One of the songs associated with the Spanish-American War is
"The Girl I Left Behind Me," which, although not originally from that
period, was popular among soldiers during various American military
engagements, including the Spanish-American War. The song itself dates back
much further and has British origins, but it became part of American military
culture. The lyrics speak to the feelings of soldiers as they leave their loved
ones to go off to war. Here are the lyrics to one of the versions of "The
Girl I Left Behind Me":
I'm lonesome since I crossed the hill,
And o'er the moor and valley,
Such heavy thoughts my heart do fill,
Since parting with my Sally.
I seek no more the fine or gay,
For each does but remind me
How swift the hours did pass away,
With the girl I left behind me.
Oh ne'er shall I forget the night,
The stars were bright above me
And gently lent their
silv'ry light,
When first she vowed to love me.
But now I'm bound to Brighton camp,
Kind heaven then pray
guide me,
And send me safely back again,
To the girl I left behind me.
The bee shall honey taste no more,
The dove become a ranger,
The falling waters cease to roar,
Ere I shall seek to change her.
The vows we've made to one another,
Oh, they're recorded in the sky,
And never shall I wed another,
Till the day I die.
Though in the battle front we're placed,
And death is hovering round us,
No fear shall mine the line to waste,
Nor entwine the laurels round us.
And if we're called to face the foe,
No fear shall e'er unbind me,
My thoughts will be
with her I know,
The girl I left behind me.
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