The Soldier Lad- William Watson (Aber) 1907 Greig A
[Generic title. From The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection. It's related to the revision, "Maid and Soldier." The Scottish versions retain the opening stanza of "Waukrife".
R. Matteson 2018]
The Soldier Lad - sung by William Watson, New Byth, Aberdeenshire; collected by Gavin Grieg about 1907.
1. As I went up high, high hill,
I met a bonnie lassie;
She looked at me, and I at her,
And oh she was so saucy.
2. Where are ye gaun, my pretty lass,
Where are ye gaun, my honey?
Right modestly she answered me,
An eeran [errand] to my mammy.
3. "Wad ye tak' a man my bonnie lass,
"Wad ye tak' a man my honey?
Right modestly she answered me,
I daurna [dare not] for my mammy.
4. "Where do ye dwell, my bonnie lass,
"Where do ye dwell, my honey?
Right modestly she answer'd me,
"In a wee hoose by my mammy."
5. What is your name my bonnie lass
What is your name my honey
Right modestly she answered me,
"They ca' me Bonny Annie."
6. "I'll come up to your chamber at night
When the moon is shining clearly,
An' ye will rise an' let me in
An' the auld wife winna hear me."
7. She up to your chamber at nicht
When the moon is shining clearly,
And she did rise an' let me in
And the auld wife didna hear them.
8. When he had lain wi' her a' nicht
And pairt o' the next mornin'
An' up he rose, put on his clothes
"I must away my darlin'."
9. "Now, sodger, you maun mairry me,
For noo's the time or never;
Noo, sodger, you maun mairry me,
Or thance I'm done for ever."
10. I have a wife in my own country
And why should I abuse her?
I have a sweetheart in every toon
An' a girlie when I choose her.
11. The soldier's lad is my delight,
The "white bob" is my darlin',
The grenadiers deserve a cheer,
For they march twice ere mormin'.