The Soldier Bride's Lament- Mrs. John W. Combs (KY) pre1925 Josiah Combs
[From Josiah Combs 1925 book, Folk-Songs of the Southern United States. I presume the informant is a relative.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
The Soldier Bride's Lament- Mrs. John W. Combs (KY) pre1925 Josiah Combs
1. The night that I were married,
And on my new-married bed,
Up stepped the old sea captain,
And stood at my bed head.
2. Saying, "Arise you up, my new-married man,
And go along with me,
To the lowlands of Holland,
To fight your enemy."
3. Old Holland is a pretty place,
And in there grows no green;
Oh, isn't that a pretty place
For soldiers to obtain?
4. The sugar grapes are plenty,
And wine drops from the tree,
But the lowland of Holland
Has parted my love and me.
5. Says mother to her daughter,
"What makes you so lament?
Aren't there men enough in this country
To give your heart content?"
6. "There is men enough in this country
But none of them suits me;
He shall not go to old Holland
No, that never can be."
7. "No rings upon my fingers,
No comb within my hair;
No handkerchief upon my neck,
To show my beauty fair."
8. "A bride, a bride, a bride," she cried,
Most glorious to behold;
Her hair hung around her shoulders,
Like lovely links of gold.