Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me

Subject: Old US Army tune
From:
Date: 29 Dec 98 - 06:28 PM

I have heard that the tune being played when the US Army marched off to what was to be the Battle Of The Little Big Horn was titled "The Girl I Left Behind Me". Many will recognise the tune easily. I am trying to discover whether there are words to this (presumably old) tune. But the database lists an embarrassment of songs.

Can anyone help, please?

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune
From: Bruce O.
Date: 29 Dec 98 - 06:35 PM

I have what appear to be the oldest known verses (and tune) in the Scarce Songs file on my website:

http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/Olson/SONGTXT1.HTM#GRLBHND

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune
From: Susan of DT
Date: 29 Dec 98 - 07:00 PM

search for [left behind me] in the blue search box to see about a dozen variants.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune
From: Benson
Date: 29 Dec 98 - 07:03 PM

I suspect the one you are looking for is this one taken from the database:

GIRL I'VE LEFT BEHIND ME

SOURCE: Bob Pfeffer

SOURCE'S SOURCE: ????

COMMENTS: AKA: Brighton Camp

(click here for the rest)

However.................... The 7th cavalry was known to march to the tune of Gary Owen.......Custer marched to one tune.....John Wayne to another.....

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune
From: Bruce O.
Date: 29 Dec 98 - 07:31 PM

Put 'girl I left' in the bibliographic search box on the Levy sheet music site (Mudat's links) and you'll turn a few versions.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune
From:
Date: 29 Dec 98 - 07:32 PM

Many thanks for the answers. Just to explain: this tune was mentioned during the TV documentary series "The West", just being re-run on BBC-tv over Christmas. I was guessing that it would be an old song; the words cited at least fit that theory quite well .

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune
From: Brack&
Date: 29 Dec 98 - 07:44 PM

It was also on last week, "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon" (John Wayne and the rest) had running throughout the film.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune
From: Barry Taylor
Date: 29 Dec 98 - 09:03 PM

Don't ask me which English version of the lyrics I have, but I have a midi with lyrics on my English midi page at http://www3.islandnet.com/~btaylor/homepage.htm. Also check out Lesley Nelson's site at http://www.contemplator.com as she probably has some tune history posted there.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 29 Dec 98 - 09:06 PM

Remember the old "Oh, she jumped in bed and covered up her head..." that we sang to this tune in our adolescent and highly offensive days? Better still, Mike Myers, in London, 1958, was known to sing (to the same tune):

Oh, the black cat piddled in the white cat's eye
And the white cat said, "Cor Blimey!"
And the black cat said, "You silly sod,
You shouldn't stand behind me!"

Classic folklore, folks, to be added to the mouse thread also running at this time. Who else has favorite words for this great tune? Is Clint lurking out there?

Anon.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune
From: Rincon Roy
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 07:35 AM

Any one know the why of Brighton Camp that originally set the tone & focus for this song?

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune
From: Bruce O.
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 12:22 PM

Where is any solid evidence that Brighton Camp was originally connected with song or tune? The earliest known tune and the earliest known text of "The girl I left behind me" are on my website. No Brighton Camp in either. The early history on my website is short, because I've cited (and documented) only facts. There are many old unsubstantiated claims now taken to be facts in various histories.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune
From: Bill D
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 01:02 PM

I want to thank Barry Taylor for the wonderful list of tunes on his web site, and for the ease of use and downloadable .zip files! It give one many options for playing, printing, organizing, and is well done in all respects....(one thing...the address link above did not work....it is given as http://www3.islandnet.com/~btaylor/homepage.html...but I found I had to shorten it to http://www3.islandnet.com/~btaylor/ this gets you right to the goodies..

Gradually, with folks like Barry doing midis, Bruce O. finding older words & histories, The Mudcat/DT 'staff' providing varied versions and forums, etc...the music of many traditions is becoming MUCH easier to find, discuss, learn, enjoy...and *smile*...yes, debate!

