Bold Dragoon- Enos White (Hants) 1955 Copper
[Collected by Bob Copper from Enos White of Axford, Hampshire, in July 1955, and published in Copper's 1973 book "Songs and Southern Breezes."
R. Matteson 2018]
Bold Dragoon- As sung by Enos White of Axford, Hampshire, in July 1955.
“My father is a lawyer, a lord of high renown,
If I should wed a soldier, it would pull my honour down,
Then your part and my part we never shall agree,
So you'll take this as a warning, bold dragoon,” said she.
“No warning, no warning, no warning will I take,
I will either fight or die in the arm all for thy sweet sake.”
Then hearing of those words made the lady's heart to bleed
And away they went to church and got married with speed.
And when they had 'a been to church and turning home again,
The lady met her father and seven armed men,
“I'm afraid,” said the lady, “we both shall be slain.”
“My fear is not at all,” said the jolly dragoon.
So the dragoon drew his sword, cut flesh and made the bones to rattle
And the lady held his horse while the dragoon fought the battle.
“O, hold your hand, bold dragoon, bold dragoon, hold your hand
And you shall have my daughter, ten thousand pounds in hand.”
“I'm afraid,” said the lady, “my portion is but small.”
“So hold your hand, bold dragoon and you shall have it all.”