THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND
Also known as "The girl I left behind me' and as 'Brighton Camp'
UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Everything needs to be checked!
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Time signature: 2/2
Tempo: Marching |
English / Irish / American
Folksong / DanceTune / MarchingTune |
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This is an old folk-tune, covered by dozens of youTube videos, many of them instrumentals for marching or dancing. There are also many different sets (or "versions") of lyrics, three of which have been included.
Accordion Notation |
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Beats per bar = 2 (For a march, or a 2-step dance.)
Beat symbol = Colon ( : ) or equivalent |
Either row high = Buttons 5 to 10*
Inside row low = Buttons 2 to 6 plus o3* |
FOR "VERSION ONE" LYRICS:
"9 "9 | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
The hour was sad I left a maid
'6* | .6 .6 "6 "7* "7 "8* | :8 .7
'2* | .3 .3 "3 "3* "4 "4* | :5 .4
A lin - g'ring fare - well__ tak-ing
"9 "10* | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
Whose sighs and tears my steps de-layed
'6 | .6* .7* .5 .5* .6* | :6 .6
'3 | .2* .3* .2 o3* .2* | :3 .3
I thought her heart was__ break-ing
"8 "8* | .7 .8 .9* .10* | .9 .8 .7
"5 "4* | .4 .5 .5* .6* | .6 .5 .4
In__ hur-ried words her name I bless'd
.6 | .7 .8 .9* .10* | .9 .10*
.3 | .4 .5 .5* .6* | .6 .6*
I breathed the vows that bind me
"9 "10* | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
And_ to my heart in an-guish pressed
'6 | .6* .7* .5 .5* .6* | :6 .6
'3 | .2* .3* .2 .o3* .2* | :3 .3
The girl I left be__ - hind me
"9 "9 | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
The hour was sad I left a maid
'6* | .6 .6 "6 "7* "7 "8* | :8 .7
'2* | .3 .3 "3 "3* "4 "4* | :5 .4
A lin - g'ring fare - well__ tak-ing
"9 "10* | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
Whose sighs and tears my steps de-layed
'6 | .6* .7* .5 .5* .6* | :6 .6
'3 | .2* .3* .2 o3* .2* | :3 .3
I thought her heart was__ break-ing
"8 "8* | .7 .8 .9* .10* | .9 .8 .7
"5 "4* | .4 .5 .5* .6* | .6 .5 .4
In__ hur-ried words her name I bless'd
.6 | .7 .8 .9* .10* | .9 .10*
.3 | .4 .5 .5* .6* | .6 .6*
I breathed the vows that bind me
"9 "10* | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
And_ to my heart in an-guish pressed
'6 | .6* .7* .5 .5* .6* | :6 .6
'3 | .2* .3* .2 .o3* .2* | :3 .3
The girl I left be__ - hind me
FOR "VERSION TWO" LYRICS:
"9 "9 | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
I'm lone-some since I crossed the hill,
'6* | .6 .6 "6 "7* "7 "8* | :8 .7
'2* | .3 .3 "3 "3* "4 "4* | :5 .4
And o'er the moor - land_ sed - gy
"9 "10* | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
Such heav-y thoughts my heart do fill,
'6 | .6* .7* .5 .5* .6* | :6 .6
'3 | .2* .3* .2 o3* .2* | :3 .3
Since part-ing with my___ Bet-sey
"8 "8* | .7 .8 .9* .10* | .9 .8 .7
"5 "4* | .4 .5 .5* .6* | .6 .5 .4
I__ seek for one as fair and gay,
.6 | .7 .8 .9* .10* | .9 .10*
.3 | .4 .5 .5* .6* | .6 .6*
But find none to re - mind me
"9 "10* | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
How sweet the hours I passed a - way,
'6 | .6* .7* .5 .5* .6* | :6 .6
'3 | .2* .3* .2 .o3* .2* | :3 .3
With the girl I left be - hind me.
"9 "9 | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
I'm lone-some since I crossed the hill,
'6* | .6 .6 "6 "7* "7 "8* | :8 .7
'2* | .3 .3 "3 "3* "4 "4* | :5 .4
And o'er the moor - land_ sed - gy
"9 "10* | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
Such heav-y thoughts my heart do fill,
'6 | .6* .7* .5 .5* .6* | :6 .6
'3 | .2* .3* .2 o3* .2* | :3 .3
Since part-ing with my___ Bet-sey
"8 "8* | .7 .8 .9* .10* | .9 .8 .7
"5 "4* | .4 .5 .5* .6* | .6 .5 .4
I__ seek for one as fair and gay,
.6 | .7 .8 .9* .10* | .9 .10*
.3 | .4 .5 .5* .6* | .6 .6*
But find none to re - mind me
"9 "10* | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
How sweet the hours I passed a - way,
'6 | .6* .7* .5 .5* .6* | :6 .6
'3 | .2* .3* .2 .o3* .2* | :3 .3
With the girl I left be - hind me.
FOR "VERSION THREE" LYRICS:
"9 "9 | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
The dames of France are fond and free
'6* | .6 .6 "6 "7* "7 "8* | :8 .7
'2* | .3 .3 "3 "3* "4 "4* | :5 .4
And Flem-ish lips__ are__ will-ing
"9 "10* | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
And soft the maids of It - a - ly
'6 | .6* .7* .5 .5* .6* | :6 .6
'3 | .2* .3* .2 o3* .2* | :3 .3
And Span-ish eyes are___ thril-ling
"8 "8* | .7 .8 .9* .10* | .9 .8 .7
"5 "4* | .4 .5 .5* .6* | .6 .5 .4
Still though I bask be - neath their smile
.6 | .7 .8 .9* .10* | .9 .10*
.3 | .4 .5 .5* .6* | .6 .6*
Their charms so fair to bind me
"9 "10* | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 " 6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
And my heart falls back to Er - in's Isle
'6 | .6* .7* .5 .5* .6* | :6 .6
'3 | .2* .3* .2 .o3* .2* | :3 .3
To the girl I left be - hind me
"9 "9 | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
The dames of France are fond and free
'6* | .6 .6 "6 "7* "7 "8* | :8 .7
'2* | .3 .3 "3 "3* "4 "4* | :5 .4
And Flem-ish lips__ are__ will-ing
"9 "10* | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 "6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
And soft the maids of It - a - ly
'6 | .6* .7* .5 .5* .6* | :6 .6
'3 | .2* .3* .2 o3* .2* | :3 .3
And Span-ish eyes are___ thril-ling
"8 "8* | .7 .8 .9* .10* | .9 .8 .7
"5 "4* | .4 .5 .5* .6* | .6 .5 .4
Still though I bask be - neath their smile
.6 | .7 .8 .9* .10* | .9 .10*
.3 | .4 .5 .5* .6* | .6 .6*
Their charms so fair to bind me
"9 "10* | .9* .8 .7 .6 | .7* .6 '"5*
"6 " 6* | .5* .5 .4 .3 | .3* .3 '"o3*
And my heart falls back to Er - in's Isle
'6 | .6* .7* .5 .5* .6* | :6 .6
'3 | .2* .3* .2 .o3* .2* | :3 .3
To the girl I left be - hind me
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Embedded youTube VIDEOS
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Total of 21 videos in various keys: C=3 D=7 Eb=2 F=1 G=3
INSTRUMENTAL= 5 SINGING= 11 [ VERSION_1 = 3, VERSION_2 = 8, VERSION_3 = 3 ]
INSTRUMENTAL= 5 SINGING= 11 [ VERSION_1 = 3, VERSION_2 = 8, VERSION_3 = 3 ]
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Key: C
Group: The Combiled Corpos of Drums 1st & 2nd battalions The Coldstream Guards Posted by: harrybeef Instrumental (Fife & drums) |
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Key: C
Orchestra directed by Kay Kyser Singer: Sully Mason Posted by: A Trip Down Memory Lane Matches (with some minor changes) the first two verses of VERSION TWO below. |
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Key: C
Singer: Derek Warfield Posted by: Derek Warfield - Topic Matches VERSION THREE |
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Key: G
Accordion player: ? Posted by: Hohnerous Instrumental |
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Key: D
Singer: Steve Tilston Posted by: Steve Tilston - Topic From CD - Of Many Hands Closely matches Verses 1,2 & 4 of VERSION TWO below. |
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Key: D
Group: The Black River Boys Posted by: The Black River Boys -Topic Matches VERSION ONE below, with only a couple of minor changes in lyrics. |
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Key: D
Singer: ? Posted by: OrlopRat42 Matches first two verses of VERSION TWO below, with only a couple of minor changes in lyrics. From the CD "Songs and Music of THE RED COATS". |
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Key: D
Singer: ? Posted by: MathiasLeif Matches first two verses of VERSION TWO below, with only a couple of minor changes in lyrics. |
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Key: D
Singer: Rommey March Posted by: 97th Regimental String Band - Topic Matches first two verses of VERSION TWO below, with only a couple of minor changes in lyrics, and then adds a different third verse. From CD "Songs of the Civil War" Volume 6. |
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Key: D
Group: Houghton Weavers Posted by: Houghton Weavers - Topic Matches first three verses of VERSION TWO below, with only a few minor changes in lyrics. |
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Key: Eb
Band: Shadow Ridge Middle School Posted by: Commonwealth Marches Instrumental: A quick march |
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Key: Eb
Singer: Bobby Horton Posted by: Bobby Horton - Topic Matches VERSION ONE below, with only a couple of minor changes in lyrics. |
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Key: E
Singer: ? Posted by: Sheet Music Singer Matches the four verses of VERSION TWO below, and then adds a fifth "Confederate Anti-Lincoln" verse, dating from the American civil war. |
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Key: F
Arranger: Barry Taylor Performers: ? Posted by: Sanny Tendilla Instrumental. |
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Key: G
