Voice ; Collected and transcribed by Mary Celestia Parler Sung by Mrs. Hallie Griffin Conway, Arkansas July 27, 1958 Reel 298, Item 8 The Girl I Left Behind Me The maids of Prance are fond and true And Flemish lips are willing And soft the maids of Italy And Spanish hearts are willing. I seek no more the fair and brave For each doth but remind me And bless the hours I passed away With the girl I left behind me. For she is fair as (Sharon’s side) And purer than its water But she refused to be my bride Though many a year I sought her. She writes, My own dear love, come home, My friends are rich and many Or else abroad with you I’ll roam A soldier stout as any. If you won’t come nor let me go (unintelligible line) My heart nigh broke when I answered no To the girl I left behind me. The bee shall honey taste no more The dog become a ranger The falling waters cease to roll Ere she's to me a stranger. My mind her image must retain Asleep or sadly waking I long to see my love again For her my heart is breaking. If Erin's free or to be free, The battle's close will find me; To Ireland bound my message need From the girl I left behind me. ; Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation.