He's Gone Away (Appalachian Folk Song)

Tim Knight arranged this haunting and beautiful folk melody for SATB - I have enjoyed playing his compositions for organ and was humbled to receive an arrangement of this piece which he dedicated to me!

"He's gone away" is an Appalachian Folk song about absence, longing and hope of reunion. There are many versions of this passed through generations of oral tradition. One version has two verses, the first sung by a young woman whose lover is leaving for war, the second by the soldier optimistic for his return.

The photos that accompany this performance were all taken by myself throughout Appalachia.

Young woman (1st verse):

He’s Gone away
For to stay a little while,
But he’s comin’ back
Though he goes ten thousand miles. (Look away over yondro)
O who will tie my shoes?
And who will glove my hand?
And who will kiss my ruby lips when you are gone? (Look away over yondro)

Soldier (2nd verse):

I’m gone away
For to stay a little while,
But I’m comin’ back
Though I go ten thousand miles. (Look away over Yondro)
Your mother will tie your shoes.
Your daddy will glove your hand,
And I will kiss your ruby lips when I return. (Look away over yondro)

Choral version:
https://www.timknightmusic.com/product-page/hes-gone-away-pdf-download

I play this on the fantastic St. Mary-Le-Bow extended sampleset by Lavender Audio. The pipe organ was installed and voiced by Kenneth Tickell in the summer of 2010, and released as a multi-channel Hauptwerk sampleset in 2019. Lavender Audio have created an extended specification instrument using only samples from the actual organ, and created a versatile three-manual instrument.

My mixer settings:
Close 22; Ambient 46; Surround 127