Origins: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)

03 Nov 97 - 08:17 PM (#15679)
Subject: Lyr Add: LONG, LONG AGO (Thomas Haynes Bayly)^^
From: Dale Rose

This is in response to someone (I forgot the name and Email address) who asked about this song in one of the misplaced threads.

LONG, LONG AGO
Thomas Haynes Bayly (1797-1829) Published in the early 1840's

Tell me the tales that to me were so dear,
Long, long ago, long, long ago.
Sing me the songs I delighted to hear,
Long, long ago, long ago.

Now you are come, all my fears are removed,
Let me forget for how long you have roved.
Let me believe that you love as you loved,
Long, long ago, long ago.

Do you remember the paths where we met?
Long, long ago, long, long ago.
Ah, yes, you told me you'd never forget,
Long, long ago, long ago.

Then to all others, my smile you preferred,
Love, when you spoke, gave a charm to each word.
Still my heart treasures the phrases I heard,
Long, long ago, long ago.

This is transcribed from the wonderful Bear Family lp, Just Me And My Guitar, Marty Robbins, 1983.

From the notes: Thomas Haynes Bayly (1797-1829) wrote the oldest song in this collection, appropriately titled, "Long, Long Ago." Originally titled "The Long Ago," it was not published until the early 1840's well after the composer's death. The World War II pop favorite, "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree," borrowed its melodic base from Bayly's classic. The Pickard Family, an early Grand Ole Opry group, featured this song in one of their early song folios. (notes by Ronnie Pugh of the Country Music Foundation, Nashville, TN)

The recordings are from 1956 and 1963 (including this one) and only 4 of the 15 titles were previously released by Columbia. In case anyone is interested in finding this treasure, here is the complete list of titles: The Little Rosewood Casket, The Letter Edged In Black, Twenty One Years, The Convict And The Rose, The Dream Of The Miner's Child, The Little Box Of Pine On The 7:29, The Wreck Of The Number Nine, The Sad Lover, The Little Shirt My Mother Made For Me, My Mother Was A Lady, When It's Lamplighting Time In The Valley, The Wreck Of The 1256, Just Before The Battle Mother, Long, Long Ago, and Beautiful Dreamer. ^^

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03 Nov 97 - 10:32 PM (#15690)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: rich r

Good song. I used to play it on the piano and it was the first song I learned on the harmonica back in the late 50's, long long ago. My dad's 1928 copy of "Rodeheaver's Socialbility Songs For Community - School - Home" has a third verse.

Tho' by your kindness my fond hopes were rais'd, long long ago, long long ago/ You by more eloquent lips have been prais'd, long long ago , long ago/ But by long absence your truth has been tried,/ Still to your accents I listen with pride,/ Blest as I was when I sat by your side, long long ago, long ago.

rich r

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04 Nov 97 - 06:19 PM (#15731)
Subject: Tune Add: LONG, LONG AGO (Thomas Haynes Bayly)^^
From: Alan of Australia

G'day,
I used to play this about 40 years ago ("Get up and do your practice son, I don't care how cold the piano keys are!). Does the tune go like this? It spans two verses.

