Goodbye, Little Girl, Goodbye

DESCRIPTION: "The sound of the bugle is calling, Fare thee well, fare thee well." The soldier boy sets out: "Goodbye, little girl, goodbye... In my (Virginia/blue) uniform, I'll return to you." In the din of battle, he sends a (dying?) message to the girl
AUTHOR: Words: Will D. Cobb / Music: Gus Edwards
EARLIEST DATE: 1904 (copyright date on sheet music)
KEYWORDS: soldier separation love
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Brown/Belden/Hudson-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore3 271, "Goodbye, Little Girl, Goodbye" (1 text)
Roud #15745
NOTES [73 words]: The Brown text appears confused. It starts simply enough, with a soldier bidding goodbye to his girl. But when the battle comes, it's not clear whether the lover dies, or the lover lives and goes home, or someone else asks him to send a message.
Lyricist Will D. Cobb was also responsible for "Dolly Grey." He and Gus Edwards seem to have specialized in rather silly love songs, based on the back cover of the sheet music to this piece. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.7
File: Br3271

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