A Brave Soldier- Morris (Virginia) pre-1937
[From A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains- Scarborough, 1937. Text was sent in - spelling, capitalization and punctuation kept.
R. Matteson 2014]
A BRAVE SOLDIER- Aunt Delilah Morris Yellow Branch Pirket, Virginia; published in 1937, A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains- Scarborough.
Oh, I'll tell you of a brave soldier
who lately came from war,
Who courted a lady
with over and great stow[1].
Her portion was so great,
it could scarcely be told,
And yet she loves the soldier
because he was so bold.
2. Oh, soldier, oh soldier,
I would freely be your wife,
But my father is so cruel
I fear he'll Take your life,
He took his sode and Pistal,
He hung them by his side.
He swore he would get married
let that would be the tide.[2]
3. Oh they had bin to church
and returning home again,
She met her angry father
and sev€en army men.
Oh now, said the lady,
I fear we will be slain,
Oh, no, said the soldier,
Fear nothing again.
4. Oh, daughter, oh daughter,
what sedence[3] is these?
What made you bring
such a scandal on me?
Oh now you have come to be
some soldier's wife,
And here in this valley
I'll quickly take your life.
5. Oh down jumpted the soldier.
I have no time to praddle[4].
I am a very small man
intending for a battle.
He took his sode and Pistal,
which caused them to ratle,
And the lady held the horses
while the soldier faught the battle.
6. The first one he came to
He run through the Main;
The next one he come to
he run him through again,
Oh, now, said the others,
Oh, lord, let us run.
To fight a valiant soldier
for it's all in vain.
7. Oh, you may have my daughter,
five thousand pounds of gold.
Come hold your hand, poor soldier,
It's you may have if all.
1. honor and great store (store, being her inheritance, or wealth)
2. Let that what would betide.
3. ? (Your guess- haha)
4. prattle