Recordings & Info: 7A. Lady and The Dragoon; Roud 321
[Bronson lists "The Lady and the Dragoon" often titled "The Bold Soldier" in many US indexes (Traditional Ballad Index and Keefer's online Folk Song Index) as Child No. 7, Appendix. Bronson says the earliest texts are Restoration broadsides titled "The Master-piece of Love Songs" (The Bold Keeper) and a metric reworking of this titled, "The Seamans Renown in winning his fair lady." Both songs are found in this collection (See: English versions- attached).
Mary O. Eddy includes three versions from Ohio of "A Soldier" (Bold Soldier) under Earl Brand. These and the other related ballads titled "The Bold Soldier" and "Lady and the Dragoon" are found here in appendix- 7A. The Lady and the Dragoon which follows Child 7- Earl Brand (see left hand column- attached pages).
These titles are sometimes classified under Child No. 8 Erlinton.
R. Matteson 2011]
CONTENTS:
1) Alternative titles
2) Classification of Related Ballads
3) Ballad Index
4) Folk index
5) FolkTrax Listing
6) The British Traditional Ballad in North America- Coffin 1950 [Coffin lists these under Erlinton]
ATTACHED PAGES: (see left hand column)
1) The Lady and the Dragoon: Roud Index Listing #321
2) "The Lady and the Dragoon": A Broadside Ballad in Oral Tradition- David Greene
3) The Bold Soldier of Yarrow by Norman Cazden
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1) Alternative titles
The Master-piece of Love Songs
The Bold Keeper (Early Broadside Title)
The Seamans Renown in winning his fair lady
Seamans Renown
The Keeper and the Lady
New River Shore (Brown Collection)
Red River Shore
Low River Shore
Green Brier Shore (EFFSA 1917)
Dear Jewell (Randolph- variant of Red River Shore)
Lady and the Dragoon
Bold Soldier
Jolly Soldier
Valiant Soldier
Soldier's Wooing
A Little Soldier (Cas Wallin)
A Soldier (Mary O. Eddy)
I'll Tell You of a Soldier
Young Soldier (Randolph)
The Poor Soldier (Flanders- not Frank Proffitt's original song)
The Yankee Soldier (Brown Collection)
The Rich Lady from London (Brown Collection)
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Regarding Classification of Related Ballads: "The Lady and the Dragoon"
David Greene 1957: Of the traditional ballad which Cecil Sharp designated as "The Lady and the Dragoon," the headnote to its versions in The Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore (Durham, 1952), II, 287, says:" This old broadside ballad-it goes back at least to the seventeenth century-bears some resemblance in its central shape to 'Earl Brand' (Child 7) and 'Erlinton' (Child 8)." Phillips Barry also notes the resemblance to "Erlinton," and remarks that the ballad is somehow derived from the seventeenth-century broadside" The Master-Piece of Love Songs"; Arthur K. Davis, Jr., lists his Virginia variant in an appendix to "Earl Brand"; Mary 0. Eddy places her three Ohio versions under the title of *"Earl Brand"; and, finally, Barry remarks in a later writing "The tragic [sic] old ballad of 'Erlinton' seems to have left a successor in this humorous song."
*Greene says "Erlinton" but it's Earl Brand. I've corrected it.
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3) Traditional Ballad Index: Bold Soldier, The [Laws M27]
DESCRIPTION: A father threatens to kill his daughter because she loves a soldier. He settles for sending (seven) men to kill her lover. The soldier fights the brigands off. The frightened father is then negotiated into making the soldier his heir
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1679 (Roxburghe)
KEYWORDS: father children love soldier fight
FOUND IN: US(Ap,MA,MW,NE,SE,So) Canada(Mar,Newf) Britain(England(South))
REFERENCES (27 citations):
Laws M27, "The Bold Soldier"
Bronson 7a, "The Lady and the Dragoon" (24 versions)
BarryEckstormSmyth pp. 377-382, "The Soldier's Wooing" (3 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #6}
Flanders/Brown, pp. 232-233, "The Poor Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #14}
