Dark girl dress’d in blue, The

AKA
First published 1862
Lyrics Harry Clifton Music Harry Clifton Roud RN7022

Music Hall performers Harry Clifton
George Leybourne
Kate Harley
Folk performances Source singers
Bert Walker, 1927, Missouri, USA
Fred Barbee, 1933, Missouri, USA
Carrie Grover, 1954, Nova Scotia		 

From a village away in Leicestershire to London here I came
To see the Exhibition and all places of great fame
But what I suffered since I came I now will tell to you
How I lost my heart and senses too, thro' a dark girl dress'd in blue.

She was a fine girl, fol de riddle I do
A charmer, fol de riddle eh.

'Twas on a Friday morning the first day of August
When of that day I ever think my heart feels ready to bust
I went in a six-penny omnibus to the Exhibition of sixty-two
On a seat by the right hand side of the door sat a dark girl dress'd in blue

When we arrived in the Brompton Road the lady looked so strange
The conductor he said, 'Sixpence, Ma'am.' Said she, 'I have no change.
I've nothing less than a five pound note, whatever shall I do?'
Said I, 'Allow me to pay.' 'Oh thank you, sir.'
Said the dark girl dress'd in blue.

We chatted and talked as we onward walked about one thing or the other
She asked me too, oh wasn't it kind? If I had a father or mother
Oh yes, says I, and a grandmother too, but pray, miss, what are you?
'Oh, I'm chief engineer in a Milliner's Shop
Says the dark girl dressed in blue.'

We walked about for an hour or two, thro' buildings near and far
Till we came to the grand refreshment room, I went straight up to the bar
She slipped in my hand a five pound note. I said, 'What are you going to do?'
'Oh don't think it strange I must have change.'
Said the dark girl dressed in blue

I called a waiter and handed him the note
And said, 'Please change me that.'
The waiter bowed and touched his hair for this waiter wore no hat
In slver and gold five pounds he brought, I gave him coppers few
And the change of the note I then did hand
To the dark girl dressed in blue.

She thanked me and said, 'I must away, farewell till we meet again
For I've got to go to Pimlico to catch the Brighton train
She quickly glided from my sight and soon was lost to view
I turned to leave when by my side stood a tall man dressed in blue.

This tall man said, 'Excuse me, sir, I'm one of the X division
That note was bad, my duty is to take you on suspicion.'
Said I, 'For a lady I obtained the change.'
He said, 'Are you telling me true?'
Where's she live? What's her name? says I, 'I don't know
She was a dark girl dressed in blue.

My story they believed, they thought I'd been deceived
But they said I must hand back the cash
I thought 'twas a sin as I gave them the tin
And away went five pounds smash
So all young men take my advice, be careful what you do
When you make the acquaintance of ladies strange
Especially a 'dark girl dressed in blue'

One of many songs written and sung by Harry Clifton that later turned up as a traditional song.

Fairly widely found in 19th century songbooks and broadsides, often with modified place names, but Clifton and other performers often changed the words according to the place where the song was being performed. It was a very popular song at the time, as suggested by the number of parodies and answer songs you can find if you look hard enough!

In the modern world of traditional music you’re more likely to hear the tune than the song. The tune seems entered the world of folk dance as a polka, usually credited as being “Irish Traditional”, but of course it could be that Clifton lifted the tune, something he wasn’t averse to doing!

Clifton first seems to have featured the song in his act in 1862, and notices advertising the sheet music started appearing later that year.

Sept. 7, 1862;  The Era 
 Oct. 25, 1862; The Illustrated London News 

Sources: