The Girl I Left Behind Me
(a.k.a. "Brighton Camp" or "Brighten
Camp")
Words & Music:
Traditional
It is believed that this
song originated in Dublin and "crossed the pond" to America as early
as 1650. It was popular among
soldiers on both sides during America's Civil War and further migrated west in
1880s. Each of the three verses in
this song reflect those three eras of the song.
Irish Lyrics:
A
E
D
A
The dames of France are fond
and free, and Flemish lips are willing,
A
D
E
A
And soft the maids of Italy
and Spanish eyes are thrilling.
A
E
Still, though I bask beneath
their smile, their charms fail to bind me.
A
D
E
A
And my heart falls back to
Erin's Isle, to the girl I left behind me.
American Lyrics:
I'm lonesome since I crossed
the hill And o'er the moor
and valley
Such heavy thoughts my heart
do fill since parting with my Sally
I seek no more the fine and
gay For each does but remind
How swift the hours did pass
away with the girl I've left behind me.
Bob Wills' 1940's-era
lyrics:
If ever I get off of the trail
and the Indians, they don't find me
I'll make my way straight back
again, to the girl I left behind me.
Oh, that girl, that purdy
little girl, the girl I left behind me
With rosy cheeks and curly
hair, the girl I left behind me.
English version:
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.
O ne'er shall I forget 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.
"Songs Of The
Seventh Cavalry" version:
The hours sad I left a maid,
alingering 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
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 n'eer return
again still with thy love i'll bind me
Dishonors breath shall never
stain the name I leave behind me