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Lyr Req: I Left My Love (Stan Jones)

10 Jan 00 - 04:50 PM (#160839)
Subject: I Left my Love
From: Wincing Devil

I'm trying to find the lyrics to a Civil War era song, the word I remember are:

I Left my love my love I left
A' Lyin' in her bed.
I Left my love and Off I went
Went to fight Johnny Reb,

Chorus:
Yo, ho, down we go,
There's no such word as can't
We''l fight our way to hell and back
With Ulysses Simpson Grant.

Thanque!
Wincing Devil


16 Feb 00 - 02:08 PM (#179484)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left my Love
From: Wincing Devil

I seem to have found that "I Left My Love" is from the soundtrack to "The Horse Soldiers" and was written for the film. Music and Lyrics by Stan Jones. Sounds like a folk song anyway.

Wincing_Devil
Sphynxes Rule! Persians Drool! (They do!)


27 Dec 04 - 11:01 PM (#1365576)
Subject: Lyr Add: I LEFT MY LOVE (Stan Jones)
From: Cruiser

I LEFT MY LOVE^^
Lyricist/songwriter: Stan Jones

I left my love, my love I left her
sleepin' in her bed
I turned my back on my true love
Went fightin' Johnny Reb

I left my love a letter in the holler of a tree
I told her she would find me in the U.S. Calvary

Heigh-O, down they go there's no such word as can't
We'll ride clean down to Hell! And! Back!
For Ulysses Simpson Grant

Heigh-O, down they go there's no such word as can't
We'll ride clean down to Hell! And! Back!
For Ulysses Simpson Grant

I left my love, my love I left her
sleepin' in her bed
I turned my back on my true love
Went fightin' Johnny Reb

I left my love a letter in the holler of a tree
I told her she would find me in the U.S. Calvary
In the U.S. Calvary

Heigh-O, down they go there's no such word as can't
We'll ride clean down to New Orleans!
For Ulysses Simpson Grant

As a kid, this was one of my favorite songs from a favorite movie, "The Horse Soldiers". It is a rousing march that I would sing or hum when doing a physical task, running in sports, or marching cadence in the military. It and 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon' "inspired" me to make it through boot camp physical chores.

I had searched in vain for the United Artist's original sound track music album on CD, but in vain. It is available on vinyl, for a hefty price!

I purchased the DVD by MGM, largely for the theme song and the other sound track music including 'Year of Jubilo'.

Today was a dark, dreary, cold day so I transcribed the lyrics from the movie sound track so the song could be cataloged and preserved on Mudcat. I have been unable to find the lyrics elsewhere, even on the Web.

Cruiser


28 Dec 04 - 10:28 PM (#1366462)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left my Love
From: Rabbi-Sol

I saw that movie over 50 years ago and I still remember that song.

                                                    SOL ZELLER


31 Dec 04 - 09:13 PM (#1368583)
Subject: Lyr Add: A CANE AND A HIGH STARCHED COLLAR
From: Cruiser

I found another song that has the same melody as "I Left My Love" which was written in 1959 (not quite 50 years Sol, but it seems that long ago to me also).

The other song with the same melodic structure is "A Cane and A High Starch Collar" sung by Elvis Presley in the 1960 film "Flaming Star". This song was written by Sid Tepper & Roy C. Bennett in 1960.

The chorus or bridge melodies are exactly the same and I first noticed the similarities when I heard the first phrase starting with "Hi-Lo" from this song's bridge. The first phrase of the bridge of "I Left My Love" starts with Heigh-O.

