The Valiant Soldier- Glasscock (NC) 1943 Brown B
[My title. The Brown Collection 1952, version B. Brown notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
86. The Soldier's Wooing
This old broadside ballad — it goes back at least to the seventeenth century — bears some resemblance in its central scene to 'Earl Brand' (Child 7) and to 'Erlinton' (Child 8) but is quite different in temper and has maintained an identity of its own through many generations. It is widely known and sung. See B.SI-I 103, and add to the references there given Virginia (FSV 66), North Carolina (FSRA 88-90), Tennessee (BTFLS 11 9-10), the Ozarks (OPS I 303-7), Ohio (BSO 14-17), Illinois (JAFL LXX 215-16), and Michigan (BSSM 380-1).
B. [The Valiant Soldier] No title given by informant. From a manuscript notebook lent to Dr. Brown in 1943 by Mrs. Harold Glasscock of Raleigh. Most or all of her songs Mrs. Glasscock learned from her parents, and she herself can sing them, but no recording of this one has been made.
1 'Oh, soldier, oh, soldier, I fain would be your wife.
But my father is so cruel he soon would end my life.'
Away to the parson's; returning home again,
They met her old father with seven armed men.
2 'Oh, daughter, oh, daughter, oh, daughter,' said he,
'Did ever I think you'd bring such a scandal on me.
Did ever I think you'd be young Carvender's wife?
How[1] down in yonder valley I soon shall end your life.'
3 'Oh, stop,' said the soldier, 'I have no time to prattle.'
[I am but a small man not fitten for a battle] [2]
He drew his sword and pistol and caused them to rattle.
The ladies held the horses while the soldier fought the battle.
4 The first one he came to he run him through the main[3];
The next one he came to he served him the same.
'Let's run,' says all the rest, 'for I fear we will be slain.
To fight a valiant soldier I see it's all in vain.'
5 'Oh, hold your hand, ye soldier . . .
You shall have daughter, house, and land.'
'Fight on,' said the lady, 'the portion is too small.'
'Oh, hold your hand, ye soldier, and you shall have it all.
6 She got on their horses and homeward they did ride;
A fine wedding dinner for them he did provide.
He called him his son and made them his heir;
'Twas not through love but through pure fear."
7 Come all ye young maidens with money laid in store,
Never slight a soldier because he's sometimes poor.
A soldier, a soldier, both jolly, brave, and free,
They fight for their wives and their rights of liberty.
1. So the manuscript; miswritten for "Now"?
2. this verse is missing- the line is from a similar stanza from Miss Martha Davis, 1915- Virginia
3 through amain. This should be or originally was "amain" which according to the Random House Dictionary: the origin of this Archaic adverb is c. 1530–40, "a-main" meaning 1. with full force. or 2. at full speed.