(sitting here, listening to a selected batch of Scottish melodies as I type...*happy sigh*...thanks again, Barry.)

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune
From:
Date: 31 Dec 98 - 02:43 PM

I would associate this tune more with the American Revolutionary War than with the Little Bighorn, but perhaps I am unduly influenced by old Bugs Bunny cartoons.

I have Scottish gaelic lyrics to the tune, although the words bear no relation to any English lyrics I have ever seen.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune "The Girl I Left Behind Me"
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 11:22 PM

OOOO she looked d*mn good like a young girl should
with the wind blowin up her nighty
her t*ts hung loose
like the b*lls on a moose
O J*sus Chr*st Almighty

Well, she jumped in bed
and bumped her head
and said I couldn't find her
I knew d*mn well
she lied like h*ll
so I jumped right in behind her

Well I banged her once
and I banged her twice
and I banged her once too often
I broke the mainspring in her @ss
and now she's in her coffin.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune "The Girl I Left Behind Me"
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 11:27 PM

This tune can be heard in several John Wayne films.

I believe "She wore a yellow ribbon" about U.S. Cavalry fighting Redskins, and also in "Rio Bravo." You can also hear it being played in the background in an early David Niven film in which he plays an English cavalry officer being arrested.

The lyrics above courtesy of the US Army.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune "The Girl I Left Behind Me"
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 12:20 AM

Several early 19th c. song sheets for "The Girl I left Behind Me" at the Bodleian Library, and I believe Olson had one that was 18th c. or earlier. A very old song. I wish I could remember the parodies my father picked up during WW1.

As Masato posted, "'Round her Neck She Wears a Yeller Ribbon" (original title) was composed in 1917 by George A. Norton. It quickly became a military favorite. See study thread 53527: She Wore
Probably inspired by "All Around My Hat."

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune "The Girl I Left Behind Me"
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 12:57 AM

I like "The Photograph Of The Girl I Left Behind Me" - which is an entirely DIFFERENT song... :)

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: The Walrus
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 02:17 AM

Q,

"...I wish I could remember the parodies my father picked up during WW1..."

Possibly:

Kaiser Bill's only got one pill
And the Crown Prince, He's gone Barmy
And we don't give a F*ck for old von Kluck
And all his bleedin' army

(von Kluck was one of the German Army commanders in the Invasion of Belgium * France in 1914)

W

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Snuffy
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 07:42 AM

There ain't no hairs on our cat's tail
There ain't no hairs on Tiny
But I know where there's lots of hair
On the girl I left behind me

As sung my morris men at the start of Brighton Camp (as the dance is usually known)

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Scoville
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 09:36 AM

Regular version

Old post-[Civil] war newspaper clipping with a Baltimore version. You may not care if you're not in the U.S., though.

U.S. Western emigrant version collected in Vinita, Oklahoma.

The dreaded Wikipedia entry.

Tennessee version. This one actually looks the most familiar to me, but then I used to hang out with a lot of Civil War reenactors.

Cowboy verse. I believe that Guy and Pip Gillette from Crockett, Texas, have a cowboy version on one of their albums.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Goose Gander
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 10:23 AM

Courtesy of tinfoil.com here's a recording from 1903 by the United States Marine Fife and Drum Corps . . . .

Girl I Left Behind Me Medley

But I don't know if it was a good idea to incorporate Auld Lang Syne into a march . . . .

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: The Admiral
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 10:29 AM

Having played both tunes for many years my understanding was that Brighton Camp was English and Gary Owen Irish and both were adopted by Gen Custer for use by the 8th Cavalry.....

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 12:05 PM

And here is Garryowen in the Digital Tradition.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 08:23 PM

Wickipedia is not to be trusted, as Scoville implies. Proper references are not given, hearsay is presented as fact, and contributors are not even given fake names; far less identified so that they can be held accountable for their statements. It appears to be one of the world's most prolific source of lies and misinformation since 'The Voice of America' shut up shop.

