In 1851 Stephen C. Foster began compiling his songs in a large blank book. He continued to use this book to compose and edit his songs for eleven years. This book is still in existence and is preserved in The Foster Hall Collection at the University of Pittsburg. The very first song in this book is Laura Lee. In its first six years of publication, it only earned $13.12 in royalties for Foster. Background music is in the key of G
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3 4 -4 -4 5 5 Why has thy mer-ry face 6 -4 6 5 gone from my side 3 4 -4 -4 5 5 Leav-ing each cher-ished place 6 -4 5 4 cheer-less and void? -6 -6 -6 -6 6 4 Why has the hap-py dream, -5 5 5 -4 blend-ed with thee, 3 4 -4 -4 5 5 Passed like a flit-ting beam, 6 -4 5 4 Sweet Lau-ra Lee? -6 -6 -6 -6 6 4 Why has the hap-py dream, -5 5 5 -4 blend-ed with thee, 3 4 -4 -4 5 5 Passed like a flit-ting beam, 6 -4 5 4 Sweet Lau-ra Lee? verse 2 Far from all pleasure torn, sad and alone, How doth my spirit mourn while thou art gone! How like a desert isle earth seems to me, Robbed of thy sunny smile, sweet Laura Lee! How like a desert isle earth seems to me, Robbed of thy sunny smile, sweet Laura Lee! verse 3 When will thy winning voice breathe on mine ear? When will my heart rejoice, finding thee near? When will we roam the plain, joyous and free, Never to part again, sweet Laura Lee? When will we roam the plain, joyous and free, Never to part again, sweet Laura Lee?
