Recordings & Info 299. Trooper and Maid
CONTENTS:
1) Alternative Titles
2) Traditional Ballad Index
3) Child Collection Index
4) Excerpt from The British Traditional Ballad in North America by Tristram Coffin 1950, from the section A Critical Biographical Study of the Traditional Ballads of North America
5) Folk Index
6) Mainly Norfolk: The Light Dragoon / The Trooper and the Maid
ATTACHED PAGES: (see left hand column)
1) Roud No. 162: Trooper and Maid (58 Listings)
Alternate Titles
The Trooper and the Maid
The Bugle Britches
The Bugle Boy
The Soldier and His Lady
The Soldier Travelling From the North
A Soldier Rode (A Soldier Rode from the East)
The Trooper
Traditional Ballad Index: Trooper and Maid [Child 299]
DESCRIPTION: A trooper comes to a girl's door and convinces her to sleep with him. In the morning he is called to the colors; she follows and begs him to return or let her come with him. He will not let her come and will not promise to return
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST_DATE: 1828 (Buchan)
KEYWORDS: courting soldier abandonment
FOUND_IN: Britain(England(West),Scotland(Aber,Bord,High)) Ireland Canada US(Ap,MW,NE,SE,So)
REFERENCES: (18 citations)
Child 299, "Trooper and Maid" (4 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #3}
Bronson 299, "Trooper and Maid" (27 versions)
SharpAp 45, "The Trooper and the Maid" (3 short texts, 3 tunes) {Bronson's #11, #12, #10}
BarryEckstormSmyth pp. 371-373, "The Trooper and the Maid" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #14}
Randolph 41, "A Soldier Rode From the East to the West" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #8}
Randolph-Legman I, pp. 209-212, "A Soldier Rode" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Davis-Ballads 51, "Trooper and Maid" (2 texts, 1 tune entitled "The Trooper and Maid") {Bronson's #16}
Davis-More 46, pp. 356-360, "Trooper and Maid" (1 fragment, probably this but short enough that it might be something else)
BrownII 49, "Trooper and Maid" (1 text)
Brewster 27, "Trooper and Maid" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #9}
Leach, pp. 684-686, "The Trooper and Maid" (1 text)
Kennedy 121, "As I Roved Out" (1 text, 1 tune)
GreigDuncan7 1470, "The Trooper and the Fair Maid" (5 texts, 3 tunes) {A=Bronson's #7, B=#2, C=#4}
GreigDuncan8 1852, "I'm Nae Awa" (1 fragment)
Ord, pp. 365-366, "The Trumpet Sounds at Burreldales; or, The Trooper and the Maid" (1 short text)
Niles 65, "Trooper and Maid" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
Silber-FSWB, p. 161, "The Trooper And The Maid" (1 text)
DT 299, TROOPRMD (TROOPRM2*) LGHTDRAG
Roud #162
RECORDINGS:
Harry List, "The Light Drag'on" (on FSB2, FSB2CD)
Dillard Chandler, "The Soldier Traveling from the North" (on OldLove)
Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger, "The Trooper and the Maid" (on SCMacCollSeeger01) {the text is Bronson's #18, but the tune is different}
Jimmy McBeath, "The Trooper and the Maid" (on FSB5 [as "The Trooper Lad"], FSBBAL2) {Bronson's #17}
CROSS_REFERENCES:
cf. "I Love My Love (I) (As I Cam' Owre Yon High High Hill)" (lyrics)
cf. "Ung Sjoman Forlustar Sig, En (A Young Seaman Enjoys Himself)" (theme)
ALTERNATE_TITLES:
The Trooper and the Maid
The Bugle Britches
The Bugle Boy
The Soldier and His Lady
The Soldier Travelling From the North
NOTES: Randolph's are the first bawdy versions of the venerable ballad to see the light of print. - EC
Many versions of this have mixed with the "Seventeen Come Sunday" [Laws O17], the result may be known as "As I Roved Out" (so, e.g., the version in Kennedy), and you should probably check the references under both songs. It is often difficult to decide where to file such a piece (indeed, I managed to file the Kennedy text under both songs!). - RBW
Verse 3 of Child 299.B and verse 9 of Child 299.D is close to Opie-Oxford2 180, "Wine and cakes for gentlemen" (earliest date in Opie-Oxford2 is 1898)
Child 299.D: "Bread and cheese for gentlemen, An corn and hay for horses, Pipes and tobacco for auld wives, And bonnie lads for lasses." [For this see also Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #173, p. 127, ("Cheese and bread for gentlemen") -- though they describe it as "a fragment of a harvest song." The Opies say Crofton had a Welsh equivalent but do not give any additional information. - RBW]
Opie-Oxford2 180: "Wine and cakes for gentlemen, Hay and corn for horses, A cup of ale for good old wives, And kisses for young lasses." - BS
Child Ballad 299: Trooper and Maid
Child --Artist-- Title --Album --Year --Length --Have
299 4Square Trooper Lad Chronicles 2010 No
299 Adam McCulloch As I Roved Out In These Times 2011 No
299 Alex Campbell Trooper and Maid (1) The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
299 Alex Campbell Trooper and Maid (2) The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
299 Alex Campbell, Alan Roberts & Dougie MacLean The Trooper and the Maid CRM 1979 3:02 Yes
299 Alex Robb The Trooper and the Maid The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
299 Alexander Clark The Trooper and the Maid The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
299 Anam The Trooper and the Maid Saoirse 1995 2:59 Yes
299 Archie Fisher The Trooper and the Maid Borderlands - The Best of Scottish Folk 2006 1:56 Yes
299 Archie Fisher The Trooper and the Maid Archie Fisher 1982 1:57 Yes
299 Archie Fisher Trooper and the Maid John Howson Collection 1970-1995 No
299 Aunt Jenny Wilson The Soldier and the Lady Aunt Jenny Wilson - From the Collection of Fred Coon 2007 No
299 Bella Hardy Sixteen Come Sunday BBC Proms 2008 Folk Day 2008 3:51 Yes
299 Benji Kirkpatrick Trooper and Maid Dance in the Shadow 1998 2:34 Yes
299 Benji Kirkpatrick & Paul Sartin Trooper and Maid Upstairs, Downstairs - Music from the Servants' Hall 2010 No
299 Bernard Cherry Seventeen Come Sunday John Howson Collection 1970-1995 No
299 Blackstonefolk As I Roved Out .. Ten Years on .. - Traditional Irish Music 2002 4:18 Yes
299 Bob Hart I'm Seventeen Come Sunday Reg Hall Archive 1953-1977 3:09 Yes
