"The Girl I Left Behind"  
Adapted by the US Army - 1812
Composed by Unknown Artist - circa 1800
Synthesized by Charles R. Glasgow



This long-standing popular folk tune was originally known in Ireland as "The Rambling Labourer" and "The Spailpin Fanach". In the 19th century it became a popular British marching song under the title "Brighton Camp". In the years before the American revolution, the song was often played when a British naval vessel set sail or an army unit left for service abroad.

The song became popular in the US regular army, who adopted it during the War of 1812 after they heard a British prisoner singing it. The song was used by the Army as a marching tune throughout the 19th century. Even today it is played at the United States Military Academy at West Point as part of the medley for the cadet's final formation for graduation.

[Verse 1]

I'm lonesome since I cross'd the hill
And o'er the moor and valley
Such heavy thoughts my mind do fill
Since parting with my Sally
I ask no more the fine or gay
For each but does remind me
How swift the hours did pass away
With the girl I've left behind me

[Verse 2]

Oh, ne'er shall I forget the night
The stars were bright above me
And gently lent their silv'ry light
When first she vow'd 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've left behind me.

[Verse 3]

Had I the art to sing her praise
With all the skill of Homer,
The only theme should fill my lays -
The charms of my true lover.
So let the night be e'er so dark,
Or e'er so wet and windy
Kind heaven send me back again
To the girl I've left behind me.

[Verse 4]

Her golden hair, in ringlets fair,
Her eyes like diamonds shining,
Her slender waist, with carriage chaste,
May leave the swan repining.
Ye gods above! oh, hear my prayer,
To my beauteous fair to bind me,
And send me safely back again
To the girl I've left behind me.

[Verse 5]

The bee shall honey taste no more,
The dove become a ranger,
The falling waves may cease to roar,
Ere I shall seek to change her.
The vows we register'd above
Shall ever cheer and bind me
In constancy to her I love, -
Ye gods above! oh, hear my prayer,
To my beauteous fair to bind me,
And send me safely back again
To the girl I've left behind me.

[Verse 6]

The bee shall honey taste no more,
The dove become a ranger,
The falling waves may cease to roar,
Ere I shall seek to change her.
The vows we register'd above
Shall ever cheer and bind me
In constancy to her I love, -
The girl I've left behind me.

[Verse 7]

She says,"My love, come home to me
My friends are rich and many;
Or else abroad with you I'll roam
A soldier stout as any.
If you'll not come or let me go
I'll think you have resigned me,"
It broke my heart to answer, "No"
To the girl I left behind me.

[Verse 8]

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 someday I'll return again
If the rebels they don't find me
And never will I roam again
From the girl I left behind me.

"Days' End"






Cavalry Outpost Publications Logo 14 Oct '99
Need a gift for an Alumni of the 1st Cavalry Division?



Return To The Host URL Of This Link


Copyright © 1996, Cavalry Outpost Publications ® and Trooper Wm. H. Boudreau, "F" Troop, 8th Cavalry Regiment (1946 - 1947). All rights to this body of work are reserved and are not in the public domain, or as noted in the bibliography. Reproduction, or transfer by electronic means, of the History of the 1st Cavalry Division, the subordinate units or any internal element, is not permitted without prior authorization. Readers are encouraged to link to any of the pages of this Web site, provided that proper acknowledgment attributing to the source of the data is made. The information or content of the material contained herein is subject to change without notice.

Revised 05 Apr '12 SpellChecked