I heard Cathy Jordan talking about "An Spailpín Fanach" on an American radio programme where the audience recognised the tune as the one you're talking about ...
"The Girl I Left Behind Me" appears in the Bunting collection. Irish tunes were quite in vogue in early 19th century America. "Jefferson and Liberty" was sung to the tune of the Gobby-O; "Rosin the Beau" was published in Philadelphia in 1838 and became a sort of all-purpose tune; the "Bard of Armagh" was adapted to the "Streets of Laredo"; Custer's 7th Cavalry marched to its death to the music of "Garryowen." I found a setting of An Roisin Dubh attributed to Carolan and set to a Methodist hymn text, published in 1849.
Several hymns in the Latter-day Saints Hymnal are set to tunes we know:
If you could high to Kolob - Star of County Down
Choose what is right - Araby's Daughter
Praise to the Man - Scotland the Brave
As Zion's youth in Latter days-Wexford Carol
Jug of Punch -(just kidding)
I don't think you had the wrong war, some of the guys that danced to Garryowen the night before heading for Little Big Horn with Custer had come out of the (usa) civil war unrest, it wasn't that long before.
There is also a very fine song by this name sung by Andy Irvine on his Way Out Yonger album, here a link with mp3 sample, words and album notes, hope that helps http://www.andyirvine.com/albums/way_out_yonder.html
ks
I tis quite possible lost of American tunes have Irish or Scottish origin such as Turkey in the Straw originally brought to the US by a Scot living in Uist who later moved to America and popularized the song.
Feardearg's link includes the opinion that this tune was known in America in 1650, and came from England. Many people would agree with that (but may not know the dates).
Brighton Camp was named for the barracks/fort/military base of that name in Sussex, England.
The tune is still very commonly played by country and Morris Dance musicians.
Try it in a set with Soldier's Joy, Buttered Peas, and Rakes of Mallow.
Compare, if you like, with ancient tunes such as Greensleeves which have had sundry good, bad, and indifferent lyrics attached to them.
Yes, Waxie's Dargle = The Girl I left Behind Me, a fife-playing reenactor at Fort Niagara in New York told me that it was known in the colonies at least a generation before the French and Indian War (is that Queen Anne's War to the other side of the Atlantic? Memory failing..), and he was a real stickler for "authenticity." Also, I believe it's still played as the final parade march at West Point's graduation ceremonies. Also adopted as regimental march by 7th US "cotton-baler" regiment. I *think.* Again, memory failing.
The Pogues managed to kick their way through it, although every time that record has been played in my house something ended up broken.
My great-grandfather moved here from County Down in about 1912 and it was one of the ones he brought with him on the fiddle. He had words to go with it, too, although only a verse survived to my mother's memory and it's a bit off-color to post here... something ending in "you shouldn't have stood behind me." I remember seeing a similar variation of those words in a book studying the rhymes and songs of school children from the British Isles and Ireland. It'd be interesting if anyone could turn them up again.
There is, inevitably, another set of words, more ribald, concerning a young man, who calls hinself "The Rambling Boy from Dorset", and I first heard it from a singer who had taken that name as his own stage persona, back in the late sixties. ( Where is he now ?)
Basic plot concerns a young woman locked up in a tower by her father for her own protection, but, surprise surprise, easily accessible to this randy young man..........in the last verse he revists the tower..."She was still locked in to ward off sin
"She did't look much older
"She had three little boys, two little girls
"And a babee on her shoulder."
And, to answer the original question, much American music and song has it's origins in Ireland, Scotland, and England. That's why Cecil Sharp was so excited when he was collecting in the Appalachians in the 1910's, and called the published collection something like "English Ballads from the Appalachians". And also why the Bronson collection of the tunes ( and words ) of the Childe Ballads has so many American variants.
Used to play it in a set with Port Lairge and the Siege of Ennis way back in the sixties as a polka - I think it was in Allan's Irish fiddle book. I haven't heard it for years and don't know if it would be safe to try it out on a Sliabh luachra audience!
thanks, there kristen. my increasingly-fuzzy recollections of high school american history went down the tubes there for a moment... you are absolutely right.
i guess it wouldn't have won me the prize in final jeopardy, either!
The Girl I Left Behind Me
The Girl I Left Behind Me
I've heard a rumor that this American tune associated with the civil war has precedents in Irish music. Any leads?
# Posted on January 8th 2006 by kbar
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
A link that seems to answer the question:
http://www.contemplator.com/england/girl.html
# Posted on January 8th 2006 by feardearg
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
which came first this one or waxies dargle
# Posted on January 8th 2006 by Ripthecalico
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
I heard Cathy Jordan talking about "An Spailpín Fanach" on an American radio programme where the audience recognised the tune as the one you're talking about ...
