Soldier Boy- Buna Hicks (NC) 1966 Burton/Manning
[From: Folksongs - Volume 2, page 61 by Thomas G. Burton, ‎Ambrose N. Manning, 1971 Their notes follow. Consider Uncle Monroe's version [Lee Monroe Presnell, c. 1960] is also from Presnell family, there is considerable variation. Uncle Monroe's version ends with the "Dig a grave" stanza.
R. Matteson 2017]
The favorite English song "Soldier Boy," "Sailor Boy," "Oh Captain, Captain Tell Me True, " or "Sweet William" is related to several British broadsides of the last century, among them "A New Song Call'd The Young Lady's Lamentation For The
SOLDIER BOY (Laws K12) --Sung by Buna Hicks, October 29, 1966, and August 26, 1968; learned from her father, Andrew Jackson Presnell.
1. Soldier trade is a cruel life,
[It] robs old maids of their hearts' delight.
[It] causes some for to weep and to mourn
The loss of their soldier boy never to return.
2. Dark was the color of my true lover's hair,
His cheeks was like a lily fair.
If he will return, it will give me great joy;
I never love no other like my sweet soldier boy.
3. "Father, Father, build me a boat,
And over the ocean I may float,
And every ship that passes by
There I inquire of my sweet soldier boy."
4. She saw three ships a-coming from Spain
She drove her ship into the plain [main]
She halted each captain as they drew near[1],
Is my Sweet William sailing here?
5. "Oh, no, lady, he's not here;
He's drownded in the gulf, my dear.
At the head of Rocky Island as we passed by,
There we left your soldier boy lie. "
6. She rowed her boat against the rocks,
Just like this lady's heart was broke.
She wrung her hands into her hair,
Just like the lady in despair.
7. She called for a seat to sit upon,
And pen and ink to write it down,
At the end of every line she dropped a tear,
At the end of ever' verse she cried, "Oh my dear."
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1. Alternative text, line 3 and 4:
Captain, captain tell me true,
Does my sweet William sail with you?