The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #108693 Message #2264343
Posted By: Joe Offer
17-Feb-08 - 01:37 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req/Add: The Valiant Soldier (Pete Seeger)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Valiant Soldier (Pete Seeger's vers)
Oh, the Pete Seeger version is in the liner notes: http://media.smithsonianglobalsound.org/liner_notes/folkways/FW05210.pdf
The Valiant Soldier
'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.
Source: liner notes from the 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 meny 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. l93-l9.