Soldier Lover- Mary King (TN) 1929 Henry A
[From: Mellinger Henry's 1938 book, "Folk Songs from the Southern Highlands." His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2017]
SWEET WILLIAM
(Sailor Boy) See Campbell and Sharp, No. 106; Cox, No. no; Sharp ("One Hundred English Folk - Songs"), No. 72; Journal, XXIX, 199; XXX, 363; XXXI, 170; XXXV, 410; Heart Songs, Boston, 1909, p. 67 ("A Song of the Sea"); Franz Rickaby, Ballads and Songs of the Shanty Boy, pp. 85 ("The Pinery Boy"), 210.
A. "Soldier Lover." Obtained from Miss Mary King, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee, August, 1929.
1. Soldier, soldier, drew [do] a-light[1],
That robs poor maids from their heart's delight;
It causes them to weep, and it causes them to mourn,
The loss of a true love never to return.
2. Dark was the color of my true love's hair;
His cheeks were like a lily fair;
If he ever returns, it will give me joy,
For I'll never love any but my soldier boy.
3. "Father, O father, go build me a boat,
That on the ocean I may float;
And every ship that I draw near,
I'll inquire of my soldier dear."
4. She rode her boat all on the main;
She spied three ships coming from Spain;
She hailed each captain as she passed by,
And there she inquired of her soldier dear.
5. "No, lady, no, lady, he is not here,
For he got drownded in the gulf, my dear;
At the head of Rocky Island, as we passed by,
I saw your true lover die."
6. She wrung her hands, she tore her hair,
Just like a lady in despair;
She rowed her boat against a rock;
1 thought to my soul that lady's heart was broke.
7. She called for a chair for to sit upon,
A pen and ink for to write a song;
At the end of every line she dropped a tear;
At the end of every verse she cried, "Oh, my dear."
8. Go, dig my grave both wide and deep,
A marble stone at my head and feet;
And on my breast place a lovely dove,
That the world may know I died for love.
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1. Soldier, soldier [is a] dreary life