299 Bob Hart Seventeen Come Sunday Flash Company - Traditional Singers from Suffolk and Essex 1974 2:38 Yes
299 Bobby Clancy + The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem As I Roved Out Home to Ireland - 28 Irish Favourites - The Best of the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem 1996 3:25 Yes
299 Boiled in Lead As I Roved Out Old Lead 1991 4:09 Yes
299 Border Lord The Light Dragoon Bonny Brave Boys 2003 4:41 Yes
299 Brian Peters The Dragoon's Ride Sharper Than the Thorn 1996 5:40 Yes
299 Broadside Electric As I Roved Out More Bad News.. 1997 4:23 Yes
299 Brocelïande As I Roved Out Brocelïande 2000 4:44 Yes
299 Bully Wee Trooper and the Maid Bully Wee 1975 2:28 Yes
299 Cairde As I Roved Out Irish Washerwoman 2006 No
299 Canterbury Fair The Trooper and the Maid Canterbury Fair 1978 4:24 Yes
299 Cantillation I'm Seventeen Come Sunday Ye Banks and Braes - Folksongs to Touch the Heart 2006 No
299 Casey Anderson Trooper and the Maid Goin' Places 1960 2:26 Yes
299 Cassidy's Ceili As I Roved Out Cassidy's Ceili 1999 3:12 Yes
299 Celticana As I Roved Out Soldier's Daughter 2002 Yes
299 Chris & Siobhan Nelson The Bold Dragoon Day Has Dawned 2006 No
299 Claymore As I Roved Out Every Bottle Dry 2007 4:00 Yes
299 Clishmaclaver As I Roved Out Hearing Double 1989 3:08 Yes
299 Cyril Tawney The Bold Dragoon Down Among the Barley Straw 1976 5:27 Yes
299 Dalla Seventeen Come Sunday Rooz 2007 4:41 Yes
299 David & M Roach The Trooper and the Maid Ducks in a Row - Ballads & Dance Tunes from Ireland, Scotland and America 2003 No
299 Dave & Toni Arthur The Bold Dragoon Morning Stands on Tiptoe 1997 2:39 Yes
299 Dave & Toni Arthur The Bold Dragoon John Howson Collection 1970-1995 No
299 David Hammond As I Roved Out I Am the Wee Falorie Man, Folk Songs of Ireland 1997 :48 Yes
299 David Parry The Light Dragoon 'E Liked It All - David Parry in Concert with the Friends of Fiddler's Green 1995 3:38 Yes
299 Dick Corbett Seventeen Come Sunday Nick & Mally Dow Collection 1986-1991 :59 Yes
299 Dillard Chandler The Soldier Traveling from the North Old Love Songs and Ballads from the Big Laurel, North Carolina 1964
No
299 Dillard Chandler The Soldier Traveling from the North Dark Holler - Old Love Songs and Ballads 2005 3:24 Yes
299 Doolin' As I Roved Out Popcorn Behaviour 2006 4:00 Yes
299 Dr Faustus Trooper and Maid The First Cut 2003 5:17 Yes
299 Dr Faustus Trooper and Maid Folk Music of Scotland 2001 No
299 Dr Faustus Trooper and Maid Scotland the Brave - A Pageant of Celtic Music 2008 No
299 Duan As I Roved Out <website> - 3:21 Yes
299 Eric Schoenberg As I Roved Out Steel Strings 1982 No
299 Ewan MacColl The Trooper and the Maid The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) - Vol. 2 1956 4:20 Yes
299 Ewan MacColl The Trooper and the Maid The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) - Vol. 3 [Reissue] 196? No
299 Ewan MacColl The Trooper and the Maid [Scots] The Long Harvest, Vol. 10 - Some Traditional Ballads in Their English, Scots and North American Variants 1968 3:55 Yes
299 Ewan MacColl The Trooper and the Maid Ballads - Murder Intrigue Love Discord 2009 4:31 Yes
299 Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger The Trooper and the Maid Classic Scots Ballads 1997 3:56 Yes
299 Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger The Trooper and the Maid A Lover's Garland 1962 3:55 Yes
299 Ewan McLennan As I Roved Out Rags & Robes 2010 5:47 Yes
299 Five Hand Reel The Trooper and the Maid The Collection 1997 5:10 Yes
299 Five Hand Reel The Trooper and the Maid Earl O'Moray 1978 4:59 Yes
299 Five Hand Reel The Trooper and the Maid Five Hand Reel + For A' That + Earl O' Moray 2007 5:10 Yes
299 Flynn As I Roved Let the Show Begin 2003 4:10 Yes
299 Fred & Ray Cantwell The Soldier and the Lady Songs of Seduction - Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales 2000 5:13 Yes
299 Fred List The Light Dragoon Good Hearted Fellows - Traditions Folk Songs, Music Hall Songs and Tunes from Suffolk 2006 No
299 Fred List The Light Dragoon Keith Summers Collection 1970-1977 2:12 Yes
299 Gerald Trimble The Bugle Britches Crosscurrents 1986 No
299 Glengarry Bhoys As I Roved Out Full Contact Highlanding 1999 3:26 Yes
299 Greenfields As I Roved Out Praties and Gold 2002 5:03 Yes
299 Harry Adams Seventeen Come Sunday Bob & Jacqueline Patten Collection 1970-1999 No
299 Harry Cox Seventeen Come Sunday Harry Cox Sings English Love Songs 1965 No
299 Harry List The Light Drag'on Young Rambleaway - Seven Suffolk Singers 1975 No
299 Harry List The Light Drag'on The Green Wedding - The Classic Ballads 3 1976 No
299 Harry List The Light Drago'n Songs of Seduction - Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales 2000 1:33 Yes
299 Harry List The Light Drago'n The Folk Songs of Britain, Vol 2: the Songs of Seduction 1961 1:33 Yes
299 Harry List The Light Dragoon The Voice of the People, Vol. 23: Good People, Take Warning - Ballads sung by British and Irish Traditional Singers 2012 No
299 Hector Campbell Trooper and Maid The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
299 Highland Reign Trooper and the Maid My Roots Are Rockin' 2005 3:13 Yes
299 Holdstock & MacLeod The Trooper and the Maid Seasoned Songs - English & Scottish Songs in the Tradtion 2012 No
299 Holly Tannen & Pete Cooper The Soldier and the Lady Frosty Morning 1979 3:18 Yes
299 Isla Cameron As I Roved Out Songs of Love, Lust and Loose Living 1962 2:54 Yes
299 Isla Cameron As I Roved Out The Best of Scottish Folk [VA - Pulse] 1996 2:52 Yes
299 Jack Crawford The Bold Dragoon Pride of the Season 2008 No
299 James MacBeath The Trooper Lad BBC Recordings No
299 Jean Orchard Seventeen Come Sunday John Howson Collection 1970-1995 No
299 Jean Redpath The Trooper and the Maid Father Adam 1979 2:42 Yes
299 Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller Trooper and the Maid Shadows Tall 2010 3:01 Yes
299 Jeannie Robertson My Rovin' Eye Heather and Glen: Songs and Melodies of Highland and Lowland Scotland 1951 1:37 Yes
299 Jeannie Robertson Wi' My Rovin' Eye The Queen Among the Heather 1998 1:35 Yes
299 Jennifer Mylod & The Boys of County O'Cean As I Roved Out Mylodic Isle 2006 3:58 Yes
299 Jim Brannigan As I Roved Out Troubadour 2005 No
299 Jim Brannigan As I Roved Out Jim Brannigan's Favourites 2007 4:33 Yes
299 Jim O' Donnell As I Roved Out In the Garden Walking 2011 No
299 Jimmy MacBeath The Trooper and the Maid Two Gentlemen of the Road 2003 No
299 Jimmy MacBeath The Trooper and the Maid Classic Ballads of Britain & Ireland - Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales, Vol 2 2000 3:30 Yes
299 Jimmy MacBeath The Trooper Lad McCaffery & McPherson - Jimmy MacBeath 3 1975 No
299 Jimmy MacBeath The Trooper Lad (The Trooper and the Maid) The Folk Songs of Britain, Vol 5: The Child Ballads 2 1961 2:12 Yes
299 Jimmy McBeath The Trooper and the Maid The Green Wedding - The Classic Ballads 3 1976 No
299 Joe Heaney [Seosamh Ó hÉanaí] As I Roved Out (The Deceived Maid) The Calliope House Concert, Pittsburgh 1977 5:12 Yes
299 John Breen As I Roved Out John Breen 2004 2:33 Yes
299 Jon Boden As I Roved Out A Folk Song a Day - May 2011 3:48 Yes
299 Jon Boden Light Dragoon A Folk Song a Day - September 2010 3:03 Yes
299 Jon Boden & Marguerite Hutchinson As I Roved Out Celtic Airs and Ballads 2003 No
299 Jon Boden & Marguerite Hutchinson As I Roved Out Celtic - Traditional Music and Songs from the Farthest Reaches of the British Isles 2005 No
299 JSD Band As I Roved Out JSD Band 1972 4:12 Yes
299 Jumbo Brightwell Seventeen Come Sunday Good Hearted Fellows - Traditions Folk Songs, Music Hall Songs and Tunes from Suffolk 2006 No
299 June Tabor As I Roved Out On Air [June Tabor] 1998 4:38 Yes
299 Kieron Means The Farmer’s Daughter Far as My Eyes Can See 2005 No
299 Kingdom Folk Band Trooper and the Maid Restless 1997 No
299 Loreena McKennitt As I Roved Out The Wind That Shakes the Barley [McKennitt] 2010 5:01 Yes
299 Mad Rush The Bold Dragoon Music of Time 2003 No
299 Malinky The Light Dragoon Last Leaves 2000 2:50 Yes
299 Margo Hennebach As I Roved Out Big Love 1998 4:15 Yes
299 Marvin Thornton & Fort Thomas Group The Soldier and the Lady Kentucky Mountain Music - Classic Recordings of the 1920s & 1930s 2003 2:24 Yes
299 Mary Smith As I Roved Out Of Rogues and Lovers 2003 4:46 Yes
299 Mary Smith As I Roved Out The West Was in Their Heart 2006 4:46 Yes
299 Matthew Ord As I Roved Out Early in the Spring 2010 No
299 Mervent As I Roved Out Mervent 10 2010 4:05 Yes
299 Mike (Ichingiching) As I Roved Out <website> 2007 4:53 Yes
299 Mike Waterson The Light Dragoon Bluebell Folk Sing 1969 No
299 Mike Waterson The Light Dragoon Mike Waterson 1999 2:59 Yes
299 Monalee Kendall The Trooper and the Maid A Dead Knight Trilogy 1997 No
299 Mrs. Lester Seventeen Come Sunday Reg Hall Archive 1953-1977 2:30 Yes
299 Nancy Whiskey The Trooper and the Maid Nancy Whiskey with Her Guitar Sings 1957 No
299 Noel Murphy As I Roved Out Caught in the Act 1978 3:14 Yes
299 Noel Murphy As I Roved Out Murf 1974 No
299 Norman Kennedy Sixteen Come Sunday Ballads & Songs of Scotland 2002 3:28 Yes
299 Norman Kennedy Wi' My Rovin' Eye Scots Songs and Ballads 1968 3:20 Yes
299 Norman Kennedy Wi' My Rovin' Eye Scottish Voices - Great Performances from the Scottish Singing Tradition 1996 3:31 Yes
299 Norman Kennedy Wi' My Rovin' Eye Three Score and Ten - A Voice to the People 2009 3:30 Yes
299 North Sea Gas Trooper and the Maid Spirit of Scotland 2000 3:10 Yes
299 North Sea Gas Folk Trio As I Walked Out Those So Dearly Held 1981 2:25 Yes
299 Northeast Winds As I Roved Out On Tour 1994 3:36 Yes
299 Old Blind Dogs The Trooper and the Maid or The Trumpet Sounds at Burreldales Close to the Bone 1997 3:21 Yes
299 Orealis The Trooper and the Maid Naciones Celtas IV - Legado Universal 2000 3:41 Yes
299 Orealis The Trooper and the Maid Celtic Music - Musique Celtique 1999 3:41 Yes
299 Paddy Tunney As I Roved Out The Man of Songs 1962 2:55 Yes
299 Paul Gwynne Phillips Trooper and Maid Folk Songs and Ballads of the British Isles 1964 3:35 Yes
299 Paul McNeill 16 Come Monday Morning Traditionally at the Troubadour 1966 No
299 Peggy Seeger A Soldier Travelling from the North [American] The Long Harvest, Vol. 10 - Some Traditional Ballads in Their English, Scots and North American Variants 1968 3:47 Yes
299 Peggy Seeger The Trooper and the Maid Folksongs and Ballads 1958 No
299 Peggy Seeger The Trooper and the Maid Classic Peggy Seeger - Songs in the American Tradition 1996 3:46 Yes
299 Peggy Seeger The Trooper and the Maid Troubled Love 1962 3:46 Yes
299 Peggy Seeger The Trooper and the Maid [American] The Long Harvest, Vol. 10 - Some Traditional Ballads in Their English, Scots and North American Variants 1968 3:25 Yes
299 Pilgrims' Way Light Dragoon Shining Gently All Around 2011 No
299 Planxty As Christy Roved Out Live 2004 2004 4:01 Yes
299 Planxty As I Roved Out The Well Below the Valley 1988 3:52 Yes
299 Planxty As I Roved Out Live 1975 1975 5:56 Yes
299 Planxty & Luka Bloom As I Roved Out Live at the Point Theatre, Dublin 2004 4:28 Yes
299 Poítín As I Roved Out Winter Brew 2004 5:04 Yes
299 Rattle on the Stovepipe The Light Dragoon + Downfall of Paris 8 More Miles 2006 No
299 Rattle on the Stovepipe The Light Dragoon + Downfall of Paris + Mississippi Sawyer So Far, So Good - The Best of Return Journey and Eight More Miles 2010 No
299 Raymond Crooke The Trooper and the Maid <website> 2007- 3:05 Yes
299 Rí Ra As I Roved Fairy 2010 2:30 Yes
299 Richard Dyer-Bennet The Soldier and the Lady Richard Dyer-Bennet Vol. 13 - Stories and Songs for Children and Their Parents 1964 3:02 Yes
299 Richard Dyer-Bennet The Soldier and the Lady The Art of Richard Dyer-Bennet [The Essential Richard Dyer-Bennet] 1993 3:00 Yes
299 Robin Hall The Trooper and the Maid Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads 1960 No
299 Rosemary Bisset The Bold Dragoon The Larks they Sang Melodious - Sing-song in a Suffolk Pub 1974 No
299 Round the House As I Roved Out Safe Home 2003 5:41 Yes
299 Roy Bailey The Trooper and the Maid New Bell Wake 1999 4:27 Yes
299 Russ Kapp The Trooper and the Maid Perennial Waltz 2000 6:18 Yes
299 Sarah Makem As I Roved Out At Home with The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem & Their Families 1968
No
299 Seamus Ennis As I Roved Out The Folk Songs of Britain, Vol 1: Songs of Courtship 1961 1:53 Yes
299 Seelie Court Trooper and the Maid + Tam Lin Rising in the North 2001 3:03 Yes
299 Sequel As I Roved Out Livestyle 2006 3:47 Yes
299 Sheila Adams Soldier Travelling from the North Digital Library of Appalachia: Warren Wilson College Collection 197?-198? 2:51 Yes
299 Shep Ginandes Soldier Rode from the East Dogwood Soup - Folk Songs for Children 1961 No
299 Shorty & Juanita Sheehan The Soldier and the Lady Fine Times at Our House - Indiana: Ballads, Fiddle Tunes, Songs 1964 3:18 Yes
299 Skylark Seventeen Come Sunday Raining Bicycles 1996 3:00 Yes
299 Skylark Seventeen Come Sunday fRoots 8 1997 2:59 Yes
299 Smoky Finish Trooper and the Maid Clear This Planet .. Immediately 2002 5:11 Yes
299 Stark Raven Trooper and the Maid Stark Raven 1996 4:55 Yes
299 Steeleye Span Seventeen Come Sunday Storm Force Ten 1977 5:07 Yes
299 Steeleye Span Seventeen Come Sunday Another Parcel of Steeleye Span - Their Second Five Chrysalis Albums 1976-1989 2010 5:08 Yes
299 Steeleye Span Seventeen Come Sunday The Collection [Steeleye Span] 1991 No
299 Steve Benbow & Jimmie MacGregor As I Roved Out Sinful Songs 1958 No
299 Susan Reed Seventeen Come Sunday Susan Reed Sings Old Airs [From Ireland, Scotland & England] 1957 1:17 Yes
299 Susan Reed The Soldier and the Lady Susan Reed 1957 1:32 Yes
299 Sylvia Herold & Euphonia The Light Dragoon Lovely Nancy 2005 No
299 Tandem Ceilidh Band The Trooper and the Maid + The Island Spinning Song Rare Auld Times 2011 No
299 Tempest As I Roved Out 15th Anniversary Collection 2004 5:30 Yes
299 Terry Blankenship The Light Dragoon Celtic Collection 2010 No
299 The Allen-Ward Trio The Trooper and the Maid The Allen-Ward Trio 1965 3:00 Yes
299 The Blue Water Folk Trooper and the Maid The Blue Water Folk 1971 2:17 Yes
299 The Corrie Folk Trio & Paddie Bell The Trooper and the Maid The Corrie Folk Trio & Paddie Bell + The Promise of the Day 1965 1:40 Yes
299 The Dudaim My Rovin' Eye Ben and Adam 1960 No
299 The Duhks The Trooper and the Maid Your Daughters & Your Sons 2003 2:45 Yes
299 The Highkings As I Roved Out Memory Lane 2010 3:31 Yes
299 The Jacobites The Trooper and the Maid Ye Jacobites By Name 1984 No
299 The John Kirkpatrick Band Seventeen Come Sunday Force of Habit 1996 5:20 Yes
299 The Kerry Boys As I Roved Out The Kerry Boys 1997 2:57 Yes
299 The MacLeods The Trooper and the Maid Chronicles 2000 5:01 Yes
299 The Mathews Brothers As I Roved Out A Kiss in the Morning Early 1978 1:47 Yes
299 The McCalmans The Trooper and the Maid Singers Three 1969 No
299 The New Lost City Ramblers The Soldier and the Lady 20th Anniversary Concert 1993 3:23 Yes
299 The Petermen The Trooper and the Maid The Petermen 1968 2:15 Yes
299 The Rankin Family As I Roved Out Endless Seasons 1995 3:38 Yes
299 The Tannahill Weavers The Trooper and the Maid + The Sound of Sleat The Tannahill Weavers IV 1982 3:18 Yes
299 The Tiller's Folly As I Roved Out + King of the Faeries The View from Here 1997 3:54 Yes
299 The Wassailers Bold Dragoon + Over the Hills and Far Away The Wassailers 1978 3:47 Yes
299 The Watersons The Light Dragoon Mighty River of Song 2004 3:07 Yes
299 The Watersons The Light Dragoon Folkfestival '76 Dranouter 1976 No
299 Theodore Bikel Trooper and the Maid A Folksinger's Choice 1964 2:59 Yes
299 Theodore Bikel & Cynthia Gooding As I Roved Out Young Man and a Maid Sing Love Songs of Many Lands 1956 3:28 Yes
299 Tiller's Folly As I Roved Out A Fine Kettle of Fish - Live at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery 2004 5:52 Yes
299 Tim Eriksen A Soldier Traveling from the North Northern Roots Live in Náměšť 2009 No
299 Tim Eriksen A Soldier Traveling from the North Northern Roots Live in Náměšť 2009 2:56 Yes
299 Tommy Makem As I Roved Out Songs of Tommy Makem 1997 2:42 Yes
299 Tommy Makem As I Roved Out From the Archives 1995 2:25 Yes
299 Tony Cooke The Light Dragoon Folk Music 2005 5:53 Yes
299 Tramps & Hawkers Trooper and the Maiden Irische Und Schottische Lieder 1995 2:53 Yes
299 Vic Legg Seventeen Come Sunday John Howson Collection 1970-1995 No
299 Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer The Trooper and the Maid Scatter Pipes 2005 6:19 Yes
299 Walter Pardon I'm Seventeen Come Sunday, or Seventeen Come Sunday Reg Hall Archive 1953-1977 5:47 Yes
299 Waterson:Carthy Balancy Straw + Seventeen Come Sunday + Whitefriars Hornpipe A Dark Light 2002 6:36 Yes
299 Waterson:Carthy The Light Dragoon Waterson:Carthy 1994 5:11 Yes
299 Waterson:Carthy The Light Dragoon The Definitive Collection 2003 5:13 Yes
299 Waterson:Carthy The Light Dragoon fRoots 4 1995 Yes
299 Waterson:Carthy The Light Dragoon The Folk Collection 2 1995 No
299 Whisky Trail And Who Are You? Irish Songs and Dances 1997 No
Excerpt from The British Traditional Ballad in North America
by Tristram Coffin 1950, from the section A Critical Biographical Study of the Traditional Ballads of North America
299. THE TROOPER AND THE MAID
Texts: Barry, Brit Bids Me, 371 / Brewster, Bids Sgs Ind, 166 / Brown Coll / BFSSNE, VIII, 11 / Davis, Trd Bid Va, 544 / Focus, V, 280 / Randolph, Oz F-S, I, 213 / Randolph, Oz MtFlk, 209 / Sewanee Review (July 1911), 326 / SharpC, EngF-S So Aplcbns # 37 / SharpK, Eng F-S So Aplcbns, 305 / Va FLS Bull #s 4, 7, 8.
Local Titles: A Soldier Rode from the East, The Bugle Boy, The Trooper, The Trooper and the Maid.
Story Types: A: A trooper comes to his mistress' house to spend the night with her. After feeding the horse and feasting, they go to bed and are awakened by a trumpet in the morning. The trooper has to leave; the girl fearing she has been ruined follows him. He begs her to turn back. She asks him repeatedly when they are to meet and marry. He replies with a typical
ballad "never, never" motif, such as that used in Edward, The Two Brothers, etc.
Examples: Davis (A, B), SharpK (A, C).
