{"id":16007,"date":"2022-04-28T14:09:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T14:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=16007"},"modified":"2025-12-15T07:31:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T07:31:06","slug":"ill-be-your-sweetheart","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/ill-be-your-sweetheart\/","title":{"rendered":"I’ll be your sweetheart"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>Bluebells I’ve gathered<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1899<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Harry Dacre<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN13465<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Lil Hawthorne<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Jarvis, Walter; England : Essex ; 1964\/5
Mills, Billy; England : Yorkshire; 1970
Poacher, Cyril; England : Suffolk; 1975
Ellaway, Arthur; England : Gloucestershire; 1977
Johnson, John; England : Sussex; no date<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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One day I saw two lovers in a garden\nA little lad and lass with golden hair\nThey looked as sweet as honey in a beehive\nAnd so I stood and watched the youthful pair\nThe lad, all blushing, gave the maid a kiss\nThen tenderly he whispered this,\n\nI'll be you sweetheart, if you will be mine\nAll my life, I'll be your Valentine\nBluebells I've gathered, keep them and be true\nWhen I'm a man my plan will be to marry you.<\/em>\n\nThe bluebells were accepted by the maiden\nShe said, \u201cI'll keep them safely all my life\nBut then suppose you meet some other lady\nAnd I should never be your darling wife?\u201d\nHe shook his head and took another kiss\nThen once again he whispered this,\n\nThe years flew by and once again I saw them\nThey stood before the alter hand in hand\nA handsome pair I never shall forget them\nThe happiest young couple in the land\nThen once again he took the loving kiss\nThen passionately whispered this,<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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At the turn of the century Harry Dacre<\/a> followed the hugely popular Daisy Bell (A bicycle built for two) <\/a><\/em>with this song – which had similar success throughout the English speaking world. In the British Halls it was most often  associated with Lil Hawthorne.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This sentimental song, set to a memorable lilting waltz, was collected from a number of traditional singers  in the 2nd half of the 20th century and is still widely sung today. It became  a common feature in the repertoire of barbershop singers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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