The Girl I Left Behind Me

polka

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on January 12th 2006 by gian marco.

This tune has been added to 51 tunebooks.

Also known as Girl I Left Behind, Girl I Left Behind Me, The Girl I Left Behind, The Shirt I Left Behind Me.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• Celtic Passion by John Williams, Dean Magraw
• Clare Concertinas by Bernard O'Sullivan And Tommy McMahon
• Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 3 by Matt Cunningham
• Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 3 CD Version by Matt Cunningham
• Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 5 by Matt Cunningham
• Further Down The Old Plank Road by The Chieftains
• Just Me And A Fiddle by The Flyin' Fiddler Wayne Cantwell
• Music Of Sligo by Peter Horan And Fred Finn
• Rince: Complete Irish Dancing Set - First Steps And Beyond by Lynn Saoirse
• Rolling Home by The Foundry Bar Band
• Set Dances Of Ireland, Volume II by Lynn Saoirse
• Set Dances Of Ireland: Music For Listening And Dancing by Lynn Saoirse
• Stepping Up: English Country Dance Music by Lynn Saoirse
• The Eamonn Ceannt Ceili Band by The Eamonn Ceannt Ceili Band
• Traditional Irish Dance Music: All Star Ceili Band by Joe Derrane
• Traditional Irish Music by William Sullivan
• Way Out Yonder by Andy Irvine And Dick Gaughan

X: 1
T: Girl I Left Behind Me, The
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Gmaj
|:g/f/|ed BA|BG E>F|G2 G/A/B/c/|d2 dg/f/|
ed BA|BG E>G|FA DE/F/|G2 G:|
|:z/A/|Bd ef|gd BG|Bd ef|g2 f>^c|
ed BA|BG E>G|FA DE/F/|G2 G:|

The Shirt I Left Behind Me (polka)

Source: Music Of Sligo by Peter Horan And Fred Finn
Transcription: gian marco pietrasanta

# Posted on January 12th 2006 by gian marco

I'm sure this was a signature tune for a radio program in Ireland many years ago - it is more than somewhat familiar. Nice tune anyway.

# Posted on January 13th 2006 by Donough

Really the shirt? LOL

# Posted on January 13th 2006 by Zina Lee

More commonly known as tune/ song "The Girl I Left Behind Me". However, I once saw the lyrics to a comic song to this tune about the misadventures of a farm labourer and the shirt. I am afraid I can only remember the last two lines

And I was fined 10 quid for braining that kid
In the shirt I left behind me

Anyone got the rest of the words?

# Posted on January 13th 2006 by LongNote

A polka version of "My Mind Will Never Be Easy"?

# Posted on January 13th 2006 by slainte

Also Known As "The Waxies Dargle".

# Posted on January 13th 2006 by Innocent Bystander

Also known as "Brighten Camp."

Most famously played by Buggs Bunny on fife and Porky Pig on snare drum.

--James

# Posted on January 13th 2006 by beardflute

There's an old IWW song to this tune, called "The Mysteries of A Hobo's Life", findable under that title at mudcat. The little that's known about the author, "T-Bone Slim", is a good story for those interested in American history. For that matter, the song itself is a good introduction to the American labor movement of the early twentieth century. And you thought this stuff was just folk music!
-Jon

# Posted on January 15th 2006 by Jon Kiparsky

Many names seem to exist for this tune - Brighton Camp, The Girl I Left Behind Me, and the original Upton-Upon-Severn Stick dance tune (before it was replaced by the eponymous tune).
Interestingly it is also mentioned in Haggard's 'King Solomon's Mines' (written in 1885) - one of the main characters whistles the tune 'The Girl I left behind me'.

One set of lyrics:
The Black cat piddled in the white cat's eye,
the white cat said 'Corr Bli-mey',
The black cat said it serves you right,
You shouldn't have stood behind me!

# Posted on October 14th 2006 by bristoljw

Here's a nice version......
K:G
gf|\ e2dc B2A2|B2G2 E2D2|G2G2 GABc|d4 B2gf|\
e2dc B2A2|B2G2 E2G2|FGA2 D2EF|G4 G2:| \
|dc|B2 Bcd2ef |g2dcBAG2|Bc d2e2f2|g4 f2gf|\
e2dc B2A2|B2G2 E2G2|FGA2 D2EF|G4 G2 :|

# Posted on August 21st 2007 by Freddy Frog