MIDI file: LONGAGO.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: LONG, LONG AGO
TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Key: C
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0000 1 67 091 0478 0 67 091 0002 1 67 083 0238 0 67 083 0002 1 69 083 0238 0 69 083 0002 1 71 074 0478 0 71 074 0002 1 71 086 0238 0 71 086 0002 1 72 086 0238 0 72 086 0002 1 74 104 0478 0 74 104 0002 1 76 094 0238 0 76 094 0002 1 74 083 0238 0 74 083 0002 1 71 104 0958 0 71 104 0002 1 74 113 0478 0 74 113 0002 1 72 108 0238 0 72 108 0002 1 71 097 0238 0 71 097 0002 1 69 101 0958 0 69 101 0002 1 72 127 0478 0 72 127 0002 1 71 097 0238 0 71 097 0002 1 69 086 0238 0 69 086 0002 1 67 101 0958 0 67 101 0002 1 67 104 0478 0 67 104 0002 1 67 104 0238 0 67 104 0002 1 69 088 0238 0 69 088 0002 1 71 094 0478 0 71 094 0002 1 71 091 0238 0 71 091 0002 1 72 091 0238 0 72 091 0002 1 74 094 0478 0 74 094 0002 1 76 097 0238 0 76 097 0002 1 74 083 0238 0 74 083 0002 1 71 104 0958 0 71 104 0002 1 74 117 0478 0 74 117 0002 1 72 097 0238 0 72 097 0002 1 71 097 0238 0 71 097 0002 1 69 097 0478 0 69 097 0002 1 71 101 0238 0 71 101 0002 1 69 097 0238 0 69 097 0002 1 67 101 1918 0 67 101 0002 1 74 113 0478 0 74 113 0002 1 72 097 0238 0 72 097 0002 1 71 091 0238 0 71 091 0002 1 69 101 0478 0 69 101 0002 1 62 081 0238 0 62 081 0002 1 62 091 0238 0 62 091 0002 1 72 113 0478 0 72 113 0002 1 71 091 0238 0 71 091 0002 1 69 091 0238 0 69 091 0002 1 67 117 0958 0 67 117 0002 1 74 104 0478 0 74 104 0002 1 72 094 0238 0 72 094 0002 1 71 094 0238 0 71 094 0002 1 69 095 0478 0 69 095 0002 1 62 086 0238 0 62 086 0002 1 62 097 0238 0 62 097 0002 1 72 094 0478 0 72 094 0002 1 71 075 0238 0 71 075 0002 1 69 088 0238 0 69 088 0002 1 67 091 0958 0 67 091 0002 1 67 108 0478 0 67 108 0002 1 67 097 0238 0 67 097 0002 1 69 088 0238 0 69 088 0002 1 71 094 0478 0 71 094 0002 1 71 081 0238 0 71 081 0002 1 72 094 0238 0 72 094 0002 1 74 117 0478 0 74 117 0002 1 76 097 0238 0 76 097 0002 1 74 101 0238 0 74 101 0002 1 71 097 0958 0 71 097 0002 1 74 117 0478 0 74 117 0002 1 72 113 0238 0 72 113 0002 1 71 104 0238 0 71 104 0002 1 69 101 0478 0 69 101 0002 1 71 104 0238 0 71 104 0002 1 69 113 0238 0 69 113 0002 1 67 097 1918 0 67 097
End

To download the November 2 MIDItext 97 software click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Long Long Ago
M:4/4
Q:1/4=100
K:C
G2GAB2Bc|d2edB4|d2cBA4|c2BAG4|G2GAB2Bc|d2edB4|
d2cBA2BA|G8|d2cBA2DD|c2BAG4|d2cBA2DD|c2BAG4|
G2GAB2Bc|d2edB4|d2cBA2BA|G8||

Cheers,
Alan^^

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04 Nov 97 - 06:32 PM (#15733)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Jerry Friedman

I too played this song as a tad. As far as I know, removed-roved-loved holds the record for best eye-rhyme in English verse.

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05 Nov 97 - 02:00 AM (#15767)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Joe Offer

That's the tune exactly, Alan, just what the nuns made us memorize. It was sheer torture back then to memorize all that stuff, but now I'm kinda glad I know it.
-Joe Offer-

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10 Dec 97 - 08:04 PM (#17363)
Subject: [Long,Long Ago]
From: [e-mail]

I am trying to research the song titled: Long,Long Ago. I was told that this song may have been written during the Civil War Era. If anyone can provide me with further information, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm interested in knowing if this was originally written as a poem or as a song and who the author was. I'd also like to know when it was written and when it was first recorded and by whom. If anyone can provide a detailed history of the song, please let me know. Thanks in advance. Carol

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10 Dec 97 - 11:30 PM (#17379)
Subject: RE: [Long,Long Ago]
From: Dale Rose

Carol, I see someone dragged our earlier discussion of the song right up beside your request. If you don't see it by the time you get back to this, look for it here: http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=3216&messages=6 or just type long ago in the Threads box, set the age to 90 days, and you can find it that way, too.

As far as the first recording is concerned, I don't know, but I do know someone who might. It will likely be a few days before I see him again. It is possible also that he is aware of more of the history of the song than I was able to supply.

Notice too, that while I transcribed the first two verses from the recording, rich added the third, and Alan supplied the Midi file~~points up the co-operative nature of the Mudcat!

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17 May 98 - 02:51 AM (#28574)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Dale Rose

I found it (again) through a forum search. If you are not a member, you ought to consider becoming one so that you can use this handy search tool.