Ignore everything you read there unless it can be verified elsewhere from independent, reliable sources. 1650? Utter nonsense. Just possibly it may be a century younger than that, but there is no real evidence of it prior to the turn of the 18th/19th century. The late Bruce Olson (see his comments above) knew more about that sort of thing than any of us, or any of the anonymous contributors to Wikipedia.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Goose Gander
Date: 21 Nov 06 - 05:45 PM

This may be where that 1650 date came from . . .

From contemplator.com

"Theodore Raph (see citation below) writes that the tune was known in America as early as 1650 and indicates it was a traditional fife tune, imported from England as Brighten Camp. The tune became generally popular during the Revolution."

I haven't seen Raph's book, so I don't know if these comments accurately reflect his notes in American Song Treasury (Dover, 1986).

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Nov 06 - 08:08 PM

Even Chappell didn't suggest that the tune was any older than the mid 18th century; though various people over the years have misunderstood his comments in Popular Music of the Olden Time (1855-59) and announced a (wholly fictional) date of 1690 or so.

If Theodore Raph had evidence of the tune in 1650 in America (!) then we need to be told the details. Notes at Contemplator tend to be inaccurate précis mixing both reliable and unreliable sources, so I wouldn't put too much trust in anything you read there that can't be independently verified.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Nov 06 - 09:10 PM

Raph's book is a better than average compilation of popular tunes, but not a source of accurate information.
The Contemplator Bibliography lists several of these collections, Song Treasury, Fireside Book of Folk Songs, etc., the notes often from anecdotal or unverifiable sources.

Fuld* quotes Chappell. He notes that "The melody is also said to have been known as 'Brighton Camp,'; however no earlier printing of it has been found under this title, and the 'Brighton Camp Quick March,' entered in Stationers' Hall on Nov. 12, 1792, has a completely different melody; BM." (BM- British Library, British Museum)
At the beginning of his notes, he says, "The earliest known version of the melody was printed about 1810 in Hime's "Pocket Book for the German Flute of Violin" (Dublin, n. d.), vol. 3, p. 67, under the title "The Girl I left Behind Me; NLI." (National Library of Ireland, Dublin)
* James J. Fuld, 3rd. ed. 1985, "The Book of World-Famous Music Classical, Popular and Folk, pp. 242-244, Dover Pub.

Does anyone know where the 'Brighton Camp' statement first appeared? It would be useful to know how the citation started since it has been repeated in a number of publications. Here is an example:

folkinfo.org- 'This lively traditional fife tune, imported from England as 'Brighton camp,' was known in America as early as the seventeenth century, and became generally popular during the Revolution.'
They go on to say, however, the firsy Brighton Camp was formed during the French invasion scare; .... 1793...." Fuld (above) is quoted.

"The Brighton Camp Quick March" is listed with "Early American Secular Music... at www.colonialdancing.org. as an import from England. I can't find any reason for it, but did this march and the Brighton Camp of the 18th c. (and its use during a French scare) somehow get confused with the French-Indian Wars of an earlier time?

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Goose Gander
Date: 21 Nov 06 - 10:10 PM

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

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Goose Gander
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 12:10 PM

Wrote Flood - Girl I Left Behind Me was "for close on a century the favourite farewell melody played by Irish (and other)regimental bands in the British service." (The Musical Times, May 1, 1913).

I realize that Flood is an unreliable source, but in this case is he correct? I know the tune was very popular with military bands on both sides of the Atlantic, but did Flood overstate its status as a 'shipping off' tune in the British Isles?

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 01:28 PM

Not that it's any help on the original question, but I believe the tune was used with new words as the main theme of the movie "The Horse Soldiers" which was loosely based on the details of Grierson's Raid (US Army) through Mississippi in 1863. A lot of the action scenes in the movie were filmed a short distance from my home in SW Mississippi although I was so young at the time, I wouldn't have had any way to know about it unless they had set up in my front yard.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Lighter
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 02:48 PM

The theme of "The Horse Soldiers" doesn't sound much like "TGILBM" to me.

