Red River Shore; Sung by Thomas Wilson Watley; Pocahontas, Arkansas 8/16/63; learned in 1908. Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr.,
[From The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection. Another "Shore" version, this one is more closely related to "Bold Soldier" because a sword is used and he is named a soldier.
R. Matteson 2014]
RED RIVER SHORE (THE VALIANT SOLDIER; NEW RIVER SHORE)
Sung by: Thomas Wilson Watley; Recorded in Pocahontas, Arkansas 8/16/63; learned in 1908
[Listen to Thomas Wilson Watley]
At the foot of yon mountain, where the waters o'erflow,
Sweet music and entertainment, as I onward did go,
I spied a fair damsel; she’s the one I adore.
She’s the one I may marry on the Red River shore.
I asked her most kindly if she’d fancy me:
“My fortune’s not great.” “That’s nothing,” said she.
“Your beauty is a-plenty; you’re the one I adore.
You’re the one I’ll be marrying on the Red River shore.”
But her old cruel father, he came this far to hear.
He said he would deprive her of her Jules so dear.
He sent him away where the loud cannons roar,
To leave his own true love on the Red River shore.
She wrote him a letter; she wrote it most kind,
And under those sealings, those words you may find.
“Come back, my own Jules; you’re the one I adore.
You’re the one I may marry on the Red River shore.”
He received that letter; he received it most sad,
But none of his comrades could make him so glad.
He drew a bright sword, and . . . did go
To meet his own true love on the Red River shore.
But her old cruel father, he came this far to hear,
He said he would deprive her of her Jules so dear.
He raised a small army, full twenty and four
To fight her own true love on the Red River shore.
He drew a bright sword, and he waved it around.
One half of them was killed, and the rest wounded down.
It’s no use, my little army, this you all well know,
To fight a brave soldier on the Red River shore.
So hard is the fortune of all womenkind.
They’re always controlled; they’re always confined.
Compelled by their parents until they’re made wives,
Then slaves for their husbands all the rest of their lives.
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(Dr. Wolf: “Where’d you learn that?”
Mr. Whatley: “I learnt that from old Uncle Pete Cheney about fifty-five years ago.”
Dr. Wolf: “Where’d he live?”
Mr. Whatley: “He was born and raised in Randolph County.”)