Soldier Boy- Rena Hicks (NC) 1933 Abrams/Henry
[From an MS in Abrams Collection; written down from the version in Mellinger Henry's 1933 book, "Songs Sung in he Southern Appalachians." Rena Hicks was born October 26, 1899 and was the wife of Nathan Hicks of Beech Mountain, NC. My grandfather collected from them about the same time with Henry and published several versions Hicks ballads in Beech Mountain Folk-Songs and Ballads, 1936.
R. Matteson 2017]
Soldier Boy- sung by Mrs. Nathan Hicks (Rena Hicks) of Rominger, NC in December, 1933 (typed MS, 2 pages). Original text kept.
1. Soldier trade is a cruel life,
Robs old maid of her heart's delight,
Causes them to weep and moan[1]
For the loss of a soldier boy never to return.
2. Dark was the color of my true love's hair,
His cheeks was like the lily fair;
If he will return it will give me joy,
I will never love any but my sweet soldier boy.
3. 'Father go build me a boat,
And over the ocean I may float.
And ever ship that passes me by
And then I'll inquire for sweet soldier boy.
4. She rowed her boat against the main;
And she saw three ships a-coming from Spain,
She halted each captain as she drew nigh,
"Captain, tell me true, does my sweet soldier boy sail with you?"
5. "Holy[2] lady, he is not here;
He is killed in battle, oh my dear,
At the head of Rocky Point as we passed by,
There we left your sailor boy."
6. She rowed her boat against a rock,
Like this the lady's heart was broke,
She ran her hands in her hair,
Like a lady in despair[3].
7. She called for a chair to set upon,
A pen and ink to write it down;
At the end of each line she dropped a tear
At the end of the verse she cried, "William, my dear."
5. Go, dig a grave both long and deep,
Place a barble[4] stone at my head and feet
Let a dove come and grow all over my grave,
To show to the world that I died for love.
1. "moan" and "mourn" are used interchangeably
2. perhaps for "hola"-- they are Spanish ships
3. originally "Like a lady in the spare"
4. marble