Flanders-Ancient1, pp. 131-149, "The Bold Soldier" (7 texts plus a fragment, 5 tunes) {C= Bronson's #18, F=#14}
Belden, pp. 103-104, "The Soldier's Wooing" (1 text)
Randolph 70, "The Valiant Soldier" (4 texts, 3 tunes)
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 88-90, "The Valiant Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 70A)
Eddy 3, "Earl Brand" (3 texts, 1 tune, but all clearly this piece) {Bronson's #3}
FSCatskills 46, "The Bold Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune)
BrownII 86, "The Soldier's Wooing" (4 texts)
Chappell-FSRA 50, "The Lady and the Dragon" (sic.) (1 text plus a fragment, 1 tune) {Bronson's #4}
Davis-Ballads [4], "[Earl Brand]" (1 text, filed as an appendix to that ballad)
Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 201-202, "The Lady and the Dragoon" (1 text, with local title "A Brave Soldier"; 1 tune on pp. 409-410) {Bronson's #16}
Brewster 5, "Erlinton" (1 text, called "The Soldier's Wooing" by the informant)
SharpAp 51, "The Lady and the Dragoon" (4 texts plus 4 fragments, 8 tunes) {Bronson's #19, #8, #21, #23, #20, #24, #22, #17}
Sharp/Karpeles-80E 30, "The Lady and the Dragoon" (1 text, 1 tune -- a composite version) {Bronson's #23}
Warner 55, "Only a Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune)
Copper-SoBreeze, pp. 248-249, "The Bold Dragoon" (1 text, 1 tune)
Creighton-NovaScotia 12, "Song of a Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #15}
Leach-Labrador 32, "The Soldier and the Lady" (1 text, 1 tune)
LPound-ABS, 27, pp. 68-69, "The Soldier" (1 text)
JHCox 117, "The Soldier's Wooing" (1 text)
Darling-NAS, pp. 116-117, "The Valiant Soldier" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 169, "The Bold Soldier" (1 text)
DT, (DOUGTRD4*)
ADDITIONAL: Robert E. Gard and L. G. Sorden, _Wisconsin Lore: Antics and Anecdotes of Wisconsin People and Places_, Wisconsin House, 1962, pp. 108-109, "The Raftsman" (1 text, presumably from Wisconsin although no source is listed; in this the soldier becomes a raftsman but the plot is the same)
Roud #321
RECORDINGS:
Harry Brazil, "Bold Keeper" (on Voice18)
Pete Seeger, "The Valiant Soldier" (on PeteSeeger29)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(2237), "The Bold Dragoon" ("My father is a lord, a lord of high renown"), H. Such (London), 1863-1885; also Firth c.14(210, "The Bold Dragoon"; Harding B 22(320), "The Valiant Dragoon"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Earl Brand" [Child 7]
cf. "Erlinton" [Child 8]
NOTES: It will be observed that Bronson lists this as an appendix to Child 7, "Earl Brand," though he notes the obvious signs of broadside publication. Laws mentions that others have connected it to Child 7 (and Child 8, "Erlinton," which is where Barry et al file it), but does not seem himself to consider the two related. Neither does he mention Bronson's title, "The Lady and the Dragoon." Cazden connects it with Child 214 and/or 215. - RBW
Traditional Ballad Index: New River Shore, The (The Green Brier Shore; The Red River Shore) [Laws M26]
DESCRIPTION: The singer is forced to leave his sweetheart (possibly due to manipulation by her parents). She begs that he return. When he does, he is ambushed by a band of men hired by her father. He wins the battle and goes on to claim the girl
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927
KEYWORDS: separation love fight
FOUND IN: US(Ap,NE,SE) Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Laws M26, "The New River Shore (The Green Brier Shore; The Red River Shore)"
BrownII 85, "New River Shore" (1 text)
Lomax-FSNA 206, "The Red River Shore" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-ABFS, p. 412, "Red River Shore" (1 text)
Fife-Cowboy/West 57, "Red River Shore" (2 texts, 1 tune)
DT 329, GRNBRIER* GRNBRIR2*
RECORDINGS:
Patt Patterson & Lois Dexter, "On the Red River Shore" (on Conqueror 7711, 1931; on MakeMe)