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17 May 98 - 03:07 AM (#28575)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Suibhan

Thanks, this is great! I don't know why I couldn't find it.

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27 Jul 99 - 07:35 PM (#99938)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Lesley N.

A correction/addition to the above information. Bayly died in 1839 rather than 1829. The song was published by Rufus Griswold who published a collection of Bayly's songs and poems in Philadelphia in 1843.

This from The American Song Treasury by Theodore Raph.

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27 Jul 99 - 07:52 PM (#99944)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Ferrara

This is one of the first songs I learned on the zither. A perfect parlor song.... It can be really beautiful if you kind of get into the spirit of it. - Rita F

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12 Jan 01 - 09:37 PM (#373694)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Burke

I was looking for this & am surprised an add from 1997 is still not in the database. If anyone know's where I can see the notation, or if there's a way to convert the codes to notation, I'd appreciate directions.

Thanks.

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13 Jan 01 - 03:20 AM (#373830)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Malcolm Douglas

There are three sets of notation at the  Lester Levy Sheet Music Collection

Malcolm

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13 Jan 01 - 03:23 AM (#373831)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Sorcha

I guess they are really behind.......and we have added a LOT of tunes lately, guess we will just have to use Super Search to find them for a long time.

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13 Jan 01 - 03:29 AM (#373834)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Haruo

If you have NoteWorthy Composer (or even NoteWorthy Player, which is free), there's a MIDI (of my own manufacture) in my hymnal that you can convert at the push (or about five pushes) of a button. I do not know why Esperantists (granted, we're a bit eccentric) consider "Long, Long Ago" a Christian hymn. But they do. So I put it in my hymnal. The note at the bottom of the page says,

Mi ne tute komprenas, kial pastoro Burkhardt decidis inkluzivigi tiun ĉi nostalgian amkanton en sian himnaron Tero kaj ĉielo kantu. Eble la Esperanta teksto estas iomete (sed ja nur iomete!) pli facile legebla kiel kristana himno ol la angla originalo; tamen eĉ en Esperanto ŝajnas al mi tute klare, ke temas pri gehoma amo, fidelo kaj sopiro pri iamo longe for. (Tamen ja mankas la alkoholo — ;-) oni ne akuzus al Burns pri pieco!) Kaj estas eventuale amuze rimarki, ke kvankam Bayly verkis ĝin en Anglujo kaj unue eldonigis en Usono (kie ĝi tuj fariĝis la plej furora kanto de la jaro 1843), tamen Bennemann en IK nomas ĝin irlanda kanto.

I don't entirely understand why Pastor Burkhardt decided to include this nostalgic love song in his hymnal, Tero kaj ĉielo kantu. Possibly the Esperanto text is a little bit (but surely only a little bit!) easier to read as a Christian hymn than the English original is; however even in Esperanto it seems completely obvious to me that the subject is human love, faithfulness and longing for auld lang syne. (However, minus the alcohol — ;-) one would not accuse Burns of piety!) And it may be potentially amusing to note that although Bayly wrote it in England and it was first published in the United States (where it immediately became the number one song hit of the year 1843), nevertheless Bennemann in IK [Internacia Kantaro, 1929, the earliest Esperanto publication of it I've located] calls it an Irish song.

For what that is worth.

And a library should have no trouble locating a hard copy of the notation for you. It's in the Raph book, mentioned above, among others.

Liland

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13 Jan 01 - 03:33 AM (#373835)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Haruo

Oops, forgot to provide the link to the page in my hymnal where, with the Esperanto version, you'll find the MIDI.

Liland

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14 Jan 01 - 03:35 AM (#374263)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Joe Offer

One more verse:

3. Though by your kindness my fond hopes were raised,
Long, long ago, long, long ago;
You, by more eloquent lips have been praised,
Long, long ago, long ago.

But by long absence your truth has been tried,
Still to your accents I listen with pride;
Blest as I was when I sat by your side
Long, long ago, long ago.

