In the valleys of Switzerland

AKAValley of Switzerland
First Published1907

Writer/composerCharles Wilmott / Herman Darewski RoudRN16708

Music Hall PerformersAnnie Purcell
Folk performancesSource Singers
Holman, Harry 1960 England : Sussex
Green, Charles 1971 England : Sheffield
Modern performances
In a sweet little verdant valley with the mountains high above
Looking down with snowy splendour lives the little girl I love
Just a simple Switzer maiden but so sweet and so divine
But my heart is ever yearning for the day when she'll be mine.

In the valleys of Switzerland, Switzerland, Switzerland
With my sweetheart hand in hand how I long to be
I know she will be waiting there, waiting there, waiting there
And the home with me she'll share, in the valleys of Switzerland.

In her eyes the tears were shining on the day I said good-bye
Leaving home and love fortunes in a far off land to try
I can see her sad and lonely as that parting she recalls
Of her absent love dreaming when the twilight softly falls.

But a golden day is dawning. Home again I soon shall go
Where the snow lies on the mountains, but the hearts beat warm below
I shall feel those tender kisses that I've yearned so oft in vain
With my loving arms around her, never more to part again.

Sung in the Halls by Annie Purcell (?-1932). The earliest records I can find of Annie Purcell appearing on stage are in 1880 when she appeared as a seriocomic and solo violinist in “provincial” Halls, like the Alexandra and Lord Nelson in Barnsley. By 1900 she was regularly appearing in the London Halls, where she had a huge hit with By The Side of the Zuyder Zee.

You can hear Harry Hollman singing it on the Sussex traditions website here

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