“Long, Long Ago!”

Description

"Tell me the tales that to me were so dear, Long long ago, long ago; Sing me the songs I delighted to hear... Now you are come my grief is removed...." The singer welcomes back (his?) long-lost love; he doubted her fidelity, but he rejoices to see her

Supplemental text

Long, Long Ago!
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From sheet music published at an uncertain date by Firth & Hall.
No title sheet; the song is printed on two sides of a single page,
very badly (note the absurd punctuation), with the heading at the
top of the first page reading
LONG, LONG AGO
     Ballad
  Composed by
TH.H.BAYLY. ESQ.

Tell me the tales that to me were so dear,
  Long long ago, long long ago:
Sing me the songs I delighted to hear,
  Long long ago, long ago:
Now you are come my grief is remov'd,
Let me forget that so long you have rov'd,
Let me believe that you love as you lov'd,
  Long long ago, long ago:

     2
Do you remember the path where we met,
  Long long ago, long ago.
Ah yes you told me you ne'er would forget,
  Long long ago, long ago.
Then to all others my smile you prefer'd,
Love when you spoke gave a charm to each word,
Still my heart treasures the praises I heard,
  Long long ago, long ago,

     3
Though by your kindness my fond hopes were rais'd,
  Long long ago, long ago,
You by more eloquent lips have been praise'd
  Long long ago, long ago,
But by long absence yout truth has been tried,
Still to your accents I listen with pride,
Blest as I was when I sat by your side,
  Long long ago, long ago,

Notes

Bayly made his name as a composer of sentimental tunes, but this is surely his best-known. The exact date of composition is unknown; the earliest dated printing is from 1844, but copies are known to have been in circulation when Bayly died in 1839. The best guess is that it originally appeared c. 1836.

The author's original title was "The Long Ago." - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "Gone Long Ago" (tune)

Broadsides

• Murray, Mu23-y4:019, "Long, Long Ago," unknown, 19C
• NLScotland, L.C.Fol.70(145), "Long, Long, Ago," unknown, c.1870

References

1. RJackson-19CPop, pp. 119-120, "Long, Long Ago!" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Pankake-PHCFSB, pp. 278-279, "Long, Long Ago" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Silber-FSWB, p. 256, "Long, Long Ago" (1 text)
4. Fuld-WFM, p. 338, "Long, Long Ago!"
5. ST RJ19119 (Full)
6. Roud #4921
7. BI, RJ19119