Page type: lyric reference
Artist: Levon Helm
Canonical path: /levon-helm/the-girl-i-left-behind
Related lyric paths: 6
Video embedded: yes
Lyric guide
The Girl I Left Behind
Read The Girl I Left Behind lyrics by Levon Helm on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
person
Curated by Ethan Walker
LyroVerse team
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Lyrics
The Girl I Left Behind
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There was a wealthy old farmer
That lived in a county nearby.
He had a lovin' daughter,
On her my [sic] cast my eye.
She was pretty fair an' handsome
And did so very fine.
There wasn't a girl in the county
With her that could compare.
I asked her if she'd be willing
To let me cross over the plains.
She said it would be alright with her
Just so I'd return again.
She said that she'd be true to me
Till death would be unkind.
We kissed, shook hands, and parted.
I left my girl behind.
Out in a western city, boys,
A town you all know well,
Where everyone was friendly,
They'd show me all around.
The work an' money was plentyful,
And the girls to me were kind.
But the only girl I thought about
Was the girl I'd left behind.
One day when I was ramblin' 'round
Down by the public square,
The mail coach it came in,
And I met the mail bearer [PRONOUNCED 'bar'] there.
He handed me a letter, gave me to understand
That the girl I left in old Texas
She married another man.
I turned myself all around and around
Not knowing what else to do.
I rid down a little pace further,
Just to see if these words were true.
It's drinkin' I throw over,
Card playin' I'll resign,
For the only girl I ever did love
Was the girl I left behind.
Come around, you ramblin' gamblin' men,
And listen while I tell.
If it does to you no good, kind friends,
I'm a-sure it will do you no harm.
If you ever find you a fair young maid,
Just marry her while you can.
For if you ever cross over the plain,
she'll marry another man
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Who performs "The Girl I Left Behind"?
Levon Helm performs "The Girl I Left Behind", and this lyric page sits inside the Levon Helm catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "The Girl I Left Behind"?
Yes. The related section below points to A Mood I Was In and A Train Robbery with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Levon Helm?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Levon Helm's lyric pages.
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