Bold Dragoon- Moses Blake (Hants) 1906 Gardiner
[From George Gardiner Manuscript Collection (GG/1/5/275),
R. Matteson 2018]
The Bold Dragoon- sung by Moses Blake of Lyndhurst, Hampshire in June 1906. Collected by G.B. Gardiner and John F.
Guyer
"My father is a lord, and a lord of high renown,
And if I marry a soldier, 'twill pull his honour down,
It's my birth to thy birth, it will never agree,
So take it for a warning, bold dragoon," said she.
"A warning, a warning, I never mean to take,
Id rather wed or die, love, all for thy sweet sake."
These words that he said, made the lady's heart to bleed,
So they both went to church and were married with speed.
As they had been to church and returning home again
They met her only father and seven armed men,
"I fear," said the lady, "we both shall be slain."
"I fears not at all," cried the jolly dragoon.
"Now you see there is no time to talk nor to prattle,
You see they are all armed, just fitting for the battle,"
In drawing swords and cutlass, which made the bones to rattle,
And the lady held the horse while the dragoon fought the battle.
"So hold your hand, bold dragoon, the old lord he replied,
And you shall have my daughter and ten thousand pounds besides,"
"Fight on," said the lady, "our portions is but small,"
"Oh, hold thy hand, bold dragoon, and you shall have it all."
Come all ye pretty fair maids that have got gold in store,
Never despise a soldier although he's mean and poor,
For a soldier is a man that'll fight for his own,
Here's a health to our King and his jolly dragoon.