A CANE AND A HIGH STARCHED COLLAR

Cowboy, cowboy marry me
I'll bake you a cherry pie
Well thank you very kindly mam
But I'm too young to die

Hi-lo-do-si-dosy-do
Stay single and save a dollar
Come Saturday night I'll court a pretty girl
With a cane and a high starched collar

Cowboy if you'll marry me
I'll be your darling Jenny
Now why should I drink from just one well
When I can drink from twen'y

Hi-lo-do-si-dosy-do
Stay single and save a dollar
Come Saturday night I'll court a pretty girl
With a cane and a high starched collar

Cowboy, cowboy name the day
July 'd be nice I reckon
Gladly meet you at the church
July the 32nd

Hi-lo-do-si-dosy-do
Stay single and save a dollar
Come Saturday night I'll court a pretty girl
With a cane and a high starched collar

You sleep all day and spoon all night
And eat your favorite chow
Then why should I get married mam
That's what I'm doing now

Hi-lo-do-si-dosy-do
Stay single and save a dollar
Come Saturday night I'll court a pretty girl
With a cane and a high starched collar

The older I get the more I am finding that one melody is often used for more that one song, and sometimes many. Priority for this melody probably goes to songwriter Stan Jones. However, who knows whom he "borrowed" it from.

Cruiser


07 Oct 05 - 10:10 PM (#1578493)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left my Love
From: Bard Judith

Interestingly, I also transcribed my lyrics aurally, about five years ago, and they differ slightly. If I can find the tape, I'll give the source.

I left my love a letter in the hollar of a tree.
I told her she would find me, in the US Cavalry.
Hi-oh, down we go, there's no such word as 'can't'.
We'll ride right down to hell and back for Ulysses Simpson Grant.

I left my love, my love I left a-sleepin' in her bed.
I turned my back on my true love to fight the Johnny Reb.
Hi-oh, down we go, there's no such word as 'can't'.
We'll ride right down to hell and back for Ulysses Simpson Grant.

Hi-oh, down we go, there's no such word as 'can't'.
We'll ride right down to New Orleans..... for Ulysses Simpson Grant!


A web search does turn up the 'movie soundtrack version' at

www.militarymusiconline.com/I_Left_My_Love_lyrics.htm

but nowhere else. Obviously I'll have to verify the accuracy of the lyrics I've posted, but I'm puzzled by one of the main differences - 'we' versus 'they'. Doesn't it seem more logical that the narrator, being one of the soldiers in question, is singing along as 'we' in the chorus?


And finally - does anyone care, because this may not qualify as a 'genuwine folk song' anyhow? :)


20 Dec 05 - 11:13 PM (#1631896)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left my Love
From: GUEST,Looking for where to purchase the sheet musi


26 Dec 05 - 01:03 PM (#1634985)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left My Love
From: Cruiser

I listened to the DVD of "The Horse Soldiers" a few minutes ago to confirm the lyrics. I turned the caption on and the word is THEY not WE as suggested by Bard Judith above.

"Heigh-O, down THEY go there's no such word as can't"

The THEY refers to the confederate soldiers "going DOWN" or falling or losing battles to the Union troops as they advanced.

I do consider this a folk song. I know of nowhere to get the sheet music. You could search for Stan Jones (song writer), who was an interesting fellow who played General U.S. Grant in first scene of the movie, but I doubt you will find much.

Cruiser


26 Dec 05 - 10:50 PM (#1635223)
Subject: Lyr Add: I LEFT MY LOVE
From: Peace

"I Left My Love"

I left my love, my love I left a sleepin' in her bed.
I turned my back on my true love when fightin' Johnny Reb.
I left my love a letter in the hollar of a tree.
I told her she would find me, in the US Cavalry.

Hi-Yo! Down they go, there's so such word as can't.
We're riding down to hell and back for Ulysses Simpson Grant.

Hi-Yo! Down they go, there's so such word as can't.
We're riding down to hell and back for Ulysses Simpson Grant.

I left my love, my love I left a sleepin' in her bed.
I turned my back on my true love when fightin' Johnny Reb.
I left my love a letter in the hollar of a tree.
I told her she would find me, in the US Cavalry, in the US Cavalry.

Hi-Yo! Down they go, there's so such word as can't.
We're riding down to hell and back for Ulysses Simpson Grant.