Art Thieme, "The Red River Shore" (on Thieme04 -On the Wilderness Road, Folk-Legacy Records)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Earl Brand" [Child 7]
cf. "Erlinton" [Child 8]
Notes: The title implies a relationship to "The Girl on the Greenbriar Shore," but the plot is noticeably different. One rather suspects that the latter piece is a fragment rebuilt almost from scratch (and then, perhaps, further modified by the Carter Family). - RBW
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Folk Index: The Bold Soldier [Laws M27/Sh 51]
Rt - Earl Brand; Dear Jewell ; Poor Soldier
At - Dragoon and the Lady; Bold Dragoon; Soldier's Wooing
Laws, G. Malcolm / American Balladry from British Broadsides, Amer. Folklore Soc., Bk (1957), p193
Best, Dick & Beth (eds.) / New Song Fest Deluxe, Hansen, Sof (1971/1948), p 32
Archer, Frances; and Beverly Gile. International Songs and Ballads, Stand 408, LP (196?), trk# B.02
Blankenship, Mary J.(Jane). Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p337/# 51H [1918/10/05] (Lady and the Dragoon)
Boone, Julie. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p337/# 51G [1918/09/20] (Lady and the Dragoon)
Chisholm, James H.. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p335/# 51E [1918/05/21] (Lady and the Dragoon)
Dooley, Tina. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p335/# 51F [1918/06/06] (Lady and the Dragoon)
Edwards, George. Cazden, Norman, et.al. / Folk Songs of the Catskills, SUNY Press, sof (1982), p183/# 46 [1940s]
Edwards, George. Cazden, Norman / Abelard Folk Song Book, Abelard-Schuman, Bk (1958), p 42
Fitzgerald, Clinton. Sharp, Cecil & Maude Karpeles (eds.) / Eighty English Folk Songs from th, MIT Press, Sof (1968), p 54 [1917ca] (Lady and the Dragoon)
Fitzgerald, Clinton. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p335/# 51D [1918/04/28] (Lady and the Dragoon)
Gentry, Jane Hicks. Smith, Betty N. / Jane Hicks Gentry. A Singer Among Singers, U. Ky, Sof (1998), p164/#24 [1917/07/27] (Lady and the Dragoon)
Hartlan, Alan (Allan). Creighton, Helen / Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, Dover, sof (1996/1933), p 25/# 12 [1927-32] (Song of a Soldier)
Hinton, Sam. Sam Hinton Sings the Song of Men, Folkways FA 2400, LP (1961), trk# 16 (Valiant Soldier)
Hobbes, Mrs. R. A.. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p304/# 70B [1919/10/21] (Valiant Soldier)
Ingenthron, Charles. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p306/# 70C [1940/09/07] (White River Shore)
Ives, Burl. Ives, Burl / Burl Ives Song Book, Ballantine Books, Bk (1953), p 74
McAtee, Nancy McDonald. Cox, John Harrington (ed.) / Folk-Songs of the South, Dover, Sof (1967/1925), p375/#117 [1917] (Soldier's Wooing)
Morris, Delilah. Scarborough, Dorothy(ed.) / A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains, AMS, Bk (1966/1937), p201,409 [1930] (Brave Soldier)
Patton, Mrs. W. A.. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p303/# 70A [1928/11/07] (Valiant Soldier)
Pitt, Everett. Up Agin the Mountain, Marimac 9200, Cas (1987/1944), trk# 11 [1949/06/28]
Rogers, Grant. Songmaker of the Catskills, Folk Legacy FSA 027, LP (1965), trk# 17 (Ardent Soldier)
Rowe, Mrs. Foster. Moore, Ethel & Chauncey (ed.) / Ballads and Folk Songs of the Southwest, Univ. of Okla, Bk (1964), p177/# 78 [1930s] (Lady Flower)
Salisbury, Vivian. Thompson, Harold W.(ed.) / Body, Boots & Britches, Dover, Bk (1962/1939), p397 [1930s]
Sands, Mary. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p333/# 51A [1916/08/01] (Lady and the Dragoon)
Seeger, Pete. Champlain Valley Songs, Folkways FH 5210, LP (195?), trk# A.03 (Valiant Soldier)
Stamper, Marthy/Martha. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p334/# 51C [1917/09/18] (Lady and the Dragoon)
Stockton, T. Jeff. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p334/# 51B [1916/09] (Lady and the Dragoon)
Wallin, Cas. Appalachia, The Old Traditions, Home Made Music LP-001, LP (1983), trk# A.02 [1980/08/26] (Little Soldier)
