====== #301 - The Girl I Left Behind Me ======
[[..:300:|prev]] | [[..:302:|next]]
/*-20note-*//*-irish-*//*-patriotic-*/
  *Composer:
    *traditional Irish
    *arr. Samuel Lover (1797-1868), c1850
  *Also known as:
    *The Girl I Left Behind
    *Brighten Camp
    *The Rambling Laborer
    *The Spailpin Fanach
  *[[/data/media/midi/301.mid|MIDI]] | ++show|\\ {{http://www.rollerorgans.com/mid2roll.php?cob=301&.gif?}}++
  *[[:incipit]]: 17654323167111234543
  *[[:incipit|Condensed Incipit]]: 176543231671234543
  *[[/cob_label/index.php|Print a Label]]
  *++Lyrics:|\\
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\\
When e'er I return 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 own'd she lov'd me:\\
In search of some one fair and gay,\\
Several doth remind me;\\
I know my darling loves me well,\\
Tho' I left her behind me.\\
\\
The beas shall lavish, mare no store\\
And the dove become a ranger;\\
The falling water cease to roar,\\
Before I'll ever change her:\\
Each mortal promise faithful made,\\
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.\\
\\
++
    *from //Charms of Melody//, c1805
  *++Lyrics:|\\
The hour was sad I left the maid,\\
A ling'ring farewell taking;\\
Her sighs and tears my steps delayed,\\
I thought her heart was breaking;\\
In hurried words her name I blessed,\\
I breath'd the vows that bind me,\\
And to my heart in anguish pressed\\
The girl I left behind me.\\
\\
Then to the South we bore away,\\
To win a name in story,\\
And there where dawns the sun of day,\\
There dawned our sun of glory;\\
Both blazed in noon on Freedom's height,\\
Where in the post assigned me,\\
I shared the glory of that fight,\\
Sweet girl I left behind me.\\
\\
Full many a name our banners bore,\\
Of former deeds of daring,\\
But they were days of Seventy-Six,\\
In which we had no sharing;\\
But now our laurels freshly won,\\
With the old ones shall entwined be,\\
Still worthy of our sires 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 ne'er return again,\\
Still worth thy love thou'lt find me,\\
Dishonor's breath shall never stain\\
The name I'll leave behind me.\\
\\
++
    *Samuel Lover (1797-1868), c1850