Found the above version--very similar to BJ's--at

www.militarymusiconline.com/I_Left_My_Love_lyrics.htm


27 Dec 05 - 12:56 AM (#1635260)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left My Love
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Now if anon. would update it for the Bush war- it might be considered folk.


31 May 09 - 06:19 PM (#2645178)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left my Love
From: GUEST,marianne

This is the regimental song of the 3d ACR(Brave Rifles) and, according to their unit history, here are the lyrics

I left my loves a letter in the holler of a tree
I told 'em they could find me in the U.S. Cavalry
    (CHORUS)
Hi Ho, off we go, a never-ending story
We'll ride right through to Hell! and Back!
And grab the reins of glory

I left my my love, my love I left a sleepin in the bed
I left the side of my true love to fight until I'm dead

       CHORUS

In eighteen hundred forty six the call to war began
A regiment of mounted men, of mounted riflemen.

          Chorus

From Mexico, our first campaign, and through the civil war
As Patton's lead, our country's need, and back from Saudi's shore

            chorus

The sun may set on all the rest, but they can never be
BRAVE RIFLES, VETERANS! BLOOD AND STEEL,
THE BEST OF CAVALRY!


Hi ho, off we go, a never-ending story
We'll ride straight through to Hell! and Back!
And grab the reins of glory


To any Brave Rifles who may see this   AIEEYAH!!!! from a cavmom


24 Sep 15 - 08:59 PM (#3739617)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left My Love (Stan Jones)
From: GUEST,Timothy Alden

Hello,Great thread!!! Helps me realize real people do still exist!!!!Lovelovelove this song.Now I have the lyrics to hum as I do chores..Thanks to you all and John Wayne-Constance Towers,Bill Holden,,Mr Sam Jones..When films were still entertaining and filled with heart.Regards....


31 Mar 16 - 02:05 PM (#3782479)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left My Love (Stan Jones)
From: GUEST

I am the Director of the Third Cavalry Museum at Fort Hood, Texas. As noted above, the 3d Cavalry Regiment has adopted this song with a few new lyrics. It is sung at various events and occasions. The Regimental Commander would like to obtain the sheet music for it so that Army bands could play it, as well. I have contacted the movie studio, who directed me to a music publishing company, as well as other searched on the internet, all to no avail. Does anyone here know where we might obtain copies of the musical score?

Scott Hamric,
Director, Third Cavalry Museum
Fort Hood, Texas
scotthamric@embarqmail.com


31 Mar 16 - 11:30 PM (#3782539)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left My Love (Stan Jones)
From: GUEST,#

'The song by Stan Jones (w+m) was copyrighted on August 29, 1958 by Stanley Music Co. However, that leads no further towards locating the music 'score'. Also, I suspect that Stanley Music Company was Jones' own publishing company and it seems to be defunct. But even if sheet music for the song by Stan Jones was located it would still be of little use to the Regimental Commander because it would only be the melody line and maybe chords. The thing we need is the arrangement done to the song by David Buttolph, and I think that's what has to be found.'

I am sending the stuff that's in British quotation marks to Scott Hamric via email in a few minutes and after some sleep I'll return to this thread tomorrow--which is today now. If any of the real researchers find it, please say so on this thread so I'm not wasting time looking for something that's been located.

Thank you :-)


01 Apr 16 - 01:17 AM (#3782541)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left My Love (Stan Jones)
From: Stilly River Sage

"Real researchers." Good one, Bruce. You're doing a great job here!


19 Feb 17 - 10:53 AM (#3839962)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left My Love (Stan Jones)
From: GUEST,Shivs

trying to help a friend who plays for senior citizens and VFW's

he needs sheet music for "i left my love"

any idea of where i can buy it?


19 May 17 - 06:10 AM (#3855861)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Left My Love (Stan Jones)
From: Keith A of Hertford

I watched the film recently. Stan jones gets a full page credit for the song in the opening credits, but as mentioned above no credit for playing the role of General U.S.Grant!

He also wrote songs for the film Rio Grande and plays the sergeant.