| AKA | Bluebell Farewell my Blue Bell |
| First Published | 1904 |
| Writer/composer | Edward Madden / Theodore Morse | Roud | RN11331 |
| Music Hall Performers | "everybody", Hamilton Hill |
| Folk performances | Collected from the singing of: Cox, Laura ; England : Norfolk 1905 Robbins, Miss Jewell ; USA : N. Carolina : c1921 Copper, Jim ; England : Sussex ; 1936 White, Newman I. ; USA : N. Carolina 1945 Browne, Mrs. Nola ; USA : Alabama : 1952 Weare, Henry W. ; USA : Arkansas : 1954 Everly, Mrs. Gladys ; USA : Missouri : 1958 Webb, Mrs. Walter ; Canada : Ontario : 1962 Sykes, Jack ; England : Yorkshire : Hull 1967 Baker, Arthur ; England : Hampshire : 1971 Beeforth, Jack ; England : Yorkshire : 1974 Pardon, Walter ; England : Norfolk : 1974 Bond, George ; Australia : New South Wales : 1982 Baxter, Bill ; Australia : New South Wales : 1983 Jones, Frank ; England : Birmingham 1984 Marks, Phillis ; USA : W. Virginia : 1998 Jacobs, Lillian ; USA : Vermont : no date Modern performances |
From Music hall Memories No 20: Blue Bell, the dawn is waking, Sweetheart, you must not sigh, Blue Bell, my heart is breaking, I've come to say good-bye; Hear how the bugle is calling, Calling to each brave heart, Sweetheart, your tears are falling, Blue Bell, we two must part. Good-bye, my Blue Bell, farewell to you, One last fond look into my eyes so blue; 'Mid camp fires gleaming, 'mid shot and shell, I will be dreaming of my own Blue Bell. Blue Bell, a wrong wants righting Brave men must risk their lives , Foemen in arms are fighting, Each for the victory strives, There on the hillside lying, There 'mid the guns loud roar, Blue Bell your true love's dying Calling for you once more Blue Bell, they are returning, Each greets a sweetheart, true, Blue Bell, your heart is yearning, Never a one greets you, Sadly they tell the story, Tell how he fought and fell, No tho't of fame or glory, Only of his Blue Bell.
A sentimental song whose performance rights were not owned by any particular singer, though the Australian baritone Hamilton Hill did a lot to popularise it in British and Australian Music Halls. It was a huge hit globally in the first decade of the 20th century, sung and/or recorded by dozens of artistes, including The Haydn Quartet, Henry Burr, Frank Stanley, Kathryn Miley, Nellie Nichols, Edward B Adams, Anna Driver and Madeline Clark.
It was later recorded by Al Hopkins and his Buckle Busters in the late 1920s
The song’s popularity in English-speaking countries is reflected in the fact that it has been found in the repertoire of traditional singers from England, Australia, Canada and America.
Sources:
- VWML entry
- Kilgarrif Sing Us
- Lyrics and UK Sheet Music: Music hall Memories No 20
- Mudcat thread
- Sheet Music: (Nellie Nichols) Univ of Maine
- https://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/collection/145/091
- https://digitalcollections-baylor.quartexcollections.com/Documents/Detail/blue-bell-march-song-chorus/2261555
- US Sheet Music ( Madeline Clark) Univ of Alabama
- Ballad Index
Last Updated on March 16, 2024 by John Baxter | Published: February 4, 2024
