The Girl I Left Behind- Eden Hash
[According to Alan Lomax' notes (p. 307): The narrator leaves Ireland for Scotland, or sails from England bound for Amerikay, sets off on horseback from Virginia to Tennessee, turns west from Tennessee to Texas or old Missouri, or starts across the plains from Texas to Salt Lake City or California. In British versions he often finds a new sweetheart whose gold destroys his love for the girl he left behind. News then comes that his parents and his old sweetheart have died of broken heart. In all American versions, however, the man is betrayed by the fickle girl he has left behind...
The song is also known as "Peggy Walker" (collected in Missouri) and has been recorded by old-time musician Buell Kazee as "The Roving Cowboy" on Brunswick 156-A. One further variant, recorded as "Maggie Walker Blues" by Clint Howard 2:57 PM 8/3/2014(vocal and guitar), Fred Price (fiddle), and Doc Watson (guitar) on "Old-Time Music at Clarence Ashley's" (Folkways FA 2355, 1961) and credited to T. C. Ashley (Clarence Ashley) is sung to a tune that is basically that also used by Kelly Harrell for "My Name Is John Johannah" and by Dylan for his "Long Time Gone" (copyrighted on Apr 11, 1963 -- Clinton Heylin, Stolen Moments, London, 1988, p. 322).
R. Matteson 2014]
THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND
1. My parents raised me tenderly,
They had no child but me.
My mind being bent on rambling,
With them could not agree,
Till I became a rover bold,
Which grieved their hearts full sore,
I left my aged parents,
I'll never see them anymore.
2. There was a worthy gentleman residing in that part,
He had an only daughter dear and I had won her heart.
She was a noble-minded girl; tall beautiful, and fair,
Columbia's fairest daughter could not with her compare.
3. I told her my intention was soon to cross the main,
I asked her if she would prove true till I'd return again.
She threw her arms around my neck; her bosom heaved a sigh
"Fear not, for me, brave youth," said she, "My love can never die."
4. "I had a dream the other night which I can not believe,
That distance breaks the links of love and leaves fair maids to grieve,
I pressed a kiss upon her lips and told her never fear,
I vowed by Him who rules the skies that I would be sincere.
5. According to agreement I went on board my ship,
And to the town of Glasgow I made a pleasant trip.
There I found gold was plenty and the maids were somewhat kind,
Which made my love grow cool a bit for the girl I left behind.
6. To Dunfries town I next sailed down in that hospitable land,
Where handsome Jennie Ferguson first took me by the hand.
Said she, "I've gold in plenty and in love with you I find."
My thoughts of gold destroyed my love for the girl I left behind.
7. Said she, "If you will marry me and say no more you'll rove,
The gold that I possess ls yours, and I will constant prove;
But parents dear and other friends that you have left behind
Don't ever, if you marry &or bear them again in mind."
8. To this I soon consented and I own it to be my shame,
For what man can be happy when he knows he's to blame?
It's true I've gold in plenty and my wife is very kind,
But my pillow is left haunted by the girl I left behind.
9. My father in his winding sheet, my mother, too, appears ;
The girl I love stands by their side to wipe away their tears.
They all died broken-hearted, and it's now too late I find
That God has seen my cruelty to the girl I left behind.
Mrs. Eden Hash, formerly Miss Daisy Arnold, of Route 2, Smithville, Tennessee, furnished thls song, both words and melody. It was written on scrap of paper many years ago, the age being attested by the yellowed paper and from memory. The tune was written as above from her singing of the old song. ( 1940)