John must you lend your fine horse for the fight?
Beautiful horse, black as the night.
John if you listen and do as I say,
He will be safe, out of the fray.
Hide your fine horse, black as the night,
Deep in the fields,far out of sight.
Then when the fighting is over some day,
He will be safe, out of the fray.

Similar song:
Three good horses in the field,
Dancing, prancing, neighing nodding there,
Three good horses in the field,
Three good horses all in a row.

Possibly Russian folk songs. Learned these in the 1950's, elementary school, Wisconsin