{"id":25797,"date":"2024-12-18T14:11:36","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T14:11:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=25797"},"modified":"2025-12-23T08:20:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T08:20:34","slug":"photo-of-the-girl-i-left-behind-me-the","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/photo-of-the-girl-i-left-behind-me-the\/","title":{"rendered":"Photo of the girl I left behind me, The"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1911<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writer\/composer<\/td>Billy Merson<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN22020<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Billy Merson<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Pratley, Reg ; England : Oxfordshire : 1960
Ling, Ruby ; England : Suffolk : 1975-1980
Hill, Arthur; Canada : Ontario ; 1981
Bailey, Herbert ‘Sugar’ ; England : Essex : 1989?
Brown, Buster ; England : Essex : no date<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
When first I made my mind up that a soldier I would be,
The girl that I was courting with came round and said to me,
\u201cNow I\u2019ve had me photo taken Bill, and if we are to part,
Oh! Promise me you'll always wear my photo next your heart.\u201d
I hung the locket and her ruby lips I kiss'd,
I borrowed my fare to Aldershot and went off enlist.

And with the photo of the girl I left behind me, 
I went and joined the army full of glee.
The sergeant said he wanted to remind me, 
That the doctor wanted to examine me,
Now when the doctor found that locket next to my heart, he said to me,<\/em>
\"Whose photograph is that sir that I find?
Is this the captain\u2019s bulldog?\u201d
I said, \u201cNo sir, if you please, sir, 
It\u2019s the photo of the girl I left behind.<\/em>\u201d
 
I'd not been in the army long when the sergeant said, \u201cMy lad,
The captain's been complaining that your shooting\u2019s very bad.\u201d
If you stay in the army there will have to be a change,
So in the morning take a course of lessons at the range.\u201d
I saluted and said, \u201cVery well, the practise shall be done.\u201d
And on the following morning off I went and got me gun.

And with the photo of the girl I left behind me, <\/em>
I went to practised shooting all the day.
But we found a gust of wind had been unkind and <\/em>
Blown the blooming target right away,
The captain said, \u201cOur target\u2019s gone, whatever shall we do?\u201d
I shouted just to cheer him, \u201cNever mind!\u201d
If you haven\u2019t got a target and you want something to shoot at,
Here\u2019s the photo of the girl I left behind.<\/em>

I never shall forget the day I first went under fire,
I'd been looking at that photo of that girl that I admire.
I thought her lovely face would encourage me to go,
And fight like English men should do when goin' to face the foe,
The Captain said, \u201cWe\u2019re cornered boys, so fight like hell you must.\u201d
I kissed that photograph, then they couldn\u2019t see me for dust.

And with a photo of the girl I left behind me, 
I rushed into the thickest of the fray,
The captain said, \u201cWe're out of ammunition boys, 
I\u2019m afraid its going to be a losing day.\u201d
I said \"Don't worry over ammunition, if you please;
I've something far more terrible, you'll find
I'll rush amongst the enemy and frighten them to death,
With the photo of the girl I left behind.<\/em><\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
A song written and performed by Billy Merson<\/a> – it was popular amongst traditional singers in South East England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n