As I remember the words,

"I left my love, my love I left,
A-sleepin' in her be-ed.
I turned my back on my true love,
Went fightin' Johnny Reb.
Went fightin' Johnny Reb.

I left my love a letter
In the hollow of a tree,
I told her she could find me in
The U.S. cavalree.
In the U.S. cavalree!

Hi, ho, down they go,
There's no such word as ca-an't.
We'll all go down to New Or-leens
For Ulysses Simpson Grant.
For Ulysses Simpson Grant.
We'll all go down to HELL and BACK!!!
For Ulysses Simpson Grant."

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Goose Gander
Date: 17 Jan 08 - 12:49 PM

Here's a broadside print from the Axon collection . . .

Girl I Left Behind Me
Axon Ballads No. 73

Thanks, Sminky!

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Joe_F
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 12:03 AM

She spread her legs, her lily-white legs,
And I struck in my grinder.
The white of an egg ran down her leg,
And the sparks flew out behind her.

Two weeks went by, I heaved a sigh,
A sigh of pain and sorrow,
The pimples thick upon my dick,
But there'll be more tomorrow.

Nine months went by, she heaved a sigh,
A sigh of pain and sorrow,
For two little mutts were in her guts,
But they'll be out tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 01:28 AM

It's also the tune to the Irish song ' The Waxies Dargle ' and........

Dear Little Flo I love you so,
Especially in your nightie,
When the moonlight flits accross your tits,

Oh Jesus Christ Almighty.

eric

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: The Doctor
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 06:57 AM

No-one has made reference to Lewis Winstock's 'Songs and Music of the Redcoats'(1970). Under the title '10th Regiment song' he prints a tune labelled 'Corporal Casey' - Traditional, and two verses from Chappell, II, p.708, the second of which finishes:
But now I'm bound to Brighton Camp
Kind heaven, then, pray guide me,
And send me safely back again
To the girl I've left behind me.
He says that Brighton camp was one of nine camps built along the south coast in 1758 in expectation of a French invasion, but after naval victories in 1759 the threat was lifted and the camps became obsolete. He therefore dates the song to 1758, and attributes his information to H. Ward, 'Recollections of an Old Soldier'(1849), p.151. He then prints the tune of TGILBM, which is similar to, but different from, both 'Corporal Casey' and 'Garryowen'. The main difference is that TGILBM is a march and goes: Diddy dum dum dum dum dum dum dum, di dum dum diddle diddle di-doh, whereas Garryowen is a gallop and goes: Diddy diddly diddly diddly dum, diddy diddly diddly diddly dum etc. I hope that's clear.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: The Walrus
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 09:18 AM

Doctor,

The "Corporal Casey"/"10th Regiment Song" is a bit of a blind alley as Winstock seems to print the lyics to songs on the page(s) preceeding the melody and the tune to TGILBM is posted as no.17 (sourced as coming from W Chappell - Popular Music of the Olden Times), the dating, however seems reasonable (at least for the second verse) as, to quote Winstock"...in 1759, the invasion threat lifted and the bases became obsolete. No-one was bound for Brighton camp any longer,..."