# Posted on January 8th 2006 by Lizzy
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
"The Girl I Left Behind Me" appears in the Bunting collection. Irish tunes were quite in vogue in early 19th century America. "Jefferson and Liberty" was sung to the tune of the Gobby-O; "Rosin the Beau" was published in Philadelphia in 1838 and became a sort of all-purpose tune; the "Bard of Armagh" was adapted to the "Streets of Laredo"; Custer's 7th Cavalry marched to its death to the music of "Garryowen." I found a setting of An Roisin Dubh attributed to Carolan and set to a Methodist hymn text, published in 1849.
# Posted on January 8th 2006 by dwdeacon
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
Several hymns in the Latter-day Saints Hymnal are set to tunes we know:
If you could high to Kolob - Star of County Down
Choose what is right - Araby's Daughter
Praise to the Man - Scotland the Brave
As Zion's youth in Latter days-Wexford Carol
Jug of Punch -(just kidding)
There are a few more I can't recall right now.
# Posted on January 8th 2006 by feardearg
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
thanks, very interesting. looks like I had the wrong war....
# Posted on January 8th 2006 by kbar
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
I don't think you had the wrong war, some of the guys that danced to Garryowen the night before heading for Little Big Horn with Custer had come out of the (usa) civil war unrest, it wasn't that long before.
# Posted on January 8th 2006 by full measure
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
There is also a very fine song by this name sung by Andy Irvine on his Way Out Yonger album, here a link with mp3 sample, words and album notes, hope that helps
http://www.andyirvine.com/albums/way_out_yonder.html
ks
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by KS
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
I tis quite possible lost of American tunes have Irish or Scottish origin such as Turkey in the Straw originally brought to the US by a Scot living in Uist who later moved to America and popularized the song.
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by Why Bother?
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
Feardearg's link includes the opinion that this tune was known in America in 1650, and came from England. Many people would agree with that (but may not know the dates).
Brighton Camp was named for the barracks/fort/military base of that name in Sussex, England.
The tune is still very commonly played by country and Morris Dance musicians.
Try it in a set with Soldier's Joy, Buttered Peas, and Rakes of Mallow.
Compare, if you like, with ancient tunes such as Greensleeves which have had sundry good, bad, and indifferent lyrics attached to them.
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by oldstrings
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
Yes, Waxie's Dargle = The Girl I left Behind Me, a fife-playing reenactor at Fort Niagara in New York told me that it was known in the colonies at least a generation before the French and Indian War (is that Queen Anne's War to the other side of the Atlantic? Memory failing..), and he was a real stickler for "authenticity." Also, I believe it's still played as the final parade march at West Point's graduation ceremonies. Also adopted as regimental march by 7th US "cotton-baler" regiment. I *think.* Again, memory failing.
The Pogues managed to kick their way through it, although every time that record has been played in my house something ended up broken.
My great-grandfather moved here from County Down in about 1912 and it was one of the ones he brought with him on the fiddle. He had words to go with it, too, although only a verse survived to my mother's memory and it's a bit off-color to post here... something ending in "you shouldn't have stood behind me." I remember seeing a similar variation of those words in a book studying the rhymes and songs of school children from the British Isles and Ireland. It'd be interesting if anyone could turn them up again.
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by gravelwalks
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
There is, inevitably, another set of words, more ribald, concerning a young man, who calls hinself "The Rambling Boy from Dorset", and I first heard it from a singer who had taken that name as his own stage persona, back in the late sixties. ( Where is he now ?)
Basic plot concerns a young woman locked up in a tower by her father for her own protection, but, surprise surprise, easily accessible to this randy young man..........in the last verse he revists the tower..."She was still locked in to ward off sin
"She did't look much older
"She had three little boys, two little girls
"And a babee on her shoulder."
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
Correction - "The Wayward Boy..."....I must have been thinking of Rambling Sid Rumpo.......( there's another cultural reference )..
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
And, to answer the original question, much American music and song has it's origins in Ireland, Scotland, and England. That's why Cecil Sharp was so excited when he was collecting in the Appalachians in the 1910's, and called the published collection something like "English Ballads from the Appalachians". And also why the Bronson collection of the tunes ( and words ) of the Childe Ballads has so many American variants.
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
Used to play it in a set with Port Lairge and the Siege of Ennis way back in the sixties as a polka - I think it was in Allan's Irish fiddle book. I haven't heard it for years and don't know if it would be safe to try it out on a Sliabh luachra audience!
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by Bannerman
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
FYI: The French and Indian War is known as The Seven Years War on the other side of the pond...
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by kristenvm
Re: The Girl I Left Behind Me
thanks, there kristen. my increasingly-fuzzy recollections of high school american history went down the tubes there for a moment... you are absolutely right.
i guess it wouldn't have won me the prize in final jeopardy, either!
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by gravelwalks
This tune is on a 78 as "Soldier Will You Marry Me" by the SKILLET LICKERS in key of G. It has lots of verses.
-dogma
# Posted on January 16th 2006 by dogmageek