A Soldier of Late- William A Larkins (Illinois) 1866; Musick
[From: The Old Album of William A. Larkin by Ruth Ann Musick; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 60, No. 237 (Jul. - Sep., 1947), pp. 201-251. Larkin's handwritten collection of songs and ballads dated 1866 has some excellent early texts.
R. Matteson 2014]
Notes by Musick: This is sometimes known as "The Valiant Soldier" or "The Bold Soldier," "The Lady and the Dragoon" or "The Soldier's Wooing." Brewster identifies it as "Erlington" (Child No. 8), because of the happy ending, as do Gardner and Chickering, Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth, and others. Mary 0. Eddy lists this as a version of "Earl Brand" (Child No. 7), although this is strictly tragic. This is found in many collections, including Belden, pp. 103-104; Brewster, pp. 40-4I; Sharp, English Folk Songs ... (8 versions), I, 333-340; Cox, pp. 375-376; Randolph, pp. 303-307; Pound, American Ballads and Songs, pp. 68-69; Pound, Folk-Song . . ., p. 4; Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth, pp. 377-382; Creighton, pp. 25-26; Scarborough, A Song Catcher
in Southern Mountains, pp. 20I-203; Eddy, pp. 14-17; Gardner and Chickering, Ballads and Songs of Southern Michigan, pp. 380-38I; Tollman and Eddy, JAF, 35 (1922), 414; Henry, Folk Songs from the Southern Highlands, pp. 185-I87. (This, of course, is a version of Burl Ives's "The Bold Soldier.")
A Soldier of Late; No 10th; [Original spelling from manuscript kept] Written By / William A Larkins / May the 9th A D 1866
1. I will tell of a soldier who has lately came from war
He curted a lady of honer and great store (courted)
Her portion it was so great that it scarcely could be tolde
But yet she loved the soldier because he was so bolde
2. As the lady and the soldier was riding out one day
Says the lady to the soldier I cannot marry the
For my father he is so cruel I fear he would end my life
So will I do no that I can not be the wife
3. Oh wel then says the soldier there is no fear again
For I am a lone man who has never crossed the main
He drew his sworde and pistoles and hung them by his side
And he swore he would get married let what would betied
4. As the lady and the soldier was riding hom from church
They met the girls olde father and seven armed men
Oh dear then cried the lady I fear we shall be slain
There is no fear atall said the soldier again
5. The old man he rode up and thus to her did say
Are these your proceedings dear daughter I do pray
So on your resovl for to be a soldiers wife
Loe down in this vally I will I will surely end your life
6. Oh well then says the soldier there is no time to prattle
For I am a lone man and ready for the battle
He drew his sword and pistoles which caused them rattle
And the lady held the horse wile the soldier fought the battle
7. The first one he came to he rushed him through the brain
The second one he came to be served him the same
Lets run then cried the others for fear we shal be slain
For to fight tha valiant soldier I no it is in vain
8. Oh well then says the old man, if you will but holde
Its you shall have my daughter and ten thousand pounds of golde
Fight on then cried the lady the portion it is two small
Holde your hands said the olde man and you shall have it all
9. Oh he welcomed him home and he called him his heir
It was not becausd he loved him but pure out of fear
Saying here is a soldier that guardeth not his life
For he faught seven armed men for his true loveing wife