The Girl I Left Behind Me

[Danny]

As we know there are many variations of lyric for "The Girl I Left Behind Me." This one below rolls off the tongue better than most, and for our purposes is represented as the one "Vets Who Wore the Blue" sang during the war. (It's not the 7th Cav. or the Irish Brigade version but has elements of both). Taken from an "Old Army Songs" pocket songster found at a Michigan Flea Market. It was published less than 20 years post war (1883) - see book photo attached.

The Girl I Left Behind Me

I'm Lonesome since I crossed the hills
And o'er the moor that's sedgy;
With heavy thoughts my mind is filled,
Since I have parted, l'eggy.
Whene'er I turn to view the place,
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,
The burning flames my heart doth tell
Since first she owned she loved me.
In search of someone fair and gay,
Several doth remind me;
I know my darling loves me well,
Though I left her far behind me.

The bees shall lavish, make no store,
And dove becomes a ranger;
The fallen water cease to roar,
Before I'll ever change her.
Each mutual promise faithfully made
By her whom tears doth blind me,
And bless the hour ' pass away
With the girl I left behind me.

My mind her image full retains,
Whether asleep or waking;
I hope to see my jewel again,
For her my heart is breaking.
But if ever I chance to go that way,
And that she has not resigned me,
I'll reconcile my mind and stay
With the girl I left behind me.

- Dan Wykes

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

I had head that tune to be "Old Abe is Sick"- written after the "martyred president"'s death... would you happen to have the words to that? Is it wayyyy postwar or from the latter half of 1865?

-Johnny

[Danny]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

Johnny -

Let's keep this discussion to songs known before the war ended.

- Dan Wykes

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

Sir-
The song IS very period... actually a French and Indian/Rev War song, possibly earlier from what I've read. I just wanted to know if anyone knew the song by the title "Old Abe is Sick" and when it might have been written. I'm sure someone knows here.
I had a debate on it once with a friend of mine about the very same song and whether it had prewar/period/postwar lyrics. In fact, I have never heard the period 1860s lyrics fully sung all the way through. It's one of my favorite tunes! ;)

I just wanted to know about the full evolution of a particular pre-period/period song from people that know it best (being you and your musical comrades) since they study items of this historical nature.

If what you say is true, then how do we know the said lyrics are period 1860s, since they date from a postwar-dated book? It's a legitimate question- not any barb aimed at you. :D:o

Perhaps this would help next time I or others did historical interpretation...?

-Johnny

[Hardtack Herring]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

Will sings a version of the tune that says

Jeff Davis rides a Big White horse
Abe Lincoln rides a mule

I am sure he will be buy soon to post the words.

[toccoa42]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

Old Abe lies sick, Old Abe lies sick,
Old Abe lies sick in bed.
He's a lyin' dog, he's a cryin' dog,
With murder in his head.

Jeff Davis rides a big fine horse,
Abe Lincoln rides a mule.
Jeff Davis is a gentleman,
Abe Lincoln is a fool.


As to the date of origin, no idea. Probably does not have one, as this is a parody, and like military song paradies throughout time, they were simply handed down verbally until someone finally recorded the lyrics -- probably postwar.

Lynn Kessler

[Hardtack Herring]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

That is the one. I like it.

[Rob Weaver]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

The Girl I Left Behind Me is very old, well prewar. The Bodlien Library has several broadside copies, the earliest from 1797. I think the song is at least 50 years older than that, judging from musical style and form. The lyrics remain pretty consistent, the major variation seems to be the line "Now I've gone to Brighton Camp" (English origin) and the girl's name is clearly "Peggy."

[Danny]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

.... The lyrics remain pretty consistent, the major variation seems to be the line "Now I've gone to Brighton Camp" (English origin) and the girl's name is clearly "Peggy."

