Red River Shore- Fife: Cowboy Songs; pub. 1969 (Two Versions)
[From Cowboy and Western Songs: a comprehensive anthology; Alta Stephens Fife, Mary Jo Schwab - 1969. Two 'shore" versions that are related to "Bold Soldier." I assume that the sources of A and B are identified (A is from Dobie, 1925). I do not have the book. They are probably from Lomax and Dobie- earlier collections.
R. Matteson 2014]
Red River Shore: from Cowboy and Western Songs
Version A. Dobie 1925 from J. E. Wilburn and Joe Parks, Lawton County Oklahoma, thirty-five years older.
At the foot of yon mountain where the fountain doth flow,
The greatest creation, where the soft wind doth blow,
There lived a fair maiden; she's the one I adore,
She's the one I would marry on Red River shore.
I spoke to her kindly, saying "Will you marry me?"
My fortune's not great" - "No matter," said she.
"Your beauty's a plenty, you're the one I adore,
You're the one I would marry on Red River shore."
I asked her old father would he give her to me.
"No sir, she shan't marry no cowboy," said he.
So I jumped on my bronco and away I did ride,
And left my true love on Red River side.
She wrote me a letter, and she wrote it so kind,
And in this letter these words you could find:
"Come back to me, darling, you're the one I adore,
You're the one I would marry on Red River shore."
So I jumped on my bronco and away I did ride
To marry my true love on the Red River side.
But her father the secret had learned,
And gathered an army of twenty and four,
To fight this young cowboy on the Red River shore.
I drew my six shooter, shooting round after round,
Till six men were wounded and seven were down.
No use of an army of twenty and four.
I'm bound for my true love on Red River shore.
______________________________
Version B.
At the foot of yonder mountain where often lay snow,
Amusements containing, while a pleasant wind blows.
I spied a fair damsel and she I adore,
She was a-walking on the New River shore.
Says I, "Pretty fair miss, can you fancy me?
My fortune's not great" - "That's nothing," said she.
Your beauty is enough and you I adore,
And you I will marry on the New River shore.
As soon as her old father came this for to hear,
He swore he would part her from her dearest dear;
He sent her away where loud cannons did roar,
And left this young man on the New River shore.
She wrote him a letter containing these lines,
"If you'll look in the letter, these words you will find.
I'll come back again and you I adore,
And you I will marry on the New River shore."
As soon as her old father came this news to hear,
He still vowed he'd part her from her dearest dear,
He gathered a company of twenty or more,
To fight this young man on the New River shore.
He drew his broad sword and he waved it around,
Until seven out of twenty lay dead on the ground;
He wounded five more and wounded them full sore.
Thus gained his true love on the New River shore.