Nellie Dean

AKA Sweet Nellie Dean
(You’re My Heart’s Desire, I Love You) Nellie Dean
First Published 1905
Writer/composer Harry Armstrong Roud RN30035

Music Hall Performers Gertie Gitana
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Copper, Jim ; England : Sussex ; 1936
Baron, Jim ; England : Yorkshire ; 1972		 

(From US Sheet Music)

At the old mill stream I'm dreaming, Nellie Dean
Dreaming of your bright eyes gleaming, Nellie Dean
As they used to fondly glow
When we sat there long ago
Listening to the waters flow, Nellie Dean

There's an old mill by the stream, Nellie Dean
Where we used to sit and dream, Nellie Dean
And the waters as they flow 
Seem to murmur sweet and low
You are my heart's desire
I love you, Nellie Dean

I can hear the robins singing, Nellie Dean
Sweetest recollections ringing, Nellie Dean
For they seem to sing of you
With your tender eyes of blue
For I know they miss you too, Nellie Dean

A sentimental American ballad, first published in New York 1905. Gertie Gitana was introduced to the song by her brother, who thought it might suit her – she sang it in Plymouth in 1907 and was still singing it 40 years later

It became an extremely popular song in pub singalongs through most of the 20th century, and appeared in the repertoires of at least two traditional performers.

Sources:

  • Entries in the Roud Indexes at the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library: https://archives.vwml.org/search/all:single[folksong-broadside-books]/0_50/all/score_desc/extended-roudNo_tr%3A30035
  • Ballad Index
  • Mudcat Thread
  • Kilgarrif Sing Us
  • Lyrics and Sheet Music (US): Lester levy Collection