White, Everett. Folksongs and Ballads, Vol 1. Everett White, Augusta Heritage AHR 007, Cas (1991), trk# 2.05 (Brisk Young Soldier)
Wimberly, Mrs. B. B.. Pound, Louise (ed.) / American Ballads and Songs, Scribner, Sof (1972/1922), p 68/# 27 [1916] (Soldier (I))
Wood, Bill. Folksingers 'Round Harvard Square, Veritas, LP (1959), trk# B.04
Dear Jewell___________________________
Rt - Bold Soldier
Poynter, Bertha. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p307/# 70D [1939/06/05]
Poor Soldier___________________________
Powell, Dirk. Hand Me Down, Rounder 0444, CD (1999), trk# 15
Proffitt, Frank. Memorial Album, Folk Legacy FSA 036, Cas (1968), trk# A.04
Poor Soldier [Laws M27]________________
Rt - Erlinton ; Bold Soldier
Cowan, Debra. Dad's Dinner Pail. Songs from the Helen Hartness Flanders Coll.., Falling Mountain FM 1044, CD (2005), trk# 6
Kennison, Josiah S.. Flanders, Helen H. & George Brown / Vermont Folk Songs and Ballads, Folklore Associates, Bk (1968/1931), p232 [1930/08/29]
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
The Light Dragoon_________________________________
Us - Trooper and the Maid
Red River Shore [Laws M26/Me I-A29] ________________
Rt - Earl Brand
At - New River Shore ; Low River Shore
Laws, G. Malcolm / American Balladry from British Broadsides, Amer. Folklore Soc., Bk (1957), p192 (New River Shore)
Fife, Austin E. & Alta S. / Cowboy and Western Songs, Bramhall House, Bk (1982/1969), p160/# 57A
Fife, Austin E. & Alta S. / Cowboy and Western Songs, Bramhall House, Bk (1982/1969), p161/# 57B (New River Shore)
Critchlow, Slim. Lomax, J. A. & A. Lomax / American Ballads and Folk Songs, MacMillan, Bk (1934), p412
Critchlow, Slim; and the Utah Buckaroos. Lomax, John A. & Alan Lomax / Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads, MacMillan, Bk (1938), p181
Drake, Rod. Owens, William A. (ed.) / Texas Folk Songs. 2nd edition, SMU Press, Bk (1976/1950), p 56 [1952] (On the Red River Shore)
Lomax, Alan; and the Dupree Family. Raise a Ruckus Tonight & Have a Hootenanny, Kapp KL 1316, LP (196?), trk# 8
Morgan, Minta. Lomax, Alan / Folk Songs of North America, Doubleday Dolphin, Sof (1975/1960), p398/#206
Thieme, Art. On the Wilderness Road, Folk Legacy FSI 105, LP (1986), trk# 4
Wooten, William (Cullen). Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p188/# 142 [1917/09/21] (Green Brier Shore)
On the Red River Shore [Laws M26/Me I-A29]
Us - Red River Shore
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Folktrax Listing:
BOLD SOLDIER, THE - "I will tell you of a soldier that's lately come from war" - Maid views soldiers on parade - finds her treasure - cruel parents banish him - she shows loyalty so he takes her along - LAWS #M-27 ABBB 1957 pp193-4 - ROUD#321 - JFSS 1:3 1901 pp108-109 Merrick: Henry Hills, Lodsworth, Sussex 1900 "Come all you maids of honour" - HENRY SOP #321/732/HUNTINGTON p473: Dick Gilloway 1938 - FMJ 3:3 1976 p229-30 - Cf BOLD DRAGOON --- HENRY FSSH 1938 pp185-7 Mrs Samuel Harmon, Cade's Cove, Tenn 1930 (w/o) "The Gallan(no t) Soldier"/ Mrs Rachel Brackett, Georgia 1932 (w/o) "Young Soldier" "The Gallant Soldier" - RANDOLPH OFS 1946 1 pp303-7 Mrs W A Patton, Missouri 1928/ Mrs Hobbs, Ark 1919 (w/o) "The Valiant Soldier"/ Charles Ingenthron Missouri 1940 "The White River Shore"
BOLD SOLDIER BOY, THE - "O there's not a trade that's going" comp by Samuel Lover - SILVERMAN SOI 1991 p67 "The Bold Soger Boy"
BOLD SOLDIER BOY, THE - Sharp Ms - PALMER RS 1977 p47 "The Bold Militia Boy" using tune from Sharp Ms
BOLD DRAGOON, THE - "My father was a knight (man/ lord) of high renown" - her father opposes their love - 7 armed men - incl under CHILD #App 7 "Earl Brand" - LAWS #M-27 ABBB 1957 p193 "The Bold Soldier" - ROUD#321 - Many BSs incl SBG 7:#161 - ASHTON Century of Ballads p164 "The Masterpiece of love songs" to the tune of "The Week before Easter" or "The day's long and clear" - BARING GOULD SOW edited text/ Ms#65 (a) W Crossing, Dartmoor 1878 (b) Richard Cleave, Warren Inn, Huckaby Bridge 1892 (publ in SBG but words completely altered/ tune used for "I'll build myself a gallant ship") - SHARP Cf 1 p229 - Sharp broadside book p57: Such broadside - SHARP-KARPELES CSC 1974 #3 1 pp13-4 Devon & Somerset "Dragoon & the Lady" included under "Earl Brand" (Child App 7) - JFSS 1:3 1901 pp108-109 Merrick: Henry Hills, Lodsworth, Sussex 1900 "Come all you maids of honour" - WILLIAMS FSUT 1923 pp115-6 #15 Wm Jeffries, Longcot, Berksh (w/o) - REEVES EC 1960 p59 Hammond: Mrs Poole, Beaminster, Dorset 1906 (w/o) - PURSLOW WS 1968 p17 Gardiner: Moses Blake, Emery Down, Hampsh 1906 - ARTHUR 1970 p10 collated words - COPPER S&SB 1973 pp248-9 Enos White - COPPER ETR 1976 pp238-9 Family, Rottingdean, Sussex --- SHARP 1917/32 #51 (vol 1 pp333-7) 8var: Mrs Mary Sands, Allanstand, NC 1916 (6v)/ T.Jeff Stockton, Flag Pond, Tenn 1916/ Mrs Martha Stamper, Hindman, Knott Co., Ky 1917/ Clinton Fitzgerald, Royal Orchard, Afton, Va 1918/ James H.Chisholm, Nellysford, Va 1918/ Mrs Tina Dooley, Montvale, Va 1918 (13v)/ Mrs Julie Boone, Micaville, NC 1918/ Mrfs Maryy J.Blankenshipp, Price's Cr'ek, Burnsville, NC 1918 - COX FSOS 1925 pp375-6 Mrs Nancy McAtee, WVa 1917 (w/o) "The Soldier's Wooing" - CREIGHTON SBNS 1932 pp25-26 Allan Hartlan, NS 1929+ "Song of a Soldier" - BELDEN Mo 1940 p103 - CHAPPELL RA 1939 p88 - DAVIS Va 1929 p92 - HENRY FSSH 1938 pp185-7 Mrs Samuel Harmon, Tenn 1930 (w/o) "The Gallant Soldier"/ Mrs Rachel Brackett, Ga 1932 (w/o) "Young Soldier" - RANDOLPH OFS 1946 1 pp303-307 Mrs Patton, Mo 1928 "The Valiant Soldier/ Mrs Hobbes, Ark 1919 (w/o) "The Valiant Soldier"/ Charles Ingenthron, Mo 1940 "The White River Shore"/ Mrs Bertha Poynter Ark 1939 (w/o) "Dear Jewel" - FLANDERS-OLNEY 1953 p232 - CAZDEN 1958 1 p42 & 2 p183 - LEACH Labr 1965 #32 p100 "The Soldier & the Lady" - WARNER TAFS 1984 pp155 Lena Bourne Fish, East Jaffray, New Hampsh 1941 "Only a soldier" -- see BOLD KEEPER - BOLD SOLDIER - LIGHT DRAGOON -- Enos WHITE, rec by Bob Copper, Axford, Hampsh 1955: RPL 21858/ FTX-426 - Bob COPPER: RPL 21547/ TOPIC 12-TS-328 1977/ CASS-0198/ FTX-239 - YOUNG TRADITION: TRANSATLANTIC TRA-155 1967 - Dave ARTHUR (+conc): TOPIC 12-T-190 1969 - Rosemary BISSET rec Ship Inn, Blaxhall, Suffolk: TRANSATLANTIC XTRS-1141 1974 - Cyril TAWNEY: LEADER LER-2095 1976
BOLD DRAGOON - As an Air - Tunebook Ms #23 & O'NEILL #500
BOLD KEEPER - VALIANT SOLDIER
VALIANT SOLDIER, THE - "There was a valiant soldier just lately come from war" - He courts a rich lady but the father with 7 armed men try to take his life - in a valley she holds his horse while he fights them all - father relents and gives him daughter and all his riches - LAWS M-27 "The Bold Soldier" ABBB 1957 pp183-4 - JFSS 3 1906 #26 p108 Merrick from Henry Hills of Lodworth Sussex 6½v/m "Come all you maids of honour" - WILLIAMS FSUT 1923 p115 6v Oxfordsh "The Bold Dragoon" -- BARRY- ECKSTORM-SMYTH Maine 1929 p377 3var/m - BELDEN Mo 1940 p103 8v refs - BROWN NC 1952-62 p287 4var - CHAPPELL R&A 1939 p88 3v/m (NC) - COX FSS 1925 p375 6½v refs (W Va) - CREIGHTON NS 1933 p25 7v/m - DAVIS Va 1929 p92 - FLANDERS-BROWN Vt 1939 p232 8v/m - GARDNER Mich 1939 p380 8v - HENRY 1938 p185 13v/7v (Tenn/Ga) - POUND AB&S 1922 p68 6v (La) - SCARBOROUGH Va 1937 p201 6½v - SHARP FSSA I p333 6v/m (NC) & frags/m (Va) - WARNER 1984 #55 p152 Fish 9v/m "Only a soldier" -- John KIRKPATRICK & Sue HARRIS: TOPIC 12-TS-247 1974 - Harry BRASIL (gypsy) rec by Mike Yates, Gloucester 1978: TOPIC 12-TS-395 1985/ TSCD-668 1998 "The Bold Keeper" (Note says related to Earl Brand (Child #7) & THE BOLD DRAGOON) --- Lena Bourne FISH rec by Frank & Anne Warner 1941: FTX-922 - Cas WALLIN rec by Mike Yates, Sodom Laurel, Madison Co NC USA: HOME MADE MUSIC LP-001 1980 "The Little Soldier"
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British Tradtional Ballad in North America- Coffin 1950
8. ERLINTON
Note: There is no American text that can be for certain called a derivative of Erlinton.
Texts: Barry, Brit Bids Af, 377 / Belden, Mo F-S, 103 / Brewster, \B/ & Sgs 2nd, 40 / Boston Evening Transcript^ Notes and Queries^ 11 26 '21 / Brown Coll/ Bull TennFLS, II, #i, i / Chappell, F-S Rnke Alb, 88 / Cox, F-S South, 375 / Creighton, Sgs Bids N Sc, 2$ / Davis, Trd Bid Va. 92 / Eddy, Bids Sgs Ohio, 14 / Flanders, Garl GnMtSg, 55 / Flanders, Vt
F-S Bids, 232 / Gardner & Chickering, Bids Sgs So Mich, 380 / Henry, *F-S So*Hghlds, 185 / JAFL, XXI, 575 XXIII, 447; XXX, 363 ; XLV, 1 14 / Pound, Am. Bids Sgs, 68 / Randolph, OzF-S, 303 / SharpC, Eng F-S So Aplcbns,#^i \ SharpK, EngF-S So\Aplchns, I, 333.
Local Titles: I'll Tell You of a Soldier, The Poor Soldier, The Soldier, The Soldier's Wooing, The Valiant Soldier.
Story Types: A: A soldier returns from war and courts a rich, fair lady against her father's wishes. The father and seven men attack them as they go to get married. The soldier fights bravely and is routing the assailants when the father offers to give up his daughter and a large sum of money. However, the girl refuses to let her lover stop the fight until the old man
offers all his wealth. She reasons that the fortune will be hers anyway if her father is slain. The father capitulates and takes the soldier home as his heir, more out of fear than agreement.
Examples: Belden; Randolph (A, B).
Disctission: There are a number of secondary versions of this ballad in circulation under the various "soldier" titles. However, the mood of these songs has become gay and humorous from tragic. Note the cold-bloodedness of the lady who willingly endangers her father's life in order to get the best bargain. This scene originates in the broadside texts. See The Masterpiece
of Love-Songs, in John Ashton's A Century of Ballads, 164 and the Roxburgbe Ballads, VI, 229, cited by Barry, JAFL, XXIII, 447. The outline of the tale, the elopement, and the lady who holds the horses and watches does, nevertheless, ally the American texts with Erlinton, or possibly Earl Brand.
See Gardner and dickering, Bids Sgs So Mich, 380; Eddy, Bids Sgs Ohio, 14; and Brewster, Bids Sgs Ind, 40. Also check Child (I, 88, 106) who finds it difficult to separate the British forms of the two traditional ballads. There is a similar "sailor" song in the English broadsides. See Roxburgh Ballads, VII, 559-
The reason for my treating these songs as secondary of Erlinton rather than Earl Brand lies in the happy conclusion which in its sentimental form could only derive from the Erlinton ending. It should be noted, however, that there is no imprisonment of the girl or strict watch over her in the "soldier" songs as is the case in Child 8.
These "soldier" texts offer an example of an American oral tradition that has sprung from corrupted British forms of an old ballad. It is not uncommon for such to be the case. See also The Brown Girl (295) and the majority of the Kniherine J'affray (221) texts.
Flanders collected a Vermont version titled "Poor Soldier." Perhaps this title inspired Frank Proffit to write his original song titled "Poor Soldier," sung unaccompanied,
____________________________
The Bold Dragoon / Only a Soldier
[ Roud 321 ; Laws M27 ; Ballad Index LM27 ; Bodleian Roud 321 ; Wiltshire Roud 321 ; trad.]
The Bold Dragoon is a song from the repertoire of the Copper Family. Bob Copper sang it in a BBC recording (BBC 21547) made by Peter Kennedy at the Central Club, Peacehaven, on February 2, 1955. He also collected it from Enos White of Axford, Hampshire, in July 1955, and published in in 1973 in his book Songs and Southern Breezes. He recorded it in 1977 on his Topic LP Sweet Rose in June. John Copper and Jon Dudley sang it in 1998 on the family's CD Coppersongs 3: The Legacy Continues.
Heather Wood sang The Bold Dragoon in 1967 on The Young Tradition's second album, So Cheerfully Round. She commented in the album liner notes:
The Bold Dragoon was collected by Bob Copper from Enos White of Axford, Hants. It has connections with Earl Brand (Child 7) but this version is far nearer to popular taste than the morbid saga which the longer ballad relates, in which the Earl, after killing off his father and seven men (brothers in some versions) dies, and is followed rapidly to the grave by his beloved. Standard ballad ending about red roses and briars. Enos White started work on the farm when he was seven; he drove a two horse plough at the age of eight, For most of his life he was a carter. When this song was collected in 1955 he was working as a gardener.
Rosemary Bisset sang The Bold Dragoon at The Ship Inn, Blaxhall, on November 16, 1973. This recording was released a year later on the Transatlantic album The Larks They Sang Melodious: Sing-Song in a Suffolk Pub.
Grania King sang The Bold Dragoon in 1972 on the Living Folk (of Cambridge, Mass.) album Pleasant and Delightful Vol. 2.
John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris sang The Lady and the Soldier in 1974 on their Topic album The Rose of Britain's Isle. They commented in their sleeve notes:
An Appalachian version of a ballad once so admired in England that a seventeenth century set of it was printed as The Master-piece of Love Songs. The London broadside printing firm of Henry Such did good business with it during the nineteenth century, and it was a favourite of one of the great old singers, Henry Hills, of Lodsworth, Sussex, who said: “just take up a stone and rattle it on the handle of the plough and sing … and the horses would go along as pretty and as well as possible.” For some reason, it has rarely been found in England during the twentieth century, but American versions, only slightly different from the Such broadside, abound.
Harry Brazil sang Bold Keeper to Mike Yates in Gloucester probably on February 18, 1978. This recording was included in 1979 on the Topic album of songs, stories and tunes from English gypsies, Travellers, in 1998 on the Topic anthology To Catch a Fine Buck Was My Delight (The Voice of the People Volume 18), and in 2006 on Yates book and CD of songs of English and Scottish travellers and gypsies, Traveller's Joy. Two other versions of this song, sung by Harry and Danny Brazil to Gwilym Davies in Gloucester in February and March 1978 were included in 2007 on the Brazil Family's Musical Tradition anthology Down By the Old Riverside. The latter's booklet commented:
Lemmie [Brazil] also used to sing this song, which is usually known as The Dragoon and the Lady, or a similar title with the word ‘dragoon’ in it. None of Roud's 166 entries have the word ‘keeper’ in the title, except those from the Brazil Family. This is another song which is found far more frequently in the USA, and there are only 41 English instances. Most versions I've heard have a far fuller text, but this one still gets the essence of the story.
John Kirkpatrick sang The Bold Keeper in 2001 on his Fledg'ling CD Mazurka Berserker, accompanied by Nancy Kerr and James Fagan. He commented:
This wonderfully blunt story has existed in numerous folk song variants for centuries. The Brazil family of gypsies, now based in Gloucester, sing the song which forms the basis of this version. I've added a few lines here and there to punch the points home.
Debra Cowan sang The Poor Soldier in 2005 on her CD of songs from the Helen Hartness Flanders Collection, Dad's Dinner Pail.
Jeff Warner sang Only a Soldier on his 2005 album Jolly Tinker. He commented in his liner notes:
Versions of this song have been collected widely, including one English broadside ballad dating back to 1679. Anne and Frank Warner learned this version from traditional singer Lena Bourne Fish (1873-1945) in Jaffrey, New Hampshire in 1941.
Chris and Siobhan Nelson sang The Bold Dragoon in 2006 on their CD Day Has Dawned.
Jack Crawford sang The Bold Dragoon in 2008 on his WildGoose CD Pride of the Season. He commented:
The Bold Dragoon is based on the song collected by Bob Copper in July 1955 from Enos White of Axford, Hampshire, and published in Songs and Southern Breezes (1973). To complete a partial stanza in Mr White’s text, I adapted lines from several nineteenth century broadside versions that I found in the ballad collections at the Bodleian Library.
I’ve also slipped in a stanza from a version that Dr George Gardiner collected from Moses Blake of Emery Down, Hampshire, in May 1906. The tune has evolved too, but it still owes a lot to the singing of Heather Wood in the days of The Young Tradition, long ago.
Pilgrims' Way sang the related song Only a Soldier in 2011 on their CD Wayside Courtesies. They commented in their sleeve notes:
This song comes from the repertoire of New Hampshire singer Jeff Warner, whose parents, Frank and Anne, collected it from Lena Bourne (or “Grammy”) Fish during the 1940s. Also recorded by Paul Brady, one of Lucy [Wright]'s all-time favourite singers. Only a Soldier is a rollicking tale of old-fashioned chivalry and serves as a warning to all loving parents not to interfere too much in the romantic lives of their children, especially those who regularly carry a broadsword and pistol!
Gavin Davenport sang Bold Dragoon in 2013 on his CD The Bone Orchard.
Lyrics
Enos White sings The Bold Dragoon
“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.”
The Copper Family sings The Bold Dragoon
“My father is a captain of very high renown
And if I marry a soldier 'twill pull his honour down.
It's your birth and my birth they never will agree
So take it as a warning, oh bold dragoon,” said she.
“No warning, no warning I never mean to take,
I'll either wed or die, my love, all for your sweet sake.”
And when the lady heard these words it caused her heart to bleed
So to the church they both went and were married with speed.
But when they were married and returning home again,
The lady spied her father with seven armed men.
“I'm afraid,” said the lady, “we both shall be slain soon.”
“O, I fear nothing at all,” said the jolly, bold dragoon.
“There is no time to prittle, there is no time to prattle,
There are seven armed men just fitting for the battle,
For I will draw my broadsword and make their bones to rattle.”
The lady held the horse while the dragoon fought the battle.
“O, hold your hand, dear dragoon! Dear dragoon hold your hand,
And you shall have my daughter and ten thousand pounds in hand.
“Fight on,” says the lady, my portion is but small.”
“O, hold your hand, dear dragoon, and you shall have it all.”
So all you young ladies that have got gold in store
Never despise a soldier although he is so poor,
Although he is so poor he will fight for the crown—
Here's health to King George and his jolly bold dragoons.
The Young Tradition sing The Bold Dragoon
“My father is a lawyer, a lord of high renown,
If I should wed a soldier, it will pull my honour down,
Then your birth and my birth it never will agree,
So you'll take this as a warning, bold dragoon,” said she.
“No warning, no warning, no warning will I take,
I would either fight or die, my love, 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,” says 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.”
“Fight on,” said the lady, “My portion is too small,
Fight on, my dear dragoon, and you shall have it all.”
So all you young ladies that have got gold in store
Never despise a soldier although he is so poor,
Although he is poor he will fight for the crown.
Here's a health unto King George and to his jolly dragoon.
John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris sing The Lady and the Soldier
Oh, there was a little soldier just lately come from war,
Who courted a rich lady who had money and great store.
Her riches was so great they scarcely could be told,
But yet she loved the soldier because he was so bold.
She says, “My little soldier, I will gladly be your wife,
But I fear my cruel old father will surely take your life.”
So he drew his sword, his pistol, and he hanged them by his side.
And he swore, “We would be married, and let what would be tied.”
So when they had been married and returning home again,
Out slipped the cruel old father with seven armed men,
Said, “Since you were determined to be the soldier's wife
Down in some lonesome valley I will shortly take his life.”
“Oh,” says the little soldier, “there is no time to tattle,
Why, I've just been married and I'm in the fix for battle.
He drew his sword, his pistol, and he caused them to rattle
And the lady held the horses while the soldier fought the battle.
First one that he came to, he tun him through the main,
The next one that he came to, he served him the same.
“Oh, let's run,” said the others, “or we shall all be slain.
For to fight the valiant soldier we see it's all in vain.”
Up stepped her cruel old father, a-speaking mighty bold.
“You can have my daughter and a thousand pound in gold.”
“Oh, fight on,” says the lady, “for the pile it is too small.”
“Oh, stop, stop,” says her father, “and you shall have it all.”
Danny or Harry Brazil sing Bold Keeper
It's of a bold keeper in the chase of his deer,
For the likes a bold keeper you seldom shall hear
He courted a nobleman's daughter so fair
And you seldom shall hear of such doings.
As they were riding through meadows so wide
With their large swords and buckles hung down by their side
There she met her father with twenty bright men
And their large glittering swords drawn ready in hand.
“Now then bold keeper, don't you stand to tattle.
I can see by the way that they means for a battle.”
They cut him they slain to the ground they stood on
And the lady held the horse while bold keeper fought on.
“Now then bold keeper, I pray hold your hand.
You shall have my daughter, ten thousand in hand.”
“Oh no, dearest father, that is too small a sum.”
“It's hold your tongue, daughter, this will shall be done.
If you are as willing to those church you'll ride
And there you'll get married, brave lady of mine.”
Pilgrims' Way sing Only a Soldier
I will tell you of a soldier who lately came from war,
He courted a lady who had riches in great store.
Her riches were so great that they scarcely could be told
And yet she loved her soldier for he was brave and bold.
She said, “My honoured soldier, I fain would be your wife,
But my old Tory father would surely take my life.”
He took his sword and pistols and he hung them by his side,
And swore that he would marry her, whatever did betide.
As they had been to church and were coming home again
They met her cruel father and seven well-armed men.
“Let us flee”, cried the lady, “for fear we shall be slain.”
“Fear nothing“, said the soldier to his charmer again.
But her father then addressed her and unto her did say,
“What is this behaviour, is this your wedding day?
Since you have been so foolish to be a soldier’s wife
All in this lonesome valley I will surely end your life.”
“Oh no”, cried the soldier, “you know not what you say,
I have not been defeated and shall not be today!”
He drew forth his broadsword and his pistol he did rattle
And the lady held the horses while the soldier fought the battle.
Now the first man he came to, he had him quickly slain,
And the second man he came to, he ran him through the same.
“Let us flee”, cried the others, “or else we shall be slain,
To fight a valiant soldier is surely all in vain!”
The father cried, “You butcher, you make my blood run cold,
But you shall have my daughter and a thousand pounds in gold.”
“Fight on”, cried the lady, “our portion is too small!”
“Stay your hand”, cried the father, “and you shall have it all.”
So he took the soldier home and he made him son and heir,
But not for love he bore him, but just from dread and fear,
There never was a soldier who would ever fire a gun,
Who would ever flinch a hair till the battle it was won.
So don’t despise a soldier because that he is poor,
He truly is a knight, as he was in days of yore,
He’s bold, brisk and jolly, both sociable and free,
He’d soon as fight for love as to fight for liberty.