Origins: King David Was A Soldier

Subject: Origins: King David Was A Soldier
From: GUEST,Rory
Date: 12 Jul 24 - 08:53 PM

King David Was A Soldier

Also known as "King David Had a Pleasant Dream", "The Slighted Soldier"

Roud# 988


1784 Version
A hand-written copy of a version in a manuscript dated 1784 is in the possession of the Dartmouth Libraries Archives & Manuscripts, Hanover, New Hampshire.

Joseph Goffe notebook, Mss 783626, 1784
Rauner Library Archives and Manuscripts, Hanover, New Hampshire

Description
Notebook from Joseph Goffe (1766-1846) containing an account of the labor and cost of building a saw mill in Bedford, N.H. Entries for work done for Samuel Goffe. On last six pages are songs.
Dates: 1783-11-26 - 1784-12-17

Joseph Goffe (1766-1846) was born in Bedford, N.H. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1791, and was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church at Sutton, Mass., in 1794, and was dismissed from that church in 1830. His published works include: The Flaming Sword .... (Worcester, 1816); Incapable of Vindication ... (Worcester, 1817); Spirits in Prison ... (Worcester, 1803); and others.

A thankyou to Scout Noffke, for providing images of manuscript,
Reference & Administrative Specialist
Rauner Special Collections Library


The soldier and the pretty maid
as they walk'd forth one day
With kisses and kind compliments
unto her he did say

Love let me kiss your rubie lips
'twill make me somewhat bolder
O no kind sir my mamma says
I must not kiss with a soldier

The soldier being a brisk young man
he took her by the hand
Madam says he you plainly see
the worlds at our command

A soldier is a pillar strong
he is the lands upholder
And he's a fool and she's to blame
that will speak against a soldier

King David dream'd a pleasant dream
as he lay on the ground
He dream'd that he a king should be
and wear a golden crown

When he throw'd off his shepherds cloak
that hung upon his shoulders
He took up the sword that by him lay
and so became a soldier

He slew Goliah with a stone
which prov'd his overthrow
And sent his head to Jerusalem
in spite of Turk or foe

And now he is proclaimed a King
he is the lands upholder
And now he wears a crown of gold
and is both king and soldier


ca.1825 Version
King David was a Soldier

An eight page chapbook of six ballads printed in Scotland held at the National Library of Scotland.
He comes from the wars; Love’s young dream; A soldiers gratitude; Father Paul; My fond shepherds; King David was a soldier
Publisher: Glasgow: Printed for the Booksellers

A soldier and a bonnie lass
Went out together one day,
With kisses and kind compliments,
He unto her did say;
Love, dare I kiss thy ruby lips,
’Tould make me something bolder,
Oh no, Oh no, my minnie says,
I may na kiss wi' a soldier.

The soldier being a proper youth.
He took her by the hand,
Say he, my dear the soldier lad
Has the world at his command:
Besides he is a pillar strong,
And he's the land's upholder,
And he's a rogue, and she's a fool,
That speaks against a soldier.

King David once he dream'd a dream,
As he lay on the ground;
He dream‘d that he a king would be,
And wear a golden crown,
Then he laid off his shepherd's crook,
Which he wore o’re his shoulder,
He took a sword that by him lay
And so became a soldier.

He kill'd Goliah at one sad stroke,
Which proved his overthrow,
His head he sent to Jerusalem,
In spite of all his foes.
Oh, there he was proclaimed a king,
And he was the land's upholder,
And he’s a rogue, and she’s a fool,
That speaks against a soldier.


Earliest known dates of songs in this chapbook

"He comes from the wars" or "Rest Warrior, Rest"
By Michael Kelly 1762-1826
In songsters, chapbooks, broadsides from 1826

"Love's Young Dream"
By Thomas Moore 1779-1852
In his publication Irish Melodies, number four, 1811

"A Soldier's Gratitude"
By Henry Rowley Bishop 1786-1855
Date 1817

"Father Paul"
In the publication "Calliope" 1788

"My Fond Shepherds of late were so blest"
By Thomas Augustine Arne 1710-1778.
Date 1760-1765

So we can assume this chapbook was printed no earlier than about 1825.


1905 Version
King David Had a Pleasant Dream

Collected from Jesse Williams, 1905 and published in Ballads and Songs Collected By the Missouri Folk-Lore Society by editor Belden, H.M. 1940, p.484-486

A soldier and a comely maid, as they walked forth one day,
Many a handsome compliment he unto her did say:
"And shall I kiss your ruby lips? 'Twould make me somewhat bolder."
But "O no, sir; my mamma says I must not kiss a soldier."

The soldier being a forward youth, he took her by the hand
And says, "My dear, the soldier has the world at his command.
Besides, he is the pillow (pillar) strong, he is the land's upholder;
And he's to blame, and she's the same, that speaks against a soldier."

"King David dreamed a pleasant dream as he lay on the ground;
He dreamed he had become a king and wore a golden crown.
He threw off his shepherd cloak that hung about his shoulder,
Picked up his sword that by him laid, and so became a soldier.

"He slew Goliath with a stone that proved his overthrow,
And took his head to Jerusalem in spite of friend or foe;
There he was proclaimed a king, he was the land's upholder,
With a golden crown upon his head he was both king and soldier."

These words they pierced the fair maid's breast, that caused her thus to say,
"I always shall a soldier love until my dying day.
A soldier looks so neat and trim, with his gun fixed on his shoulder!
In spite of all my mamma says I'II kiss the handsome soldier."

"Long may he live and reign"' she says, "and be forever blessed;
And when his days are at an end may he see eternal rest.
But she of whom her love was true was worth a mint of money;
But he of whom his love was false wasn't worth a single penny."

Subject: RE: Origins: King David Was A Soldier
From: GUEST,Rory
Date: 12 Jul 24 - 08:54 PM

Are there any recordings?