^^ Dick and Susan have added a couple of harvesters - I'm one of them. Before I started a year ago, Dick and Susan were doing it all by themselves. It's a big job to figure out how to go through the forum systematically and harvest what got missed - but we're working on it. I've got lots of songs on my hard drive, and lots more sent in to Dick & Susan.
Since the songs are in the Forum and the Forum is searchable, it might not be a horrible thing that songs sit unharvested for a while, and remain open for comments and additions. It IS important, I think, that the tunes and lyrics are accurate and well-researched by the time they're included in the database. Once they're in the database, it gets a little harder to change them.
-Joe Offer-

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14 Jan 01 - 06:58 PM (#374550)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Stewie

I have a delightful rendition of this by western swing group Ocie Stockard & the Wanderers. Stockard was the banjo picker with Milton Brown before forming his own band after Brown's death. He uses only the first two verses given by Dale (and repeats them). The folk process seems to have been at work with first line of second stanza as Stockard sings: 'Now you have come, all my grief is removed'. This is on a beaut compilation on the Zircon label which has 9 tracks by Stockard's band and almost as many by Roy Newman and His Boys and the Light Crust Doughboys: 'Rhythm Is Our Business: Western Swing & Rural Jazz' Zircon CD Vert 702. Great stuff for playing in the car.

--Stewie.

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15 Jan 01 - 06:14 PM (#375114)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Burke

Malcolm, the sheet music was exactly what I needed, thanks.

The reason I was looking was because at a recent Sacred Harp singing I was struck by how much a tune called When I am Gone sounds like Long, long ago. Similar does not begin to describe it, they are almost note for note the same.

If I'm reading that ABC above, the key should be listed as G instead of C. Since there's no F in it, the notes don't actually change, but chord accompaniments might. The Sheet Music in the Levy collections all have it in F & it starts on F.

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15 Jan 01 - 07:06 PM (#375139)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Haruo

Burke, can you give the edition and page number for the Sacred Harp tune? - Liland

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15 Jan 01 - 08:41 PM (#375193)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Burke

339 of the Denson revision or 1991 ed. Probably Cooper as well, but the index might have Shed not a tear o'er your friend's early bier. (See the link)

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15 Jan 01 - 11:31 PM (#375258)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: rabbitrunning

My grandmother sang it for us, when I was a kid. And I think we had a record, but I don't remember who sang it. It always felt like a good song for a music box to me.

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17 Sep 02 - 04:37 PM (#786108)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: wysiwyg

Thanks to all contributors. We're doing this one now.

~Susan

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17 Sep 02 - 07:55 PM (#786248)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: masato sakurai

"When I Am Gone" from The Sacred Harp (1860, p. 339).

~Masato

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17 Sep 02 - 08:36 PM (#786283)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: wysiwyg

You know, I am trying to learn some non-gospel stuff these days, but every time I turn around, there it is again! Thanks Masato! (really) Now I can take that same tune I fell in love with into church, too, and be rehearsing at the same time for a new Sunday evening folk-busking opportunity! Which is a non-gospel chance to sing for... a church group who dines at our favorite roadside spot after their Sunday evening prayer meeting! *G*

~Susan

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17 Sep 02 - 08:40 PM (#786289)
Subject: RE: Lyric Add: Long, Long Ago
From: wysiwyg

Masato, look what is also there!

http://digital.lib.msu.edu/ssb/genre.cfm?GenreNo=11

Can you list it for me in the permathread, and nose around to see what else they have that's good?

~Susan

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04 Jan 03 - 02:53 PM (#858630)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago
From: masato sakurai

'Long Long Ago' - Marty Robbins [RealAudio] from The Record Lady's All-Time Country Favorites.

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04 Jan 03 - 03:44 PM (#858666)
Subject: Lyr Add: TOUCH NOT THE CUP (temperance song)
From: GUEST,Q

The tune Long, Long Ago was used for a temperance song in England.

TOUCH NOT THE CUP

Touch not the cup; it is death to thy soul;
Touch not the cup, touch not the cup,
Many I know who have quaff'd from the bowl,
Touch not the cup, touch it not.
Little they thought that the demon was there,
Blindly they drank, and were caught in the snare;
Then of that death-dealing bowl, O beware!
Touch not the cup, touch it not.

Touch not the cup when the wine glistens bright;
Touch not the cup, touch not the cup.
Though like the ruby, it shines in the light,
Touch not the cup, touch it not.
The fangs of the serpent are hid in the bowl;
Deeply the poison will enter thy soul;
Soon it will plunge thee beyond thy control;
Touch not the cup, touch it not.

Touch not the cup, O young man in thy pride;
Touch not the cup, touch not the cup.
Hark to the warning of thousands who've died;
Touch not the cup, touch it not.
Go to their lonely and desolate tomb;
Think of their death, of their sorrow and gloom;
Think that perhaps thou may'st share in their doom;
Touch not the cup, touch it not.

