Digital Tradition Mirror

Girl I Left Behind Me 9

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Girl I Left Behind Me 9

I'm lonesome since I cross'd the hills,
  And o'er the moor that's sedgy;
With heavy thoughts my mind is fill'd,
  Since I parted with my Naggy      [early pencilled correction
When e'er I return to view the place,    gives 'Peggy']
  The tears doth fall and blind me,
When I think on the charming grace
  Of the girl I left behind me.

The hours I remember well,
  When next to see doth move me,      ['see' can't be correct]
The burning flames my heart doth tell,
  Since first she own'd she lov'd me:
In search of some one fair and gay,  [rhyme lost
  Several doth remind me;
I know my darling loves me well,
  Tho' I left her behind me.

The beas shall lavish, mare no store  [bees, languish, bear ?
  And the dove become a ranger;
The falling water cease to roar,
  Before I'll ever change her:
Each mortal promise faithful made,  [rhyme lost
  By her whose tears doth blind me;
And bless the hours I pass away,
  With the girl I left behind me.

My mind her image still retains,
  Whether asleep or waking;
I hope to see my dear again,
  For her my heart is breaking:
But if e'er I chance to go that way,
  And that she has not resign'd me;
I'll reconcile my mind and stay,
  With the girl I left behind me.

   Text from The <<Charms of Melody>>, n.d., Dublin, issue 72.
The one hundred four page issues of this work came out
approximately every 1.8 months, c 1795-1810. The text is from
72, being approximately of 1805-6, and this appears to be the
oldest text yet found. However, in a songbook, <<The New Whim of
the Night, or the Town and Country Songster for 1799>>, is a song
"The Girls we love so dearly" 'Written by R. Rusted  Tune - The
Girl I left behind me.' Rusted's song commences "Come, messmates,
fill the flowing can". This is the only reference to the song or
tune in the 18th century that I've found. The first and third
verses here are in <<Ozark Folksongs>>, III, 'C' text, p. 354,
from a manuscript and without tune.

  Wm. Chappell in <<Popular Music of the Olden Time>> had much to
say about "The girl I left behind me" being connected with
"Brighton Camp" and being an 18th century song, none of which has
been subsequently verified, and if one studies Chappell carefully
one sees he gives no solid information that would prove an 18th
century date for text or tune. James J. Fuld, <<The Book of World
Famous Music>>, tracked do
Behind Me" in Bell's <<Rhymes of the Northern Bards>>, 1812. Fuld
points out that "Brighton Camp Quick March", 1792, is not the
same tune.

  The tune appears as "Brighton Camp or the Girl I Left Behind
Me" in Riley's Flute Melodies , I, no. 349, New York, n.d. [1816],
but much yet remains unexplained regarding the history of this
song and tune, and its connection to "Brighton Camp".

Tune from Riley's Flute Melodies
WBO
Apr98

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!