The Soldier's Wife- Griffin (AR) 1953 Parler
[From Ozark Folksong Collection Reel 178, Item 1. Collected by M.C. Parler.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Soldier's Wife- Sung by Mrs. Miner Griffin; Conway, Ark.. December 12, 1953.
In Knoxville city, I've often heard them say,
There lived a valiant lady, all bent and so gay,
Her riches were so great they had never yet been told,
And she loved a valiant soldier because he was so bold.
She wrote him a letter and quickly to him sent,
And when he received it to meet her he went,
He waved his sword and pistol, and swung them by his side,
And he swore they would be married whatever may betide.
They married, but they returned home again,
She met her aged father and seven armed men,
Saying daughter, O daughter, you are a soldier's wife,
And it's in this lonely valley, I intend to end your life.
Oh, said the soldier, I'll try you for that,
Which caused him to lay off his coat and his hat,
He waved his sword and pistol and caused them to rattle,
And the lady held the horses, while he safely fought the battle.
The first one he came to he laid him on the plain,
The next one he came to he done him up the same,
Let's run said the others or surely we'll be slain,
For to fight a valiant soldier we find it all in vain.
Give over, give over, the old man cried,
And you shall have my daughter, five hundred pounds beside,
Fight on, said the lady, your fortune is but small,
Then give over dearest soldier, and you shall have it all.
Come all you fair ladies, take warning by me,
And never slight a soldier, of any degree,
A soldier, is a gentleman, so jolly and so gay,
And so manfully he fights for his rights and liberty.