I came across the words to this lovely song written out in a poetry scrapbook my mother has kept for years. Now I just learned here that it was by Robert Burns. She used to sing this song when we were very small, and the three of us have never forgotten it. So glad to see the utube recording, and to hear the correct melody on the 2nd line.
My mother attended Cherry School in Toledo Ohio in the late '20s and '30s. That is where she learned it. They had weekly assemblies where ALL the different grade levels attended, and the students learned poetry and songs such as this. What a legacy she passed along! Our Mom will be 99 soon. She was born in 1920.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Passed by Your Window (Taylor/Brahe)
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 10 Sep 19 - 05:52 PM

Here it is on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Passed by Your Window (Taylor/Brahe)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 08 Apr 21 - 10:38 AM

I passed by your window
When the morning was red,
The dew on the rosebud,
The lark overhead,
And oh! I sang softly,
Though no one could hear,
To bid you good morning,
Good morning, my dear.

I passed by your window
In the cool of the night,
The lilies were watching
So still and so white,
And oh! I sang softly,
Though no one was near,
Good-night and God bless you,
God bless you my dear!

Don't know where I got that from, but the following link has the same lyrics and more other bits.

https://www.lieder.net/lieder/assemble_texts.html?SongCycleId=13020