B: The story is much like that of Type A. However, the trooper says he will return to the girl, though marriage is not mentioned.
Examples: Barry.
C: The story is similar to that of Type A, but the trooper says he will marry the girl in the future.
Examples: Randolph, OzF-S, I.
D: A version, badly corrupted by Young Hunting, in which the lady stabs the trooper as he bends from his horse after telling her he will never marry her, exists in Indiana. In this text, the girl also persuades the man to spend the night with her after he has told her he is on his way to see his real love.
Examples : Brewster.
Discussion: The American Type A stories follow Child's summary as given in V, 172. Type B, however, as does the Greig, Last Leaves Trd Bid, B, version (see his Note 107 on p. 278), begins to show a modification of the realistic ending. Here the mention of the marriage is left out, but an intention to return is expressed. The Barry, Brit Bids Me, B text, it should be noted, is similar to Greig A (p. 246) expect for this one final stanza where the idea of the return is given: "But, bonnie lassie, I'll lie near ee yet". This final stanza may be a variation from the second stanza (which is repeated in Greig A) with influence from the Greig B ending. Type C carries the tendency to its ultimate conclusion in an ending where the trooper replies that he'll marry the girl "when peace is made an 3 the soldiers are at home" instead of the usual "when cockle shells grow silver bells", etc. Whether this ending has been affected by the Pretty Peggy of Gibb Ms., #13, p. 53 or The Dragoon and Peggy of Maidment's Scotish Ballads and Songs (1859), 98 which Child, V, 172 notes end happily is hard to say. Type D demonstrates
the manner in which a new song can grow from two old ones. Brewster, Bids Sgs Ind, 166 points out that his text contains a half-stanza from the Manx Va shiaulteyr voish y twoiae (JFSS, VII, 216).
Folk Index: The Trooper and the Maid [Ch 299/Sh 45]
Rt - One Morning in May ; My Rovin' Eye
At - Bold Dragoon ; Bugle Boy
Sm - Brewer Laddie
Mf - Sweet Morning
Uf - One Morning in May
Leach, MacEdward / The Ballad Book, Harper & Row, Bk (1955), p684
Anderson, Casey. Goin' Places, Elektra EKL 192, LP (1960), trk# A.04
Bikel, Theodore. Folksinger's Choice, Elektra EKL 250, LP (1964?), trk# A.06
Corrie Folk Trio with Paddie Bell. Promise of the Day, Elektra EKL 304, LP (1966), trk# A.03
Gaffney, Lige. Niles, John Jacob / Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles, Bramhall House, Bk (1961), p345/N 65B [1934] (Soldier and His Lady)
Ginandes, Shep. Dogwood Soup, Pathways of Sound POS 1023, LP (196?), trk# A.05 (Soldier Rode from the East [to the West])
Kingdom Folk Band. Restless, REL RECD 518, CD (1997), trk# 2
List, Harry. Folk Songs of Britain. Vol 2. Songs of Seduction, Caedmon TC 1143, LP (1961), trk# B.02 [1952ca] (Light Dragoon)
MacBeath, Jimmie/Jimmy. Folk Songs of Britain, Vol 5. The Child Ballads, Vol. II, Caedmon TC 1146, LP (1961), trk# B.12 [1950s] (Trooper Lad)
MacBeath, Jimmie/Jimmy. Two Gentlemen of the Road, Rounder 1793, CD( (2002), trk# 2.13 [1953/11/14]
MacColl, Ewan. Sing Out Reprints, Sing Out, Sof, 5, p40 (1963)
MacColl, Ewan. Clayre, Alasdair (ed.) / 100 Folk Songs and New Songs, Wolfe, Sof (1968), p 48
MacColl, Ewan. Classic Scots Ballads, Tradition TLP 1015, LP (1959), trk# B.05
MacColl, Ewan. English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) Vol. 3, Washington WLP 717, LP (1961/1956), trk# A.05
Mitchell, Effie. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p307/# 45C [1918/09/29]
Niles, John Thomas. Niles, John Jacob / Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles, Bramhall House, Bk (1961), p343/N 65A [1900s] (Bugle Britches)
Patton, W. A.. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p213/# 41 [1928/10/14] (Soldier Rode from the East [
Redpath, Jean. Father Adam, Philo 1061, LP (1979), trk# B.04
Rice, Mrs. Tom. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p305/# 45A [1916/08/16]
Seeger, Peggy. Folksongs and Ballads, Riverside RLP 12-655, LP (1959), trk# 12
Slater, Mrs. J. N.. Moore, Ethel & Chauncey (ed.) / Ballads and Folk Songs of the Southwest, Univ. of Okla, Bk (1964), p141/# 60 [1930s] (Soldier's Farewell)
Stockton, T. Jeff. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p305/# 45B [1916/09/04]
Sutter, Barbara. Edwards, Jay; and Robert Kelley / Coffee House Songbook, Oak, Sof (1966), p 56
Tannahill Weavers. Tannahill Weavers IV, Green Linnet SIF 3102, LP (1982), trk# A.02a
Trimble, Gerald. Crosscurrents, Green Linnet SIF 1065, LP (1986), trk# B.03 (Bugle Britches)
One Morning in May [Laws P14/Sh 145/Me I-A41]
Rt - Trooper and the Maid ; Sentry
At - Fiddling Soldier
Rm - Drummer Boy ; Lady and the Logger
Mf - Troubled Soldier
Pb - One Morning in May (Parody)
Sandburg, Carl (ed.) / American Songbag, Harcourt, Sof (1955/1928), p136
Laws, G. Malcolm / American Balladry from British Broadsides, Amer. Folklore Soc., Bk (1957), p255 (Nightingale)
Lloyd, A. L. & Isabel Arete de Ramon y Rivera (eds.) / Folk Songs of the, Oak, Sof (1966), # 32 (Nightingale)
Cox, John Harrington(ed.) / Traditional Ballads Mainly from West Virgini, WPA, Bk (1939), 24A [1925] (Nightingale)
Blood, Peter; and Annie Patterson (eds.) / Rise Up Singing, Sing Out, Sof (1992/1989), p 25
Sandburg, Helga (ed.) / Sweet Music, Dial, Bk (1963), p 56
Cannon, Hal (ed.) / Old-Time Cowboy Songs, Gibbs Smith, Sof (Gib), p 20 (Cowboy and the Lady)
Kersey, Robert E. (ed.) / Just Five; A Collection of Pentatonic Songs, Belwin Mills, Fol (1972), p48 (Nightingale)
Allen-Ward Trio. Allen-Ward Trio, Vanguard VRS 9189, LP (1965), trk# B.05 (Trooper and the Maid)
Baber, Carrie. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p266/# 58A [1921/12/29]
Baker, J. L.. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p193/# 145C [1917/05/27] (Nightingale)
Beers Family. Golden Skein, Biograph BLP 12045, LP (1972), trk# 14 (Brave Volunteer)
Beers Family. Introducing the Beers Family, Columbia MS 6705, LP (1965), trk# A.03 (Brave Volunteer)
Bowerman, Ora Keene. Scarborough, Dorothy(ed.) / A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains, AMS, Bk (1966/1937), p311,438 [1930] (One Morning, One Morning, One Morning in May
Brown, Mrs. R. R.. Morris, Alton C. / Folksongs of Florida, Univ. Florida, Bk (1950), p361/#192B [1934-39]
Brown, Wilfred; with John Williams. Folk Songs, L'Oiseau-Lyre SOL 60034, LP (1961), trk# B.01 (Nightingale)
Bunkhouse Orchestra. Old-Time Cowboy Songs, Gibbs Smith, Cas, trk# 4 (Cowboy and the Lady)
Cantwell, Raymond and Frederick. Folk Songs of Britain. Vol 2. Songs of Seduction, Caedmon TC 1143, LP (1961), trk# B.05 [1952c] (Soldier and the Lady)
Cantwell, Raymond and John. Kennedy, Peter (ed.) / Folksongs of Britain and Ireland, Oak, Sof (1984/1975), #185, p414 [1956] (Nightingales Sing)
Clan Erdverkle. Clan Erdverkle Presents Potatoes & Oatmeal, Fret'n Fiddle no. 1010, LP (198?), trk# B.02 (Nightingale)
Clancy, Liam. Liam Clancy, Vanguard VSD7 9169, LP (1965), trk# B.03 (Nightingale)
Collins, Judy. Judy Collins Concert, Elektra EKS-7 280, LP (1964), trk# A.06 (Wild Rippling Water)
Cooke, Dixie. Cox, John Harrington(ed.) / Traditional Ballads Mainly from West Virgini, WPA, Bk (1939), 24C [1926ca]
Coon Creek Girls. Early Radio Favorites, Old Homestead OHS 142, LP (1982), trk# 2 [1938?] (Soldier and the Lady)
Country Gentlemen. Country Gentlemen, Vanguard VRD7 9331, LP (1973), trk# A.03
Creech, Betty. Wells, Evelyn Kendrick (ed.) / The Ballad Tree, Ronald, Bk (1950), p222 [1916] (Nightingale)
Dayhills. Mom's Favorite, Biscuit City BC 1308, LP (1976), trk# 10 (Nightingale)
Drake, Rod. Owens, William A. (ed.) / Texas Folk Songs. 2nd edition, SMU Press, Bk (1976/1950), p 60 [1952] (I Was Out Walking)
Driftwood, Jimmie. Rackensack. Volume 2, Rimrock LP 279, LP (1972), trk# B.03 (Nightingale Song)
Dunagan, Margaret. Sharp, Cecil & Maude Karpeles (eds.) / Eighty English Folk Songs from th, MIT Press, Sof (1968), p 69 [1917ca] (Nightingale)
Dunagan, Margaret. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p194/# 145E [1917/09/12] (Nightingale)
Dyer-Bennet, Richard. Richard Dyer-Bennet 13, Dyer-Bennet 13, LP (1964), trk# A.01 (Soldier and the Lady)
Edwards, George. Cazden, Norman (ed.) / Merry Ditties, Bonanza Books, Bk (1958), p 92 (Bold Grenadier)
Edwards, George. Cazden, Norman, et.al. / Folk Songs of the Catskills, SUNY Press, sof (1982), p486/#130 [1940s] (Bold Brave Bonair)
Fraley, J. P. and Annadeene. Wild Rose of the Mountain, Rounder 0037, CD/ (2000), trk# 19 [1999/05-11]
Gant Family. Lomax, Alan / Folk Songs of North America, Doubleday Dolphin, Sof (1975/1960), p382/#198 (Wild Rippling Water)
Garland, Betty. American Folk Ballads, Folkways FA 2307, LP (1964), trk# A.08
Goodwyn, Frank. Fife, Austin E. & Alta S. / Cowboy and Western Songs, Bramhall House, Bk (1982/1969), p 6/# 3 [1959] (Wild Rippling Water)
Greer, Tina. Doc Watson Family Tradition, Rounder 0129, CD (2005/1977), trk# 21 [1965/05]
Griffin, Mrs. G. A.. Morris, Alton C. / Folksongs of Florida, Univ. Florida, Bk (1950), p360/#192A [1934-39] (Walls of Jerico)
Guard, Dave; & the Whiskeyhill Singers. Dave Guard and the Whiskeyhill Singers, Capitol T 1728, LP (1962), trk# A.05 (Wild Rippling Water)
Gunter, Mrs. Lou. Moore, Ethel & Chauncey (ed.) / Ballads and Folk Songs of the Southwest, Univ. of Okla, Bk (1964), p211/# 97 [1940s] (Nightingale)
Harmon, R. L. and Margie. Traditional Music of Beech Mountain, NC, Vol II, Folk Legacy FSA 023, LP (1965), trk# 10 [1961-63] (Soldier and the Lady)
Hatcher, Charlie. Wolfe, Charles K.(ed.) / Folk Songs of Middle Tennessee. George Boswell, Univ. Tennesse, Sof (1997), p 27/# 14 [1954/03/07]
Herring, Merritt; and Kenny Hall. Jug of Punch, Herring, CD (200?), trk# 7 (Nightingale)
Hunter, Ed; and James E. Honeycutt. It's Just the Same Today, Tennessee Folklore Soc. TFC 108, LP (198?), trk# 17 [1986] (Soldier and the Lady)
Ives, Burl. Burl Ives Sings... In the Quiet of the Night, Decca DL 8247, LP (1956), trk# A.06 (Hear the Nightingale Sing)
Justis, Violet Savory. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p267/# 58C [1930/06/12]
Lewis, Chester. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p192/# 145A [1917/04/25] (Nightingale)
Lewis, Chester. Reeves, James (ed.) / Idiom of the People, Norton, Sof (1958), p 85/# 17B [1917] (Bold Grenadier)
Lomax, Alan. Texas Folk Songs, Tradition TLP 1029, LP (1958), trk# 9 (Wild Rippling Water)
Luxon, Benjamin; and Bill Crofut. Dance to Your Daddy, ProArte CDD 364, CD (1985), trk# 3
Marks, Phyllis. Folksongs and Ballads, Vol 2. Phyllis Marks, Augusta Heritage AHR 008, Cas (1991), trk# 1.04
Mayhan, Judy. Folk Songs of Old Eire, Tradition TR 2075, LP (1962), trk# 4
McCord, May Kennedy. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p268/# 58E [1942/07/06]
McSpadden, Lynn. McSpadden, Lynn / Four and Twenty Songs for the Mountain Dulcimer, Dulcimer Shoppe, sof (1970), p32
Moore, Alec (Alex). Lomax, John A. & Alan Lomax / Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads, MacMillan, Bk (1938), p183 (Wild Rippling Water)
Morris, Neil. Folk Songs from the Ozarks, Prestige International INT 25006, LP (196?), trk# 8 [1959/10/06] (Soldier and the Lady)
Morris, Neil. Southern Journey. Vol. 7: Ozark Frontier, Rounder 1707, CD (1997), trk# 12 [1959/10/06] (Irish Soldier and the English Lady)
Morris, Polly. Scarborough, Dorothy(ed.) / A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains, AMS, Bk (1966/1937), p310,438 [1930] (See the Waters Gliding)
New Lost City Ramblers. Rural Delivery No. 1, Verve/Folkways FV 9003/DW-907, LP (197?/1964), trk# 11 (Soldier and the Lady)
New Lost City Ramblers. Cohen, John, Mike Seeger & Hally Wood / Old Time String Band Songbook, Oak, Sof (1976/1964), p 52 (Fiddling Soldier)
Okun, Milt. Merry Ditties, Riverside RLP 12-603, LP (1955), trk# A.03 (Bold Grenadier)
Paley, Tom and Claudia. Tom Paley and Peggy Seeger, Elektra EKL 295, LP (1966), trk# B.03 (Fiddling Soldier)
Parker, John C.. Scarborough, Dorothy(ed.) / A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains, AMS, Bk (1966/1937), p438 [1930]
Phipps, Bonnie. Autoharpin', Kicking Mule KM 228, LP (1982), trk# 3
Proll, Jim. Reeves, James (ed.) / Idiom of the People, Norton, Sof (1958), p 85/# 17 [1906] (Bold Grenadier)
Rayburn, Otto Ernest. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p268/# 58D [1930/02/19]
Reed, Ola Belle. Ola Belle Reed, Rounder 0021, LP (1973), trk# 3 (Soldier and the Lady)
Reno, Don. Founding Father of Bluegrass, CMH 8628, CD (2001), trk# 15 [1976-80]
Riddle, Almeda. Ballads and Hymns from the Ozarks, Rounder 0017, LP (1972), trk# 11 (Nightingale Song)
Riddle, Almeda. Abrahams, Roger D.(ed.) / A Singer and Her Songs. Almeda Riddle's Book o, Louisiana State U. Press, Bk (1970), p 23 [1964-67] (Nightingale Song)
Ritchie, Jean. O Love Is Teasin', Elektra 60402-1-U, LP (1957), trk# 2.14
Ritchie, Jean. Clear Waters Remembered, Geordie 101, LP (1974), trk# A.05
Ritchie, Jean. Ritchie, Jean / Celebration of Life; Her Songs, Her Poems, Geordie, Sof (1971), P 31 (See the Waters Gliding)
Roth, Kevin. Kevin Roth Plays the Dulcimer, Folkways FA 2367, LP (1975), trk# 7
Roth, Kevin. Songs of Rebels and Redcoats, National Geographic 07788, LP (1972), trk# A.06
Seeger, Mike. 20th Aniversery Concert, Flying Fish FF 090, LP (1986/1980), trk# B.02 (Soldier and the Lady)
Sheehan, Oscar "Shorty" and Juanita. Raim, Ethel and Josh Duncan (eds.) / Grass Roots Harmony, Oak, Sof (1968), p74 (Soldier and the Lady)
Short, Mary Anne. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p194/# 145D [1917/08/29] (Nightingale)
Smith, Peggy Donaldson. Shady Grove, Shady Grove PDS 11-30-78, LP (1978), trk# B.04 (Waters A-Gliding)
Sprung, Joan. Ballads and Butterflies, Folk Legacy FSI 060, LP (1976), trk# 9
Staines, Bill. Just Play One Tune More, Folk Legacy C 066, Cas (1986/1977), trk# A.02 (Wild Rippling Water)
Stephens, Mrs. Lee. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p267/# 58B [1928/09/04]
Sundell, Jon. Eagle and the Sparrow, June Appal JA 008, LP (1976), trk# 4 (Soldier and the Lady)
Thomas, Kate. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p193/# 145B [1917/09/12] (Nightingale)
Val, Joe; and the New England Bluegrass Boys. One Morning in May., Rounder 0003, LP (1971), trk# 10
Warner, Frank. Folk Music of the Newport Folk Festival 1959-60. Vol 2, Folkways FA 2432, LP (1961), trk# A.06 (As I Was Out Walking)
Williams, Texas Bowen. Cox, John Harrington(ed.) / Traditional Ballads Mainly from West Virgini, WPA, Bk (1939), 24B [1927]
Wine, Melvin. Vintage Wine, Marimac AHS 6, Cas (1993), trk# A.09 (Logger)
One Morning in May (Parody) - Mackey, Jeanne/Traditional
Pd - One Morning in May
Winds of the People, Sing Out, Sof (1982), p 20
My Rovin' Eye
Rt - Trooper and the Maid
Dudaim. Ben and Adam, Elektra EKLS 196/7196, LP (1960), trk# B.04
Robertson, Jeannie. Heather and Glen, Tradition TLP 1047, LP (1960s), trk# 4 [1951ca]
Robertson, Jeannie. Collectors Choice, Tradition TR 2057, LP (196?), trk# A.04 [1950s]
The Bold Dragoon [ON 500]
Rm - Light Dragoon
Uf - Bold Soldier
O'Neill, F.. O'Neill, Francis / O'Neill's Music of Ireland, Collins, fol (1964/1903), # 500
Mainly Norfolk: The Light Dragoon / The Trooper and the Maid
[Roud 162; Child 299; Ballad Index C299; trad.]
Jimmy MacBeath sang The Trooper and the Maid in a recording made on November 14, 1953 in London by Alan Lomax and Hamish Henderson. This recording was included in 2002 on his and Davie Stewart's Rounder anthology Two Gentlemen of the Road. The booklet notes commented:
Greig-Duncan has six versions and interesting notes on this song (vol. 7, no. 1470). A young soldier is billeted on a very welcoming young hostess, with the predictable outcome. The vigorous, lilting tune is also used for The Brewer Laddie.
Ewan MacColl sang The Trooper and the Maid in 1956 on the Riverside anthology The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) Volume II. Like all of his tracks from this series it was reissued in 2009 on his Topic double CD set Ballads.
Nancy Whiskey sang The Trooper and the Maid in 1957 on her Topic EP Nancy Whiskey sings.
Peggy Seeger sang The Trooper and the Maid in 1957 on her Topic EP Troubled Love.
Robin Hall sang The Trooper and the Maid in 1960 on his Collector LP Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads: Some Ballads from the Gavin Greig Collection.
Archie Fisher sang The Trooper and the Maid in 1968 on his eponymous Transatlantic album Archie Fisher.
Mike Waterson sang The Light Dragoon at Folk Union One in 1969 (the Watersons' former own folk club held at the Bluebell), which was recorded for the privately pressed LP Bluebell Folk Sing. The liner notes said that this was a song from the Watersons' repertoire.
Mike Waterson officially recorded this song in 1977 for his eponymous album Mike Waterson with his niece Maria, his sisters Lal and Norma Waterson, Jim Eldon and Rod Stradling singing chorus. A.L. Lloyd commented in the original album's notes:
A number of songs about sporting soldiers and saucy girls—The Trooper and the Maid, Seventeen Come Sunday, Pretty Peggy, The Bold Dragoon—run so close to each other as to be well nigh inseparable. In this one, the lady cheerfully takes the initiative in the seduction, a fact that worried some of the pioneer folksong collectors. The Rev. S. Baring-Gould, who came across two or three of the set in Devon, rewrote it so that the dragoon was the seducer, saying: “The original is too coarse for reproduction.” Mike Waterson's version is based on the one sung by Harry List of Framlingham, Suffolk, and recorded on Songs of Seduction (The Folk Songs of Britain Vol. 2, Caedmon 1961; Topic 1968).
The Watersons sang The Light Dragoon live at Folkfestival '76 Dranouter too; this track was included in 2004 on the Watersons' 4CD anthology Mighty River of Song. The Light Dragoon is also on the first Waterson:Carthy CD, as sung by Eliza Carthy with Nancy Kerr playing fiddle; this track was reissued in 2003 on Eliza's anthology The Definitive Collection. Martin Carthy commented in the Waterson:Carthy sleeve notes:
Eliza got The Light Dragoon from a record of her Uncle Mike (Waterson), asking him later if it was OK and he was happy enough to give some more songs. The song itself is one of a batch where the woman is the happy seducer, a fact which so bothered some early collectors that they refused to publish it as it was—saying it was “far too coarse”—and only did so having edited it severely and made the dragoon the prime mover. It's from Suffolk.
And is was done by Eliza Carthy and Nancy Kerr on the CD Live at Fairbridge Festival, 1995, though it's not on either of their other recordings.
Fred List sang The Light Dragoon in a recording made by Keith Summers in 1971-77 that was included in 2006 on the Veteran CD Good Hearted Fellows: Traditional Folk Songs, Music Hall Songs, and Tunes from Suffolk, Mike Yates commented in the liner notes:
This is a version of the ballad that Professor Child titled Trooper and Maid (Child 299). Although Child's versions are all from Scotland he does mention an English broadside version, The Soldier and Peggy, which dates from the first half of the seventeenth century. Fred List learnt the song from his uncle Harry, who was recorded singing it by the BBC in 1951 (which is now available on the CD Songs of Seduction - Rounder 1778). A splendid Scottish version, sung by Bella Higgins of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, can be heard on the CD Hamish Henderson Collects (Kyloe 107).
Roy Harris sang this song as The Dragoon's Ride on his 1975 Topic album Champions of Folly.
Roy Bailey sang The Trooper and the Maid on his 1976 album New Bell Wake.
Brian Peters sang this song as The Dragoon's Ride on his 1997 album Sharper Than the Thorn. He commented in his liner notes:me
The Dragoon's Ride appeared on Roy Harris' LP Champions of Folly in the 1970s, and comes from Devon courtesy of Baring-Gould's collection; the betrayal and hurt come through more strongly than in other versions of the song.
Malinky sang The Light Dragoon in 2000 on their CD Last Leaves, 40 years after Robin Hall's album of the same name, see above.
Dr Faustus (Tim van Eyken, Robert Harbron, Benji Kirkpatrick, and Paul Sartin) sang Trooper and Maid on their 2003 Fellside album The First Cut.
Jon Boden sang The Light Dragoon as the September 2, 2010 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day. He commented in the project blog:
The first Waterson:Carthy album is, in my view, one of the great folk records of all time. Hearing the combination of Eliza and Nancy's fiddles with the massed Waterson vocals was a real inspirational moment for me. I've since got hold of Mike Watersons solo version which is also brilliant. I make no claims for the relative quality of my version here—it's a pale imitation at best, but it is a great song for the pub.
Pilgrims' Way sang The Light Dragoon in 2011 on their digital download Fellside album Shining Gently All Around.
Harry List sang The Light Dragoon in a recording made in the 1940s-60s on CD 2 of the 2012 Topic anthology Good People, Take Warning (The Voice of the People Volume 23).
Lyrics
Jimme McBeath sings The Trooper and the Maid
A trooper lad come here last nicht,
An, oh, but he wis weary.
A trooper lad come here last nicht,
When the moon shine brght on clearly.
Chorus (after each verse):
Bonny lassie, I lie near ye yet,
Bonny lassie, I lie near ye,
An ah'll gar aa yer ribbons reel
On the morning or ahleave ye.
For she took the horse by the bridle ring
An led him till a stable.
She giev him corn an hie tae eat
As muckle as he wis able.
For she took the trooper by the hand,
Led him till a chamber,
She gied him a stoop o ile tae drink,
For love it felt like tinder.
For she made thebed baith lang an wide
An shaped it like a lady.
She took her wee coatie ower her heid,
Sayin, “Trooper, are you ready?”
For he took of his beltit coat
Likewise his hat and feather.
He's leant his sword against the door
An, on he's doon aside her.
For they werena an oor intae the bed
An oor but an a quarter
When the drums come soundin up the street
An ilka beat got shorter.
For she took her wee coatie ower her heid,
An followit him up tae Sterling,
But she grew say foo that she couldna boo,
An he left her in Dunfermline.
“When will ye come back again,
My ain dear sodjer laddie?
When will ye come back again
An be yer bairnie's daddie?”
“Haud yer tongue, ma bonny young lass,
Dinna let this partin grieve ye.
When heather growes on yonder knowes
It's then ah'll come an see ye.”
Mike Waterson sings The Light Dragoon on Mike Waterson
The light dragoon come over the hill
When the moon was shining clearly,
Well, there was a little lady and she knew him by his horse
Because she loves him dearly.
Chorus:
Dearly so dearly
There was a little lady and she knew him by his horse
Because she loves him dearly.
Well, she grabbed him by the nearside rein,
Taken him to the stable.
“There is hay and corn for your horse, young man;
He can eat now he is able.”
Able so able &c.
She taken him by the lily-white hand
Led him to the table,
“There is cakes and wine for you, my dear,
You can drink now you are able.”
Able so able &c.
She took the bottle into her hand,
Poured out the wine so clearly.
“Here's a health to yours and to mine,” she says,
“You're welcome home, my deary.”
Deary so deary &c.
Then she run upstairs for to make his bed,
Make it soft and comfy.
How nimble she jumped into the bed
For to see if it was easy.
Easy so easy &c.
The light dragoon he ran upstairs,
Put his trousers on the table.
How nimble he jumped into the bed
To do what he was able.
Able so able &c.
Well, they laid in bed and the clock struck one,
Trumpets they was a-sounding.
Well, her spirits they was high but her belly it was low
And she ran home to her mammy.
Mammy her mammy &c.
“It's where ha' you been all this live-a-long night?”
Enquired her anxious parents.
“I've been along with the light dragoon
Because I loves him dearly.”
Dearly so dearly &c.
The Watersons sing The Light Dragoon on Folkfestival '76 Dranouter
A light dragoon came over the hill
When the moon was shining clearly,
Well there was a little lady and she knew him by his horse
Because she loves him dearly.
Chorus:
Dearly, oh dearly
Well there was a little lady and she knew him by his horse
Because she loves him dearly.
She's grabbed him by the nearside rein,
She has taken him to the stable.
“Here is hay and corn for your horse, young man,
He can eat now he is able.”
And she taken him by the lily-white hand,
Led him to the table.
“Here is cakes and wine for you, my dear
To drink now you are able.”
She took the bottle into her hand,
Poured out the wine so clearly.
“Here's an health to yours and to mine,” she says,
“And you're welcome home, my dearie.”
And she ran upstairs for to make his bed,
Make it soft and comfy.
How nimble she jumped into the bed
For to see if it was easy.
But the light dragoon he ran upstairs,
Put his trousers on the table.
How nimble he jumped into the bed
For to do what he was able.
They laid in bed and the clock struck one,
Trumpets they was a-sounding.
Her spirits they were high and her belly it was low
And she ran home to her mammy.
“Oh where've you been all this live-long night?”
Enquired her anxious parents.
“I've been along with the light dragoon
Because I loves him dearly.”
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Greer Gilman for the Mike Waterson transcription and to Susanne Kalweit for the Folkfestival '76 Dranouter transcription.