DO NOT GO AWAY MY LADY LOVE. American, Minstrel Song (6/8 time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'. The song was written by Charles White [1] (1821-1891), of White's Minstrels, published in 1850. The first stanza and chorus begin:
Come lend an ear, my lub, to me, An listen to dis melody; And harken to de strains so fine, As all de darkies in chorus jine.
CHORUS: Do not go way, my lady-love, Do not go way, my lady love, Do not go way, my lady love, But list to de banjo from above. Do not go way, my lady-love, Do not go way, my lady love, Do not go way, my lady love, But list to de banjo play.
The instrumental line was included in the mid-19th century music collection of fiddler and ship's captain biography:Isaac Homan of Bellport, Long Island, one of many minstrel airs, cotillion sets and misc. dance tunes. It may be that Homan and his musical friends put on minstrel shows.