Touch not the cup; O, drink not a drop;
Touch not the cup, touch not the cup;
All that thou lovest entreat thee to stop;
Touch not the cup, touch it not.
STOP FOR THE HOME THAT TO THEE IS SO DEAR;
STOP FOR THY FRIENDS THAT TO THEE ARE SO NEAR;
STOP FOR THY COUNTRY, THE GOD THAT YOU FEAR;
TOUCH NOT THE CUP, TOUCH IT NOT.

(Upper case used in printing the last four lines)
1868, W. Brickhill, printer, Newington Butts.
Johnson Ballads fol. 409, ballad # 5, no title.
Bodleian Library, found under Long, long ago.

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30 Nov 03 - 06:04 AM (#1063134)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

hi everyone! years ago, in the UK, I remember watching a romantic weepy film on TV. I am almost sure that the film ended with a woman sitting with a young child, and the child says "tell me the story of long long ago",then the music of that song ends the film. I asked my mother, but she cant remember. Can anyone help with the title of the film,or any clues where I might find out? Thanks.

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01 Dec 03 - 03:09 AM (#1063478)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Joybell

I've been singing "Long, Long Ago" for about 55 years. It was never lost in our family.

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02 Dec 03 - 10:09 AM (#1064429)
Subject: Lyr Add: TOUCH NOT THE CUP
From: Burke

Here's another Temperance Version, from the US:

TOUCH NOT THE CUP
[TUNE: Long, Long Ago]

Touch not the cup, it is death to thy soul,
Touch not the cup, touch not the cup;
Many I know who have quaffed from the bowl,
Touch not the cup, touch it not:
Little they thought that the demon was there,
Blindly they drank and were caught in the snare,
Then of that death-dealing bowl oh beware,
Touch not the cup, touch it not.

Touch not the cup, O young man in thy pride,
Touch not the cup, touch not the cup:
Thousands around thee have fallen and died,
Touch not the cup, touch it not:
Go to each lonely and desolate tomb:
Learn from their death, from their sorrow and gloom,
Now to be free and escape from their doom,
Touch not the cup, touch it not.

Touch not the cup, oh, renounce it, I pray,
Touch not the cup, touch not the cup;
All that thou lovest entreat thee to stay,
Touch not the cup, touch it not:
Stay for the home that to thee is so dear,
Stay for the friends that to thee are so near,
Stay for thy country, the God thou dost fear.
Touch not the cup, touch it not.

Song 55 (p.25) of:
The Temperance Songster : a Collection of Songs and Hymns for All Temperance Societies / Nathaniel Saunders. Providence : Handy & Higgins, 1867.

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15 Sep 04 - 12:34 PM (#1272568)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago
From: GUEST,RJT

For what it is worth:
The site below contains a digital image of a published version of Long Long Ago (words only). The date is attributed to 1860-1880.

http://www.nls.uk/broadsides/broadside.cfm/id/15149

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15 Sep 04 - 12:39 PM (#1272573)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago
From: Ferrara

Thanks, RJT.

I already had the words to Long, Long Ago and they agree with the broadside; but the one I'm really happy to find is "The Bold Princess Royal." The words are a bit different from the other two versions I have heard and it's fun to see where they differ.
Rita Ferrara

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19 May 05 - 02:20 AM (#1487833)
Subject: Thanx ppl
From: GUEST,soulless

I just wanted to say thank you to all of ya for this page :D

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19 May 05 - 10:00 AM (#1488083)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago
From: masato sakurai

One of the earliest Japanese versions (1895) is: "Tabi no Kure" (An Evening During My Journey). Virtually no Japanese today knows this version. "Hisashiki mukashi" (Long ago), a later translation, is well known.

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05 Jun 07 - 07:30 AM (#2068939)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: Dave'sWife

am I the only person who thinks this sounds an awful lot similar to Simple Gifts?

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05 Jun 07 - 10:29 AM (#2069098)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: Billy Weeks

For anyone who is interested in Thomas Haynes Bayly's songs as such (there must somebody out there), a book called 'Songs of the Affections', published in London in 1932, is worth searcning for. It contains 48 of his songs, with complete lyrics and melody lines, together with a biographical introduction by W L Hanchant.

