The Girl I Left Behind Me/The Answer

by Anonymous

THE ANSWER.

YOU maidens all come pity me,
 and be no more diſdaining,
My love unto the war is gone,
 and left me here complaining;
For now he’s march’d out of the land,
 and I am ſtill repining,
Into ſome diſtant land I’ll go,
 to ſee whether I can find him.

Or in ſome ſilent ſhade I’ll go,
 to ſhelter all my mourning,
The tears ran trickling from her eyes,
 with grief both night and morning;
The tales of love he told to me,
 he never would deceive me,
It was this cruel, cruel war,
 that cauſed him to leave me.

Although the ſtorm e’er ſo ſtrong,
 and cannons loudly rattle,
I’ll go to ſee for my true love,
 into the field of battle,
And if my true love thould be ſlain,
 ſo boldly I’ll ſucceed him,
To fight with gun and ſword in hand;
 whilſt my love lies a bleeding.

But if alıve I ſhould remain,
 and him whom I adore,
I’ll bleſs the day I ſail’d away,
 to ſee my love once more;
The drums and trumpet’s ſweetly ſound,
 and cannons loudly roar,
To fight againſt the Gallic Cocks,
 until the wars are o’er.

So may kind heaven be my friend,
 and ſend the wars ſoon at an end,
That lads may ſee their homes again,
 and maids their loves once more;
Succeſs unto my own true love,
 and ever may I find him;
As true unto his deareſt dear,
 as the girl he left behind him.