London City- no informant (US) 1927 Sandburg B
[No informant, location or date supplied. From Carl Sandburg- American Sandbag, 1927 (second of two versions). Sandburg's notes follow. This variant as "railroad boy" found in several other versions.
R. Matteson 2017]
GO BRING ME BACK MY BLUE-EYED BOY
Here too is a " sad-like " tune. . . . And the words match the tune. . . . The seventh verse is an addition by someone wanting a dash of horse sense to finish off the fatal childish romance. . . . Text A and the tune are from Frances Ries, and text B, London City, from R. W. Gordon.
B. London City- no informant named, sung in US before 1927-- text from Robert W. Gordon probably from US south. Sandburg B
1. London City where I used to dwell,
It's a railroad boy I loved so well,
He courted mo my heart away,
And with me he would not stay.
2. Go out this fair little town;
Take him a chair and sit right down,
Take other strange girls upon his knee,
And tell them things he won't tell me.
3. I don't see the reason why
Unless they had more golden eyes[1].
Gold will melt, silver will fly,
I hope some day they will become as I.
4 She went on upstairs to fix her bed
Not a word to her mamma she said.
Mamma went off upstairs saying
Daughter dear, what is troubling you?
5 Oh, Mamma, Oh, Mamma, I dare to tell
It's the railroad boy I love so well,
He courted me my heart away
And with me would not stay.
6. Her papa came in from his work
Saying where is my daughter so dear,
Off upstairs he did go
And there found her hanging by a rope.
7 Upon her breast was a letter found
Saying, when you find me cut me down
Go dig my grave both wide and deep
And place a marble stone at my head and feet.
Upon my breast place a turtle dove,
To show this world I died for love.
1. gold than I.