Walrus

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 11:11 AM

The Morris side I danced with introduced 'Brighton Camp' as follows :

The captain swore his ballocks were sore
The first mate said cor blimey
And the man at the wheel said come and have a feel
Of the girl I left behind me.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 12:11 PM

We sang what was likely a sanitized version of this well-known folk song in elementary school in 1947-8 or so. It was a pretty innocuous tune, as we learned it, and we were told it did date from the Civil War. Being an Army veteran, I can attest to the G.I. penchant for "politically incorrect" adaptations of popular songs. I'm sure it was no different in the 1860's. Check out the "Wikipedia" snippet, attached:

"The Girl I Left Behind" also known as "The Girl I Left Behind Me" is a long-standing popular folk tune. According to Theodore Ralph, it was known in America as early as 1650, under the name "Brighton Camp". In Ireland it was known as "The Rambling Labourer" and "The Spailpin Fanach" and was first published in Dublin in 1791. [1]

It has many variations and verses. Here is one example:

All the dames of France are fond and free
And Flemish lips are really willing
Very soft the maids of Italy
And Spanish eyes are so thrilling
Still, although I bask beneath their smile,
Their charms will fail to bind me
And my heart falls back to Erin's isle
To the girl I left behind me.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Goose Gander
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 12:35 PM

Thanks all for the 'off-color' versions posted here, this tune seems almost tailor-made for improvising goofy lyrics.

Regarding the earliest dating, the mid-eighteenth century claim is the subject of debate, but 1650 is definately wrong. The tune can reasonably be dated to the late eighteenth or very early nineteenth century, based on available sources.

Subject: RE: Old US Army tune 'The Girl I Left Behind Me'
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 05:43 PM

I have the words to the version you're looking for from Custer. It was used as a marching tune by the Regular (US) infantry before the Civil War but I don't know how much earlier. I assumed Mexico but that could be wrong on my part. let me know if you want me to post them to you. Neil

Subject: Lyr Add: BLYTH CAMPS, or THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 09:38 PM

Lyrics and footnote copied from

Bell, John. Rhymes of Northern Bards: Being a Curious Collection of Old and New Songs and Poems, Peculiar to the Counties of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland, and Durham. Newcastle upon Tyne: Printed for J. Bell by M. Angus, 1812.


BLYTH CAMPS:*
Or, the Girl I left behind Me.

I'M lonesome since I left BLYTH camps,
  And o'er the moor that's sedgy;
With heavy thoughts my mind is fill'd,
  Since I parted with my Betsy:
Whene'er I turn to view the place,
  The tears fall down and blind me;
When I think on the charming grace
  Of her I left behind me.

The hours I remember well,
  When first from her they mov'd me;
The burning flames my heart doth tell,
  Since first she own'd she lov'd me:
In search of some one fair and gay,
  Several doth remind me;
I know my darling loves me well,
  Tho' I left her behind me.

The bees shall cease to make a store,
  The dove become a ranger:
The falling waters cease to roar;
  Before I'll ever change her.
Each mutual promise faithful made,
  By her whom tears remind me;
I bless the hours I pass'd away
  With her I left behind me.

My mind her image will retain,
  Whether asleep or waking;
I hope to see my love again,
  For her my heart is breaking.
If e'er I chance to go that way,
  And she has not resign'd me;
I'll reconcile my mind and stay
  With her I left behind me.

* In 1795, near Blyth there was an encampment, the troops of which, consisting of 13 regiments of horse and foot, were reviewed on the 28th of August, that year, by the Duke of York, in the presence of upwards of 60,000 spectators.

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: Joybell
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 09:44 PM

refreshing this thread for a current discussion

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 10:26 PM

Many thanks Joybell for refreshing this at my request to see what Sandy Paton had written about my version all those years ago.[29 Dec 98 0906]

Re comment above, based on Winstock's statement that 'Brighton Camp' became obsolete in 1759' - for once Winstock appears mistaken: the famous military camp at Brighton is the scene of Lydia Bennet's downfall with the wicked Lt Wickham in Jane Austen's 'Pride & Prejudice' [1813, but drafted earlier under title 'First Impressions' & probably intended to be set in 1790s].

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: Joybell
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 11:38 PM

Such a pleasure to meet you, Michael.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 01:03 AM

Absolutely likewise, Joy. One of the things I am finding as a comparative nOOb to Mudcat, is what wonderful friends one can make worldwide thru it. And there is nothing, is there, like email, PMs, &c, for keeping in instant touch. I have dear friends in Santa Monica, a much-loved sister-in-law in Chicago [all the link left me to my darling dead wife], first cousins in Virginia & Canberra, with whom I can exchange views & messages boom·boom by email. & now all these lovely friends on Mudcat, like you and several in the US likewise — why, my cup runneth over...

Email/PMs [& The Web] are like polythene, aren't they? — whatever did we do before!

All bestest of best - Michael

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 02:29 AM

The Irish song An Spailpin Fanach shares the tune and likely is pretty old.

Subject: Lyr Add: WICKLOW RANGERS / GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 03:42 PM

From a broadside in the Bodleian collection: 2806 c.9(16) (There are several more copies and versions.)
Brereton, P. (Dublin) c.1867

Note that the point of view shifts from the man to the woman and back, so perhaps this was meant to be sung as a duet.


A new song call'd the
GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME*

1. Come all you handsome comely maids
That lives near Carlow dwelling:
Beware of young men's flattering tongues
While love to you they are telling.
Beware of the kindest word they say.
Be wise and do not mind them,
For if they were talking till they die,
They would leave you here behind them.

2. In Carlow town I lived, I own,
Free from death or danger,
Till Colonel Whitty enlisted me
To join the Wicklow rangers.
He dressed me up in a suit of red
And used me very kindly,
But still I thought my heart would break
For the girl I left behind me.

3. I was scarcely fourteen years of age
When I was broken-hearted,
For I'm in love these two long years
Since first my love I parted.
These maidens wonder how I moan
And bids me not to mind him,
That he might have more grief than joy
For leaving me behind him.

4. So now my love is gone from me.
I own I do not blame him
For often times he had told me
He never would deceive me
But now he's gone to serve the queen
Unto some distant island
In the course of time he may come home
To the girl he left behind him.

5. As these comrade men walked out one day,
To take some recreation,
Unto the country they both went down
To find some pleasant station;
Which when they found, they both sat down,
Two fair maids sat nearby them.
The very first toast they drank round
Was the girls they left behind them.

6. With jealousy these maids arose
Saying, we can't wait no longer.
If we're not home by milking time,
I'm sure we will get anger.
Sit down, my handsome comely maids,
Your cows they are in clover.
Sit down, my nymphs, and be content.
Your milking days are over.

7. From us two those two maids arose.
Soon after, they got sorry.
A messenger sent back again,
No longer from us they'd tarry.
Go back, my page, and tell these maids
That here they will not find us.
We'll wed with them we have in view,
And leave the rest behind us.

8. It's not my love I blame, I own,
All for our separation,
That left me wandering far from home
All to a distant nation;
But if ever I get my liberty,
No man shall ever bind me,
I'll see my native land once more
And the girl I left behind me.


[* Some versions are titled THE WICKLOW RANGERS, OR, THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME.]

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 07:16 PM

From a broadside in the Bodleian collection, 2806 c.15(254):


THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME.

1. Now for America I'm bound
Against my inclination.
Yes, I must leave my native ground,
Which fills me with vexation.
Though I am bound to Baltimore,
'Tis nature still shall bind me,
To think on her I do adore,
The girl I left behind me.

2. My friends they sent me off for fear
I'd wed a steam-loom weaver.
The bonny lass that I love dear
Is of a mild behaviour.
When crossing the Atlantic waves,
I thought the tears would blind me.
Many a heavy sigh I gave
For the girl I left behind me.

3. While to the land of liberty
Our vessel she was sailing,
Thinks I, I never can be free
When parted from my Helen.
No, no, I never can find rest,
For nature it does bind me
To think of her that I love best,
The girl I left behind me.

4. O cruel friends, you've banished me
And left me broken-hearted.
Sweet Helen dear, though far from thee,
Our hearts will ne'er be parted.
Though I am in America,
Still constant you will find me.
I'll ne'er forget, though far away,
The girl I left behind me.

5. Were I possessed of all the gold
That lies in Baltimore,
I'd give it all for to behold
My own dear native shore.
In Glasgow fair, on the banks of Clyde,
My friends once more will find me.
'Tis there my Helen she does bide,
The girl I left behind me.

6. No! all the gold in Baltimore
Can yield to me no pleasure.
The bonny lass that I adore
I prize above all treasure.
Farewell, ye Yankee lassies free,
For here ye will not bind me,
For once more I will go and see
The girl I left behind me.

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: Lighter
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 08:28 PM

Two different song families are involved here: "The Girl I Left Behind" and "The Girl I Left Behind Me."

The tunes are entirely different.

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 12:19 AM

Indeed, Lighter; & another thread, called simply The Girl I Left Behind is currently ongoing, regarding the first you ref to above & the difference between these two songs. I shall add to & refresh that one so that, for moment at least, they may appear together at top.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 12:36 AM

r

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 09:06 AM

From a broadside in the Bodleian collection, 2806 b.10(65):

This is similar to the previous version, but note that the destination is Australia, not America; the point of departure is Ireland, not Scotland; and the beloved's name is Ellen, not Helen. Also, there are numerous less significant differences in wording.


THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME.

1. Now I am bound for a foreign land
Against my inclination.
Yes, I must leave my native home,
Which fills me with vexation.
As I am bound for Sydney's coast,
Nature still does bind me,
To think on her I do adore,
The girl I left behind me.

2. My friends they sent me far away
For fear I'd wed my darling.
The bonny lass I love so well,
She is both mild and charming.
When crossing the Atlantic wave,
I thought my tears would blind me.
And many a heavy sigh I gave
For the girl I left behind me.

3. Unto the land of liberty
Our vessel is fast sailing,
Methinks I never can be free
When parting from my Ellen.
Although I'm going far away,
Nature still does bind me
To think on her I do adore,
The girl I left behind me.

4. O cruel friends, you banished me
And left her broken-hearted.
Sweet Ellen dear, though far from me,
Our hearts shall not be parted.
Although I'm in Van Diemen's land,
Constant still you'll find me.
Oh, no, I never will forget,
The girl I left behind me.

5. Were I possessed of all the gold
That lies on the African shore,
I'd give it all for to behold
My own dear native home.
Near Bantry town, at the sea side,
Once more my friends will find me.
It's there my Ellen does reside,
The girl I left behind me.

6. Had I the wealth of all that store,
To me 'twould yield no pleasure.
The bonny lass I do adore
I prize beyond all treasure.
Farewell, you bonny lasses all,
For her you shall not bind me,
I'll go once more to my native home
To the girl I left behind me.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME / THE LASS I...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 09:38 AM

From a broadside in the Bodleian collection, Firth b.25(83)
Printed by J. Catnach, Printer, 2 Monmouth-court, 7 Dials [London] "between 1813 and 1838."


THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME*

1. The wars are o'er and gentle peace
Sheds forth unsullied blossoms,
And seamen now return to embrace
The partners of their bosoms.
Adieu, ye sons of France, adieu!
That ten long years confin'd me,
That brought distraction wild to view
For the girl I left behind me.

2. No more shall trembling oceans roar,
Destroying love so friendly,
And exiled me from my native shore,
And the girl I left behind me.
No more in plaintive sighs I mourn,
And no one to befriend me,
Since golden hours have wing'd me home
To the girl I left behind me.

3. With pleasure now the joy I'll prove
Which Providence has design'd me,
And spend my life to live and love
The girl I left behind me.
What tho' I am led the seas to trace,
Yet nature's ties shall bind me
In lov'd reflection to embrace
The girl I left behind me.

