A Soldier- Brubaker (OH) pre1939 Eddy B
[From Ballads and Songs from Ohio, version B, 1939. Eddy lists this and two other versions under Earl Brand (Child No.7). This is Version B, no title.
R. Matteson 2014]
B. "A Soldier" From Mrs. Mary Brubaker, Perrysville, Ohio.
A soldier, a soldier just coming from the plain,
FIe courted a fair lady of honor and fame.
Her riches were so great that they scarcely could be told,
And yet she loved a soldier for being so bold.
(Repeat the last line.)
"Oh, soldier, oh, soldier, I wish I was your wife,
But I fear my cruel father would take away my life."
Took down his sword and pistol and hung it at his side,
And said they'd get married let whay would betide.
Ran off and got married, and coming home again
They met their cruel father and his well-armed men.
"Oh, soldier, oh, soldier, I fear we shall be slain."
"Oh, fear, never fear," said the soldier again.
Up steps the old man and to his daughter saying,
"Is this the way you are going to carry on, I pray?
And if you do intend to be a soldier's wife,
It's in this lonely valley we will end your sweet life."
Up steps the soldier, and saying, "No time to prattle,
For I am here just waiting for a battle."
Took down his sword and pistol, and he began to battle[1],
And the lady held the horses while the soldier went to battle.
The first one he came to he shot him through the brain[2],
The next one he came to he served him just the same.
"Hold on," said the old man, "don't carry on so bold,
You can have my daughter and ten thousand pounds of gold."
"Fight on," says the lady, "the portion is too small."
"Hold on," says the old man, "you can have it all.
Hold on," says the old man, "and spare me my life;
You may have my daughter, and she may be your wife."
He took him to his own house, and called him son and dear,
It wasn't through good feeling, but merely through fear.
Come, all you loyal ladies, that living up in store, never slight a soldier
No matter how poor, a soldier will fight for his love and liberty.
1. they began to rattle (I guess, he could rattle- haha)
2. Originally was "amain" (shot him through amain) which according to the Random House Dictionary: the origin of this Archaic adverb is c. 1530–40, "a-main" meaning 1. with full force. or 2. at full speed.