Go and Leave Me
Trad. Victorian Parlour Ballad
My own version
Now once I /loved with fond a/ffection D /D D D G /D
D D D/
One whose /heart was dear to /me D D D D
/Em Em A7 A7 /
Till there /came such a dreary /parting D D D G7 /D D
D D /
Now she no /longer speaks to /me
A7 A7 A7 A7 /D D D
Chorus: So go and leave
me if you wish to
Never let me cross your mind
If you think I’ve been unworthy
Go and leave me I don't mind
Many's the night in peaceful slumber
You have laid in sweet repose
While I lay broken-hearted
Listening to the wind that blows
Chorus
Here is the ring that once you gave me
When our lips they were entwined
Go and give it to another
Never know it once was mine
Chorus
From the
Mudcat.org:
[Trad. arr. Norma Waterson, Eliza Carthy] Sung by Norma Waterson, Maria
Gilhooley, Nadine Elliott and Eliza Carthy on Norma Waterson's third
solo album Bright
Shiny Morning and on the Topic sampler A
Woman's Voice. Eliza Carthy accompanies on violin, too. Norma
Waterson said in the Bright
Shiny Morning sleeve notes: These words are from Sarah and Rita
Keane but I started singing it after talking a lot with Walter Pardon.
His mum used to sing it and I think that it's a Victorian Parlour
Ballad.
Go and Leave Me
This song might sound as if it came from a Country and Western 78 disc,
but it's a 19th century 'weepy'. Who knows where it started off, but it
was popular in Scotland by the early 20th century. Mr Greig and the
Rev. Duncan received requests for it via the newspaper, and in 1906,
after they'd collected a number of versions in the North-east, Greig
remarked that 'the song has been traditional [in Scotland] for a
while'. [G-D #1145] My version comes from the singing of two friends,
Cathal McConnel and Duncan Williamson.
Once I loved with fond affection
One whose thoughts were dear to me,
Until a dark girl did entice him
Never more will he speak to me.
Go and leave me if you wish, love,
Never let me cross your mind
Oh, if you think I'm so unworthy
Go and leave me, I don't mind.
Years have gone since first I saw you
I was then so young and free
You won my heart and then you left me
Left me here in misery.
Many's the day with you I've rambled
Many an hour with you I've spent,
I thought your heart was mine forever,
Then I knew it was only lent.
Many's the night while you lay sleeping
Dreaming on in sweet repose,
While I poor girl lay broken-hearted
Listening to the wind that blows.
Take back that ring that once you gave me
When our hearts they were entwined
Give it to the dark-haired maiden
She'll never know it once was
Go and Leave Me
Trad
arr. Spiers/Boden Published by Fellsongs Publishing
Another soppy one. This time a conflagration of Irish balladry and
Victorian Music Hall learnt from the singing of Peta Webb.
Once I loved with fond affection
All her thoughts they were of me
Until a dark boy did persuade her
Now she thinks no more of me
For now she’s happy with another
One that has great gold in store
Well I poor boy left broken hearted
I’m left alone because I’m poor
Chorus
So go and leave me if you wish love
Never let me cross your mind
If you think I’m so unworthy
Go and leave me I don’t mind
Many’s the day with you I rambled
Many was the night that with you I’ve spent
I’ve always thought you were mine forever
Now I know you were only lent
Many’s the night when you lie sleeping
Dreaming in your sweet repose
Well I poor boy lie broken hearted
Listening to the wind that blows
Chorus
So here’s a ring that first you gave me
When our hearts they were entwined
Give it to that dark haired laddie
He’ll never know that it once was mine
Chorus x 2
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