Vintage Audio: Goodbye Dolly Gray 

At this website, is a 1901 recording of the Boer War sentimental favourite Goodbye Dolly Gray. An extract of the song's lyrics are also provided. (see below)

The song was written by Will D. Cobb (lyrics) and Paul Barnes (music). Although it gained widespread fame during the Boer War it had earlier been sung in the U.S. during the U.S.-Spanish War of 1898. The song saw renewed airings with the onset of the First World War in 1914.

You can listen to a vintage rendition of the song performed by the hugely popular Canadian singer Harry MacDonough in 1901 (MP3 format 699kb).

Goodbye Dolly Gray

I have come to say goodbye, Dolly Gray,
It's no use to ask me why, Dolly Gray,
There's a murmur in the air, you can hear it everywhere,
It's the time to do and dare, Dolly Gray.

So if you hear the sound of feet, Dolly Gray,
Sounding through the village street, Dolly Gray,
It's the tramp of soldiers' true in their uniforms so blue,
I must say goodbye to you, Dolly Gray.

Goodbye Dolly I must leave you, though it breaks my heart to go,
Something tells me I am needed at the front to fight the foe,
See - the boys in blue are marching and I can no longer stay,
Hark - I hear the bugle calling, goodbye Dolly Gray.

 

"Good-bye Dolly Gray" (1900)


Sung with Immense Success by Charles Kent, of Dooley & Kent
Words by Will D. Cobb
Music by Paul Barnes

[Source: 146/104@Levy]

1.
"I have come to say good-bye, Dolly Gray.
It's no use to ask me why, Dolly Gray.
There's a murmur in the air
You can hear it ev'rywhere
It is time to do and dare, Dolly Gray.
Don't you hear the tramp of feet, Dolly Gray.
Sounding thro' the village street, Dolly Gray.
'Tis the tramp of soldiers true
In their uniforms of blue,
I must say good-bye to you, Dolly Gray!"

REFRAIN [sung twice after each verse]
"Good-bye Dolly, I must leave you,
Tho' it breaks my heart to go,
Something tells me I am needed
at the front to fight the foe.
See the boys in blue are marching,
And I can no longer stay.
Hark! I hear the bugle calling,
Good-bye Dolly Gray!"

2.
Hear the rolling of the drums, Dolly Gray.
Back from war the reg'ment comes, Dolly Gray.
On your lovely face so fair
I can see a look of care
For your soldier boy's not there, Dolly Gray.
For the one you loved so well, Dolly Gray.
In the midst of battle fell, Dolly Gray.
With his face towards the foe
As he died he murmured low,
"I must say good-bye and go, Dolly Gray!"