Rabbitrunning's keen observation, that 'Long Ago' 'felt like a good song for a music box' is spot-on true of a number of his songs, but some of them are really worth a bit more attention than they have had for the last century or so. At worst, they are great period pieces.

But that's all I have to say about to say about Thomas Haynes Bayly.

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05 Jun 07 - 10:36 AM (#2069101)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: Billy Weeks

Well,not quite all. I forgot to say that Hanchant gives two verses (only) of 'an American college song' called 'Romeo and Juliet', sung to the tune of 'Long, Long Ago'.

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05 Jun 07 - 03:06 PM (#2069344)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: Joe Offer

Dilly, do you have those two verses to post for us?

This song (which I like) and "Goober Peas" (which I don't like) are two I remember the nuns teaching us in grade school. "Long, Long Ago" has a wonderful melody, which doesn't sound at all like "Simple Gifts" to me. [grin]

-Joe-

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06 Jun 07 - 02:53 PM (#2070134)
Subject: ADD: I'm Romeo (parody of Long, Long Ago_
From: Billy Weeks

Joe - Here y'are:

I'M ROMEO
[tune: Long, Long Ago]

I am the hero of this little tale
I'm Romeo,I'm Romeo
I am that very susceptible male
I'm Romeo,I'm Romeo;
Ne'er did a lover dare do as I did
When his best girl to eternity slided
I took cold poison and I suicided
I'm Romeo,I'm Romeo

I am the heroine of this tale of woe
I'm Juliet, I'm Juliet
I am the lady who 'mashed' Romeo,
I'm Juliet, I'm Juliet;
Locked in the prison, no pick-axe to force it,
Nasty old hole, scarce room to stand or sit
I up and stabbed myself right through the corset
I'm Juliet, I'm Juliet

There is no indication of how many more verses there might be, but if the rhymes are similar throughout, I shall be thankful for small mercies!

BW

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23 Oct 08 - 08:45 AM (#2473638)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: GUEST

What TV show played Long Long Ago? It would have been in the late 40's or early 50's.

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23 Oct 08 - 07:42 PM (#2474277)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: Steve Gardham

Its beauty lies in its simplicity. I think I must have sung it in primary school and had almost forgotten it when I picked up a copy of the Bayley book mentioned above, then by some strange quirk of fate we got a new phone about 5 years ago and guess what was the ringtone! So I hear it at least 4 times a day! And I'm not tired of it yet.

BTW didn't one of Lesley Sarony's have a similar tune 'Oh How she cried'?

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06 Nov 08 - 05:08 AM (#2486349)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: Billy Weeks

I heard 'Long,Long Ago' sung at a concert, 'Music for a Summer's Evening' in July 2008 at the Museum of Garden History in Lambeth, London. The venue may sound surprising, but this was in connection with a Tate Gallery conference on 'The Pleasures of Vauxhall' - and Bayley's songs were, of course, frequently featured at Vauxhall Gardens around the 1830s. It was a beautiful performance by soprano Amanda Pitt and made me think that some of THB's songs would be well worth reviving.

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07 Nov 08 - 02:48 PM (#2487844)
Subject: Lyr Add: LONG, LONG AGO (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: Jim Dixon

From the sheet music at The Library of Congress 'American Memory' web site: (A few words are different from those posted above.)


LONG, LONG AGO
by Thos. H. Bayly
Philadelphia: Geo. W. Hewitt and Co., 1839.

1. Tell me the tales that to me were so dear,
    Long, long ago, long, long ago.
Sing me the songs I delighted to hear,
    Long, long ago, long ago.
Now you are come, all my grief is remov'd,
Let me forget that so long you have rov'd.
Let me believe that you love as you lov'd,
    Long, long ago, long ago.

2. Do you remember the path where we met?
    Long, long ago, long, long ago.
Ah! yes, you told me you ne'er would forget,
    Long, long ago, long ago.
Then to all others, my smile you prefer'd,
Love, when you spoke, gave a charm to each word.
Still my heart treasures the phrases I heard,
    Long, long ago, long ago.

3. Though by your kindness my fond hopes were rais'd
    Long, long ago, long, long ago.
You by more eloquent lips have been prais'd
    Long, long ago, long ago.
But by long absence your truth has been tried,
Still to your accents I listen with pride,
Blest as I was when I sat by your side,
    Long, long ago, long ago.