Rob -

Perhaps the theme and music is consistent, but the point is that the lyrics certainly ARE NOT consistent. It's great we can choose favorites or swap verses at will. See here first verse samples from various pre- and during- war sources (besides the variations mentioned above) including Broadsides:

(a - 7th Cav)
The hours sad I left a maid
A lingering farewell taking
Whose sighs and tears my steps delayed
I thought her heart was breaking
In hurried words her name I blest
I breathed the vows that bind me
And to my heart in anguish pressed
The girl I left behind me

(b - 1790)
I'm lonesome since I crossed the hill,
And o'er the moorland sedgy
Such heavy thoughts my heart do fill,
Since parting with my Betsey
I seek for one as fair and gay,
But find none to remind me
How sweet the hours I passed away,
With the girl I left behind me.

(c - Napoleanic)
I'm lonesome since I crossed the hill,
And o'er the moor and valley.
Such grievous thoughts my heart do fill,
Since parting with my Sally.
I seek no more the fine nor gay,
For each does but remind me,
How swift the hours did pass away,
With the girl I left behind me.

(d - Irish)
The dames of France are fond and free,
And Flemish lips are willing;
And soft the maids of Italy,
And Spanish eyes are thrilling;
Still, though I bask beneath their smile,
Their charms fail to bind me.
And my heart goes back to Erin's Isle,
To the girl I left behind me.

(e - soldier's)
'Tis many days since I left home
To join our glorious army,
I thought but of my Country's call,
And not of what might harm me;
I vowed to join both heart and hand,
Where duty calls you'll find me,
I left my home, and shed a tear
For the girl I left behind me.

- Dan Wykes

[33rdaladrummer]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

Singing the New Nation has lyrics that replace "white horse" with "grey mare". I am not sure if a source was given -- I loaned out my copy. Versions of the tune appear in virtually all of the fife and drum manuals from the period. It no doubt ranks with Yankee Doodle, Bonnie Blue Flag, and The White Cockade as the most commonly played fife and drum tunes during the war.

[Rob Weaver]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

Wow - I'm surprised. I stand corrected. All of the versions I looked at were remarkably similar.

[DonH]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

What I would like to know is how the traditional version of the melody turned into the one printed in Bruce and Emmett...and if there were ever words written for that variant!

[33rdaladrummer]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

What I would like to know is how the traditional version of the melody turned into the one printed in Bruce and Emmett...and if there were ever words written for that variant!

Bruce and Emmett fancied up many of the tunes and duty calls in their manual. While this makes things more interesting for a very experienced fifer, the fancy versions can be rather difficult for a beginner. In my opinion, B&E is not very useful as a "self-instructor" for the fife. Check out Bayard's March to the Fife, Dance to the Fiddle, for more examples of accomplished fifers adding embellishments to common tunes.

[SouthernRifle]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

The tune is reported to date all the way back to Elizabethian England. Contemplator's website has all sorts of information, and versions of this tune, not limited to but including The Girl I Left Behind Me (2 versions), The Waxie's Dargle (a tune my family has sung for years on St. Patrick's Day), and The Rambling Laborer, The term waxie is a period label for candlemaker, and dargle could mean a pub, or as Contemplator states that it could me a reference to the River Dargle in County Wicklow, Ireland, known for its class 4 and 5 rapids. Here's the version my family sings of The Waxie's Dargle.

Says my auld on to your auld one,
"Will ye come tay the Waxie's Dargle?"
Says your auld one to my auld one,
"Sir I hay not git a farthin'!"
I've just been down to Monto town
to see Young Kill McCargle,
and he would not lend me half a crown,
to go to the Waxie's Dargle

(chorus)
Say what will you have, will you have a pint?
I'll have a pint with you sir
and if one of us does not order soon,
we be thrown right out of the boozer

Says my auld one to your auld one
We've got no beef nor mutton
But if we go down to Monto town
We might get a drink for nothin'
Here's a piece of good advice
I got from an auld fish-monger
When food is scarce and you see the hearse
You'll know you've died of hunger

(chorus)

Rob Weber
3d Alabama

[Gary of CA]

Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me

The Girl I left Behind Me dates back to the Colonial Period. The lyrics of course were somewhat different than the one sung by the soldiers of the Civil War.