A Soldier- Tillett (NC) 1924 Chappell/ Brown
[Fragment from Folk-Songs of Roanoke and the Abermarle; Chappell; 1939, version A w/music. This abbreviated version I've titled "A Soldier." Sung by C. K. "Tink" Tillett for the Brown Collection (Version A 1 in Volume 4, one verse) at Wanchese, Roanoke Island, December 29, 1922. Collected by Chappell in 1924. "Tink" Tillett was also an informant for Frank Warner.
R. Matteson Jr. ]
A. ["A Soldier"] (Tlllett, 1924, 1935) The Lady and the Dragon
1. A soldier, a soldier, a soldier I know I am,
I know I am a soldier and a very feeble man.
He drew his sword and pistol and caused them for to rattle,
And the lady held the horse till the soldier fought the battle.
The first one he came to he pierced him to the brain,
And the next one he came to he served him the same,
O run, cried the others' we all shall be slain'
For to fight that valiant soldier we find it all in vain.
Hold, says the o1d man, if you will just but hold,
You may have my daughter and a thousand pounds in gold.
No, says the lady, your portion is too small
Hold your hand, says the old man, and you can have it all.
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A(I) The Soldier's Wooing' or 'Yankee Soldier.' Sung by C. K. Tillett. Recorded at Wanchese, Roanoke Island, December 29, 1922. Another title given is 'The Lady Held the Horse of a Soldier.' The first stanza is a compound of two others; the second is the same as stanza 4 of version 86C, II 289. For another version by the same singer, but sung two years later, cf. FSRA 88, No. 50.
Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abb1a1 (2,2,2,2). Circular Tune (Vj.