I'm The Man They Left Behind
(or Camlachie Scout)
by Horace Hunter & Harry Lauder
submitted by James Hutton
 

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When the boys all left Camlachie for tae go tae Africa,
I was the man they left behind.
But dinna think I dinna want to go, because I did,
Well, I did until they made me change ma mind,
When they telt me of the dangers and the glories of the war,
I said, "Sincee'er I was a kid that's what I bursted for."
but when they telt me all aboot the people call'd the Boer,
I said, says I, "I think I'll stay hehind!"

Chorus
I'm the man,  the man they left hehind,
Brimming full of courage,
and I've such a war-like mind.
When the bullets are a "sissing"
And the bombshells are a "hissing",
I am there amang the missing,
I'm the man they left behind.
 

Verse 2

When they spoke aboot the bullets that turn ye inside oot,
I said, says I, "I think I'll stay behind,"
They strike you in the "chester cake" and come out where they like,
I was the man they left behind.
You don't know frae, and you don't ken where to run,
To try and get some shelter, waiting till the fight is done,
When up comes a dirty bombshell, and you're hush'd tae kingdom come,
And what is left of you is left behind.

Chorus

Verse 3

Now, the chaps that left Camlachie left their wives and sweethearts, too
But I was was the man they left behind.
I did ma best to comfort them, and it took some doing, too,
But I was the man they left behind.
I showed no favour anywhere, but loved them, big or small,
And the kids would call me "Papa" ev'ry time I used to call.
I often wish they'd stay away and not come home at all,
But I was the man they left behind.

Note: sheetmusic is very old and yellow

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