4. And when the storms of life are o'er
That nature's law design'd me,
I'll welcome to that blissful shore
The girl I left behind me.
Where golden harps exalt their days,
Eternity shall find me
Absorb'd in wonder, love and praise,
With the girl I left behind me.


[* Some versions of this song, otherwise nearly identical in wording, are called THE LASS I LEFT BEHIND ME.]

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: Jack Campin
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 10:19 AM

The tune has the same rhythm and overall melodic contour as "The Boyne Water" - if you were trying to do a major-key version of TBW you'd come up with something very much like TGILBM. (TBW dates from near the time of the battle itself).

Are there early texts known to have been sung to both?

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: Lighter
Date: 17 Oct 19 - 07:37 PM

B. L. Ridley, “Journal,” in Confederate Veteran (July, 1895), p. 205 [referring to May, 1865]:

“If ever I get through this war,
And Lincoln's chains don't bind me,
I'll make my way to Tennessee —
To the girl I left behind me.”

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: Lighter
Date: 17 Oct 19 - 07:46 PM

Publication of the Texas Folklore Society, 1916, p. 29:

If ever I travel this road again,
And tears don't fall and blind me,
I'm going back to Tennessee
To the girl I left behind me.

Chorus—

Oh, that girl, that pretty little girl,
That girl I left behind me,
With rosy cheeks and curly hair,
That girl I left behind me.

If ever I travel this road again,
And the angels they don't find me,
I'll reconcile and stay a little while
With the girl I left behind me.—Chorus.

I'll cross the Red River one more time,
If the tears don't fall and drown me,
A-weeping for that pretty litle gal,
The gal I left behind me.—Chorus.

I'll build my nest in a hollow tree,
Where the cuckoos they won't find me,
I'll weep and sigh till the day I die,
For the gal I left behind me.—Chorus.

If ever I git off this warpath,
And the Indians they don't find me,
I'll go right back to see that gal,
The gal I left behind me.—Chorus.

I could buy such girls as you
For fifteen cents a dozen,
But I'm going back tomorrow,
And marry my country cousin.

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 18 Oct 19 - 12:56 PM

As it's not mentioned in the thread here, I'll add that in all parts of Yorkshire and probably Lincolnshire the well-known song 'An Acre of Land' utilises this tune in almost all versions. The song is of course a secondary variant of 'The Elfin Knight'. I don't think there are any versions earlier than about 1850 that use the tune so it probably picked it up some time about then and became very popular and widespread.

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: Lighter
Date: 18 Oct 19 - 01:05 PM

Interesting, Steve.

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: Lighter
Date: 18 Oct 19 - 04:11 PM

Try this, recorded on Bristol, Tennessee, in 1927.

Oddly, the title given is "Johnny Goodwin":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcq32rmDFlM

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: Joe_F
Date: 18 Oct 19 - 06:36 PM

There's also this one about buckshot.

Subject: RE: Origin: The Girl I Left Behind Me
From: Mark Ross
Date: 19 Oct 19 - 08:19 AM

The tune was also used by IWW songster T-Bone Slim (Valentine Matthew Huhta) for the Wobbly song THE MYSTERIES OF A HOBO'S LIFE (aka THE JOB I LEFT BEHIND ME).

I took a job on an extra gang, away up on the mountain,
I paid my fee and the boss shipped me and the ties I soon was countin.
The boss he set me driving spikes and the sweat was enough to blind me
He didn't seem to like my pace so I left that job behind me.

I grabbed a hold of a an old freight train,around the country traveled
and the mysteries of a hobo's life were soon to me unraveled.
I traveled east and traveled west, and the "shacks" could never find me
Next morning I was miles away from the job I left behind me.

And I ran across a bunch of stiffs who were known as Industrial Workers,
They taught me how to be a man and how to vite the shirkers.
I kicked right in and the joined the bunch and now in the ranks you'll find me,
Hurrah for the cause, to Hell with the boss, and the job I left behind me!

Mark Ross