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07 Nov 08 - 06:47 PM (#2488024)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: masato sakurai

Marty Robbins' "Long, Long Ago" is on YouTube.

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25 Apr 09 - 03:02 AM (#2618360)
Subject: ADD: The Slave Mother's Lament
From: Joe Offer

Today, I stumbled across these lyrics with same tune. No songwriter information, no background information. There's a recording of the song here (click). I can't find it through any other source.


THE SLAVE MOTHER'S LAMENT

Long, long ago.
Where are my babes that to me were so dear,
Long long ago, long ago?
Where is the voice that my heart used to cheer,
Long long ago, long ago?
Children I loved are torn from my breast,
My poor broken heart cannot be at rest, My lot here below,
O it never was blest,
Long long ago, long ago.

In sadness and woe I have shed many tears,
Long long ago, long ago;
Time has roll'd heavy to mock all my fears--
Long long ago, long ago.
As I've looked back on the days of my grief,
I asked, is there not for the poor slave relief
If not I have prayed that my life might be brief!
Long long ago, long ago.

In the days of my youth I have wept and I've pray'd
Long long ago, long ago;
I have hoped the oppressor's arm might be stay'd
Long long ago, long ago?
O am I deceived--must I die in despair?
Will heaven ne'er send a relief to my prayer?
Which in agony deep has pierced to the air!
Long long ago, long ago.

Source: Stacy's Songster.
Hopedale, MA: Community Press, 1844.

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10 May 09 - 01:06 PM (#2628366)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Often reprinted. In "Heart Songs, Melodies of Days Gone By," c. 1909, among others.

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15 Sep 12 - 05:37 AM (#3404978)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: GUEST

I have a feeling that Goofy sang this song or a similar on one one of the Mickey Mouse cartoons. Anyone remember this?

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15 Sep 12 - 06:07 AM (#3404995)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: GUEST

Here is the abc music file with the first verse lyrics matched to notes...


X:1
T:Long, Long Ago
C:Thomas Haynes Bayly
O:England
M:4/4
Q:1/4=100
K:C
G2GAB2Bc|d2edB4|d2cBA4|
w:Tell me the tales that to me were so dear, Long, long a- go,
c2BAG4|G2GAB2Bc|d2edB4|
w:long, long a- go. Sing me the songs I de- light- ed to hear,
d2cBA2BA|G8|d2cBA2DD|
w:Long, long a- go, long a- go. Now you are come, all my
c2BAG4|d2cBA2DD|c2BAG4|
w:grief is re- moved, Let me for- get that so long you have roved.
G2GAB2Bc|d2edB4|d2cBA2BA|G8||
w:Let me be- lieve that you love as you loved, Long, long a- go, long a- go.

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08 Mar 15 - 03:10 AM (#3692293)
Subject: RE: Origins: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: Joe Offer

There's a wonderful research page on "Long Long Ago Here:

http://www.justanothertune.com/html/longago.html

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27 Jan 17 - 12:41 PM (#3835198)
Subject: RE: Origins: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: leeneia

Belated thanks for the German words, Joe F.

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22 Aug 20 - 11:00 AM (#4069168)
Subject: RE: Origins: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: GUEST

I used to hear my mother sing this song or parts of it around the house. I always thought it had to do with old stories of Jesus, etc.
Instead it's a love song or a song of family memories, but still touching. I must not have paid that much attention to mom's words-- or else at my young age they didn't register.

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22 Aug 20 - 11:20 AM (#4069172)
Subject: RE: Origins: Long, Long Ago (Thomas Haynes Bayly)
From: GUEST

But I have to add putting my prior mail into further context--
Mom was always singing lyric snippets around the house of a wide variety of song genres, and often in response to some funny household situation-- for example-- one night Dad wasn't home yet as expected-- I asked, then Mom explained it- -but as she left the room she sang that old song "father dear father, come home with me now.. the clock in the tower strikes 12..."
She didn't recall or say all the lyrics... years later I looked them up on the internet and I was shocked at the story... it's about a kid trying to drag his dad home from a tavern...with each verse the clock strikes later... and by the time they finally get home too late, a sick younger sibling has expired.
Mom must have just wanted to sing the funny parts-- another of her examples was "Ring ring the bell, Nelly, ring ring the bell--your father's asleep in the old county jail..."      Does anyone remember these old songs ??

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