Farewell Isabelle

AKA
First Published 1914
Writer/composer William Hargraves, Charles Collins, Lawrence Wright Roud RN25907

Music Hall Performers Miss Rene Ralph, Tom Costello, Ella Shields And others
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Hutchison, Jeannie ; Scotland : Shetland ; 1980 

Transcribed from Harold Buxton recording by Discogs


Hark the drums how they beat, Isabelle,
To the tramping of feet, Isabelle,
Dry your eyes sweetheart don’t cry,
Wish me luck then say goodbye.
There is work to be done, Isabelle,
To the beat of the drum, Isabelle,
Into line I’ll fall as the bugles call,
“Hurry up, come along, come along”

Farewell Isabelle, Isabelle;
I’ve got to leave you; I’ve got to go.
Farewell Isabelle, Isabelle;
I’ve got to leave you to face the foe.
You know very well, Isabelle,
There’s the battle I go through;
I will do my best when I’m in it, to win it,
‘Cos I’ve won you!

When I’m lonely at night, Isabelle,
By the campfire so bright Isabelle
The vision of your loving smile
Will help to cheer me all the while.
When there’s work to be done, Isabelle
To the beat of the drum, Isabelle,
I’ll go back again to the bugle call,
‘Hurry up, come along, come along’

A patriotic recruiting song from the early years of World War 1 – not especially associated with a particular performer but widely sung in the pantomime season of the 1914/ 15. It was recorded by a number of artistes and written by William Hargreaves, Charles Collins and Lawrence Wright.

It was collected from traditional singer Jeannie Hutchinson from The Shetlands in 1990

A contemporary commercial recording by Stanley Kirkby

Sources:

  • Kilgarrif Sing Us
  • Lyrics as transcribed from Harold Buxton recording by Discogs
  • Sheet Music