The Poor Soldier- George (VT) 1933 Flanders C
[From Flanders, Ancient Ballads, 1966; Coffin introduction notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Bold Soldier
(Laws M27, possibly related to Child 7 and Child 8)
"Erlinton," Child 8, is not known in America. However there is a song called "The Bold Soldier," "The Soldier's Wooing," "The Valiant soldier," and so forth, that may in one way or another be related to the tradition of Child 7, "Earl Brand," and "Erlinton." As the ending of this urban piece is sentimental and happy, it seems to have greater affinity to "Erlinton" than to Earl Brand," though Child, I, 88, 106, notes that the traditions of his 7 and 8 may well be one see also the definitive study of the song by David M. Greene in JAF, LXX, 22. Greene sees only the remotest connection, and that through print, between the Child songs and "The Bold Soldier."
"The Bold Soldier," as it is known in the New World, probably dates from after the time of the American Revolution. There is a broadside printed by Nathaniel Coverly of Boston, now to be found as No. 22 of the Isaiah Thomas Collection of Ballads in the American Antiquarian Society's library at Worcester, Massachusetts, which, with others like it, is the source for the American tradition of the song. This broadside, according to Greene, was based on an earlier British printer's version. Greene gives an extensive bibliography of "The Bold soldier" and songs, such as "The Seaman's Renown" and "The Masterpiece of Love songs," that are associated with its history. The story, almost always in the same general form, has been popular with the Anglo-
American press since at least the late 1600's.
The story in "The Bold Soldier" tells of a handsome fellow who elopes with a rich girl. Her father and seven men pursue them. During the scuffle which occurs, the lover fights so bravely he is about to kill all his opponents. At this point, the father decides to agree to the marriage and offers the couple a large sum of money. The girl, rather crassly, refuses to let her champion stop fighting until the father pledges them all his wealth. She reasons she will get the entire estate anyway if her father is slain. The father, thus, has little choice but to give in to her, and he takes the couple home to "happiness ever after," although fear and not love motivates him. A bibliography for Child 7, "Earl Brand," has been given in connection with texts of that song printed above. beyond the exhaustive references by Greene, see Laws, ABBB, 193-94; Coffin, 37-38; Belden, 103; and Phillips Barry, British Ballads from Maine, 377-82, for discussion and bibliography concerning "The Bold Soldier."
The five tunes given here are closely related, thus the information on related tunes is given here instead of in the notes for the individual tunes. They are part of group A in BC1. For melodic relationship see SharpK, 334(C), 335 (D and E), and 337(G and H); Louis E. Chappell, Folk-Songs of Roanoke and the Albemarle, 88; and L.C. record 1735 B (Indiana). Note that the Richards version is slightly outside the group, and that its line 1 is similar to lines 2 and 3 of the others.
C. "Poor Soldier" Elmer George of East Calias Vermont sang this. printed in A Garland of Green Mountain Song.
The Poor Soldier
There was a bold soldier that rarely came from sea.
He courted a lady both honored, rich and free.
Her fortune was so great that it scarcely could be told,
But still she roved the soldier because he was so bold.
As they had been to church one day and was returning home
They met her old father with several arm-ed men.
"Oh, flee," cries the lady, "for fear we shall be slain,
For to fight an angry father is altogether vain.
"Fear not, my dearest charmer," the soldier says again,
"As we are on our, honeymoon, this insult is a shame,
But I am brisk and bold and. sociable and free
And I'm willing to fight for my love as well as liberty."
The old man to- his daughter.in grieving frowns did say,
"Is this your behaviour or is it your wedding day?
since you have been so foolish as to be a soldier's wife
All in this handsome valley, I'll end your pleasant rife."
Oh, then -up speaks the soldier, saying, "I do not like your prattle
Although I am a bridegroom, I am prepared. for battle."
With sword and pistol in his hand, he caused them for to rattle
And the lady held the horse while the soldier fought the battle.
The first man he came to, he quickly had him slain,
The next man he came to he run him through the same.
"Oh, flee," cried the rest, "for feat we shall be slain,
For to fight an able soldier is altogether vain."
Oh, then up speaks the old man, saying, "If you'll only spare my life,
I'll give you ten thousand pounds and my daughter for your wife."
"Fight on," cries the lady, "your portion is too small,
Fight on, fight on, brave soldier, and you shall have it all."
The old man took him home with him and treated him as an heir.
'Tis not because he loved him, but it was for dread and fear,
There never was a soldier 'twas fit to carry a gun
That would either flinch or stir an inch 'til the battle he had won.
Despise not a soldier because that he is poor,
He is as happy on the battlefield as at the barracks door.
He's brave, brisk and bold and sociable and free
And willing to fight for his love as well as for his liberty.