A Soldier's Trade- W. Wells (NC) 1916 Sharp A
[My title. From EFSSA, 1917, 1932 Sharp A,
R. Matteson 2017]
No. 106 Sweet William, Sharp A
["A Soldier's Trade."] Sung by Mr. WILLIAM F. WELLS, at Swannanoa, N. C, Sept. 9, 1916. Hexatonic. Mode 4, b.
1. A soldier's trade is cruel life;
It robs those ladies of their heart's delight,
Causes them for to weep and mourn
The loss of soldier boy never to return.
2 Yellow was the colour of my true love's hair,
Cheeks was like a lily fair.
If he returns it'll give me joy;
Never love any but a sweet soldier boy.
3 Father, father, build me a boat,
Over the ocean I may float.
Every ship that I pass by,
There I enquired for my sweet soldier boy.
4 Lady, lady, he's not here;
Killed him in the battle, my dear.
At the head of Rocky Island as we passed by;
There we left your sweet soldier boy.
5 She run her boat all o'er a rock.
I saw that lady's heart was broke.
She run her hand all through her hair
Like a lady in despair.
6 She called for a chair to sit upon,
A pen and ink to write it down.
At the end of every line she dropped a tear,
At the end of every verse cried: O my dear.
7 Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
A marble stone at my head and feet.
Upon my breast there'll come a turtle dove
To show the world that I died of love.