I wonder if you miss me sometimes (I wonder if you care)

First Published 1910
Writer/composer AJ Mills / Bennett Scott Roud RN22761

Music Hall Performers Lily Morris, Ella Retford
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Harkie Nesling; England : Suffolk; 1971
Pardon, Walter; England : Norfolk; 1980		 

I stand on a lonely seashore, 
And gaze o'er the waters blue
I picture a land of sunshine, 
And dream all the time of you
The waves of the ocean divide us, 
But still in my heart you reign;
I'd give all I have in the world love, 
To see your dear face once again.

I wonder if you miss me sometimes
Miss me when the twilight's nigh
I wonder, love, do you remember
Days gone by
I wonder if you know I'm pining
Pining for you in despair
I wonder if you know my heart is breaking
And I wonder if you care.


[Additional Verse found on Bamforth Song Card (3)]

Although from my life you've drifted, 
Your dear eyes they haunt me still; 
Again I may never see you, 
But memory my heart will spill. 
When you're caressed by another, 
The love in your eyes will gleam; 
Oh! Would I wake from my sadness,
And find it was all just a dream

A sentimental song by the prolific songwriting team Arthur J Mills and Bennett Scott who set up their own publishers: The Star Music Company.

I wonder was widely performed in the English-speaking world and was recorded several times. In the British Halls it featured most famously in the repertoire of Lily Morris and Ella Retford . The original sheet music featured only a single verse and chorus, the song card (see below) and later recordings include a second verse.

It appears to have been a hit in the war years, a time when sentimental songs were particularly popular. It was remembered by two traditional singers late in the 20th century: Walter Pardon (collected by Mike Yates) and Harkie Nesling (collected by Keith Summers)

Between around 1900 and 1920 song postcards were in their heyday – often featuring sentimental songs like this one usually aimed at servicemen and their loved ones at home. Bamforth published two versions of the song cards for this song – one featuring a soldier sitting in his tent and these featuring his sweetheart at home:

A contemporary recording by Frank Miller:

Sources: