The Valiant Soldier- Pete Seeger
[From Champlain Valley Songs, Folkways recording by Pete Seeger, 1960. This version is from Martin Delorme (Lily Delorme's son) of Salmon River, Clinton County NY. Learned from a neighbor, not his mother.
R. Matteson 2014]
From Traditional Adirondack Music Making (Online): "In the 1950s, Seeger (1919 - ) participated in Milt Okun’s Adirondack Folk Song and Dance Festival in Schroon Lake where he came in contact with numerous local musicians and their music. From that experience, he learned of the intense collecting of regional music by Marjorie Lansing Porter. In 1960, Seeger recorded his own renditions of songs from the Porter collection, including Iroquois and French-language pieces and instrumental fife tunes with the more commonly heard British and American songs and ballads. Folkways Records released this effort under the title Champlain Valley Songs."
Folkways Liner notes: Pete Seeger Folkways Album, Champlain Valley Songs from the Marjorie L. Porter Collection of North Country Folklore. Notes by Marjorie L. Porter and Kenneth S. Goldstein. Folkways Records FH 5210
Notes:
This ballad has become a battleground for various folklorists intent upon determining its relationship to the Child Ballads Nos. 7 (Earl Brand) and 8 (Erlinton). At best, this ballad can be considered only a secondary version of either. It has proven popular throughout the United States in a form more or less similar to the one given here, which appears to have been reworked by some 17th century hack broadside scrivener from an older ballad, perhaps "Earl Brand" or "Erlinton."
This version was collected by Marjorie Porter from Merton Delorme of Salmon River, Clinton County (New York). Mr. Delorme, a hard-working farmer, and a member of the famous Delorme singing family of the Adirondacks, learned many of his songs from his mother, Lily Delorme, but took special pains to point up the fact that "The Valiant Soldier" was learned from a neighbor and not his immediate family.
For additional texts and information, see:
Coffin, T., THE BRITISH TRADITIONAL BALLAD IN NORTH AMERICA, American Folklore Society, Bibliographical Series, Vol. II, 1950. Pp. 37-38. Greene, D.M., The Lady and the Dragoon: A Broadside Ballad in Oral Tradition," Journal of Amer. Folklore, Vol. LXX (1957). Pp. 221-230. Cazden, N., "The Bold Soldier of Yarrow", JAF, Vol. LXVIII, (1950), Pp. 201-209. Laws, G.M., AMERICAN BALLADS PROM BRITISH BROADSIDES, AFS Bibliographical Series, Vol. VIII, 1957. pp. 193-19.
The Valiant Soldier- Martin Delorme, pre1960, recorded Pete Seeger.
[Listen: Valiant Soldier- Pete Seeger]
'Tis of a valiant soldier
Who lately come from war,
He courted a baron's daughter
Of honor do compare.
He courted her for love,
And her love he did obtain,
And I think that they'd no reason
At all to complain.
As they had been to church
And returning home again,
She met her old father and seven armed men.
Then up stepped the old men
And unto her did say,
"Is this your good behavior?
Is this your wedding day?"
And since you've been so foolish
As to become a soldier's wive,
Down in this lonesome valley
I'll end your pleasant life.
Then up steps the soldier
Saying, "I do not like your prattle,
Although I am a bridegroom,
I am prepared for battle."
He drew his sword and pistol
And caused them to rattle,
And the lady held the horse
While the soldier fought the battle.
Well the first one he came to
He ran him through again.
The second one he came to
He served him the same.
"Hold on!" said the old man,
"You make my blood run cold.
It's you shall have my daughter
And 500 pounde of gold."
Then up steps the lady
Saying "The portion is too small.
Fight on and win the battle
And you shall have it all.
Then up steps the old man
And acknowledged him his heir.
'Twas not because he loved him
'Twas out of dread and fear
There never was a soldier
That was fit to carry a gun,
Who would ever flinch a given inch
Till the battle he had won.