Group: Matthew Vaughan (vocals) - Canada Bob Hornett (accordion) - Australia Raymond Crooke (fiddle) - Australia Posted by: raymondcrooke Closely matches Verses 1, 3 & 4 of VERSION THREE below, and adds a chorus after each verse. Mr. Crooke has posted lyrics and chords HERE. |
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Key: G
Accordionist Lester Bailey Posted by: Lester Bailey Instrumental |
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LYRICS, CHORDS, BACKGROUND & LINKS
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Verse 1 Verse 2 Verse 3 Verse 4 |
LYRICS: VERSION ONE with Guitar Chords in keys of C & G
G C G C F C The hour was sad I left a maid, a lingering farewell taking, C D7 G F G7 C Whose sighs and tears my steps delayed; I thought her heart was breaking. A7 G A7 D7 Em D7 D7 C D7 G7 Am G7 In hurried words, her name I bless'd. I breathed the vows that bind me , G C D7 G C F G7 C And to my heart in anguish pressed the girl I left behind me Then to the east we bore away to win a name in story And there where dawns the sun of day, there dawned our sun of glory The place in my sight, when in the host assigned me I shared the glory of that fight. Sweet girl I left behind me Though many a name our banner bore of former deeds of daring But they were of the day of yore in which we had no sharing But now our laurels freshly won, with the old one shall entwine me Singing worthy of our size each son. Sweet girl I left behind me The hope of final victory, within my bosom burning Is mingling with sweet thoughts of thee, and of my fond returning But should I never return again, still with thy love I'll bind me Dishonor's breath shall never stain the name I left behind me |
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Verse 1 Verse 2 Verse 3 Verse 4 |
LYRICS: VERSION TWO with Guitar Chords in keys of C & G
G C G C F C I'm lonesome since I crossed the hill, And o'er the moorland sedgy C D7 G F G7 C Such heavy thoughts my heart do fill, Since parting with my Betsey A7 G A7 D7 Em D7 D7 C D7 G7 Am G7 I seek for one as fair and gay, But find none to re - mind me G C D7 G C F G7 C How sweet the hours I passed away, With the girl I left behind me. O ne'er shall I foget the night, the stars were bright above me And gently lent their silv'ry light when first she vowed to love me But now I'm bound to Brighton camp kind heaven then pray guide me And send me safely back again, to the girl I left behind me Her golden hair in ringlets fair, her eyes like diamonds shining Her slender waist, her heavenly face, that leaves my heart still pining Ye gods above oh hear my prayer to my beauteous fair to find me And send me safely back again, to the girl I left behind me The bee shall honey taste no more, the dove become a ranger The falling waters cease to roar, ere I shall seek to change her The vows we made to heav'n above shall ever cheer and bind me In constancy to her I love, the girl I left behind me. |
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Verse 1 Verse 2 Verse 3 Verse 4 |
LYRICS: VERSION THREE with Guitar Chords in keys of C & G
G C G C F C The dames of France are fond and free, and Flemish lips are willing C D7 G F G7 C And soft the maids of Italy, and Spanish eyes are thrilling A7 G A7 D7 Em D7 D7 C D7 G7 Am G7 Still though I bask beneath their smile, their charms fair to bind me G C D7 G C F G7 C And my heart fall back to Erin's Isle to the girl I left behind me She's as fair as Shannon's side and purer than it's water But she refused to be my bride, though many a year I sought her Yet since to France I sailed away, her letters oft remind me That I promised never to gain say the girl I left behind me She says, "My own dear love come home, my friends are rich and many Or else abroad with you I'll roam, a soldier stout as any If you'll not come nor let me go, I'll think you have resigned me" My heart near broke when I answered,"No" to the girl I left behind me For never shall my true love brave a life of war and toiling And never as a skulking slave I'll tread my native soil on But were it free or to be freed the battle close would find me To Ireland bound nor message need from the girl I left behind me |
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Background:
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Click HERE for the (wikipedia) long history of this English/Irish/American folksong, believed to date back to the Elizabethan era, though the first printed text was in Dublin, Ireland, in 1791, and the first printed version of the tune dates from 1810, also in Dublin.
With a time signature 2/2 or 2/4, it is also known as a marching tune. For example, Americans include in in their collection of Civil War songs, often with their own lyrics. Wikipedia suggests that "The song was popular in the US regular army, who adopted it during the War of 1812 after they heard a British prisoner singing it." |