The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #56877 Message #893100
Posted By: Stewie
18-Feb-03 - 06:12 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Don't This Road Look Rough and Rocky
Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T FORGET ME, LITTLE DARLING
Dicho posted some 'Little Darling' texts from Randolph: HERE.
Meade et alia 'Country Music Sources' references 17 pre-1943 commercial recordings of 'Don't Forget Me Little Darling' at #10 in its section on 'Parted Lovers' p 159. It refers to 'C.W. Vance, wds, R.S. Crandall, m, 1874; see also Thos. P. Westendorf, wds, Geo.W.Persley, m, 1879 ...'. The earliest recording was by Gid Tanner for Columbia in November 1926, but this was unissued. The first issued recording was by David Miller [The Blind Soldier] for Gennett in May 1927.
Below is the version from the Carter Family:
DON'T FORGET ME, LITTLE DARLING
Don't forget me, little darling
When from me you're far away
But remember, little darling
We will meet again some day
Darling, I have come to tell you
Though this message breaks my heart
At the dawning of the morning
We'll be many miles apart
Instrumental break
Take this little bunch of roses
That you gave me long ago
Many a time I've kissed them, darling
These I'll never kiss no more
Who is going to love you, darling
Who will fold you to their breast
Who will talk the future over
While I roam the desert west
Instrumental break
You may meet with many changes
Driving down life's river stream
But remember, little darling
You are always in my dream
You may meet with brighter faces
Some may say that I'm not true
But remember, little darling
None can love you as I do
Instrumental break
At my window sad and lonely
Often do I think of you
And I wonder, oh I wonder
If you ever think of me
Source: Carter Family 'Don't Forget Me Little Darling' recorded 7 May 1935 in NYC and issued as ARC 6-01-59 in January 1936. Transcription from: http://www.silcom.com/~peterf/ideas/carter2.htm