Annotation:Long Long Ago
X: 1 T:Long Long Ago (Cluster of Nuts) M:4/4 L:1/8 F:http://jc.tzo.net/~jc/music/abc/mirror/wharfedale-wayzgoose.co.uk/LongLongAgoClusterofNuts.abc K:G G2 GA B2 Bc | d2 ed B4| d2 cB A4| c2 BA G4| G2 GA B2 Bc | d2 ed B4| d2 cB A2 BA| G8:|! |: d2 cB A2 DD| c2 BA G4 | d2 cB ADFA| e2 ed B4| G2 GA B2 Bc | d2 ed B4|d2 cB A2 BA| G8:|
LONG, LONG AGO. English, Air and Country Dance Tune (2/4). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Raven): ABCD (Hall & Stafford): AABBCCDD (Dixon). "Long Long Ago" is the most famous song written by English writer, poet, and composer Thomas Haynes Bayly (1797-1839), published in 1844 after his death (in 1839), but probably dating to the mid-1830's. Bayly initially studied for the law, following his father, then tried for the clergy before finding a livelihood in writing. Although he wrote for the theater and for newspapers, he is remembered today for his sentimental songs (he wrote both lyrics and melody).
The tune is printed with variations by Morpeth fiddler Robert Whinham (1814-1893) in both Dixon and Hall & Stafford. Bayly's lyric begins:
Tell me the tales that to me were so dear,
Long, long ago, long ago;
Sing me the songs I wanted to hear,
Long, long ago, long ago.
Long have I lived with my mem'ries of you,
Now that you're back dear, I know you've been true;
Now we're together, just as we were,
Long, long ago, long ago.
