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The Bold Dragoon / Only a Soldier

[ Roud 321 ; Laws M27 ; Ballad Index LM27 ; trad.]

The Bold Dragoon is a song from the repertoire of the Copper Family. Bob Copper sang it on his Topic LP Sweet Rose in June, and John Copper and Jon Dudley sang it on Coppersongs 3: The Legacy Continues.

Heather Wood sang The Bold Dragoon in 1967 on The Young Tradition's second album, So Cheerfully Round. She commented in the album liner notes:

The Bold Dragoon was collected by Bob Copper from Enos White of Axford, Hants. It has connections with Earl Brand (Child 7) but this version is far nearer to popular taste than the morbid saga which the longer ballad relates, in which the Earl, after killing off his father and seven men (brothers in some versions) dies, and is followed rapidly to the grave by his beloved. Standard ballad ending about red roses and briars. Enos White started work on the farm when he was seven; he drove a two horse plough at the age of eight, For most of his life he was a carter. When this song was collected in 1955 he was working as a gardener.

Cyril Tawney sang The Bold Dragoon in 1976 on his Trailer album Down Among the Barley Straw.

Pilgrims' Way sang the related song Only a Soldier in 2011 on their CD Wayside Courtesies. They commented in their sleeve notes:

This song comes from the repertoire of New Hampshire singer Jeff Warner, whose parents, Frank and Anne, collected it from Lena Bourne (or “Grammy”) Fish during the 1940s. Also recorded by Paul Brady, one of Lucy's all-time favourite singers. Only a Soldier is a rollicking tale of old-fashioned chivalry and serves as a warning to all loving parents not to interfere too much in the romantic lives of their children, especially those who regularly carry a broadsword and pistol!

Lyrics

The Young Tradition sing The Bold Dragoon

“My father is a lawyer, a lord of high renown,
If I should wed a soldier, it will pull my honour down,
Then your birth and my birth it never will agree,
So you'll take this as a warning, bold dragoon,” said she.

“No warning, no warning, no warning will I take,
I would either fight or die, my love, all for thy sweet sake.”
Then hearing of those words made the lady's heart to bleed
And away they went to church and got married with speed.

And when they had a-been to church and turning home again,
The lady met her father and seven armed men.
“I'm afraid,” says the lady, “we both shall be slain.”
“My fear is not at all,” said the jolly dragoon.

So the dragoon drew his sword, cut flesh and made the bones to rattle
And the lady held his horse while the dragoon fought the battle.

“O, hold your hand bold dragoon, bold dragoon hold your hand,
And you shall have my daughter, ten thousand pounds in hand.”
“Fight on,” said the lady, “My portion is too small,
Fight on, my dear dragoon, and you shall have it all.”

So all you young ladies that have got gold in store
Never despise a soldier although he is so poor,
Although he is poor he will fight for the crown.
Here's a health unto King George and to his jolly dragoon.

Pilgrims' Way sing Only a Soldier

I will tell you of a soldier who lately came from war,
He courted a lady who had riches in great store.
Her riches were so great that they scarcely could be told
And yet she loved her soldier for he was brave and bold.

She said, “My honoured soldier, I fain would be your wife,
But my old Tory father would surely take my life.”
He took his sword and pistols and he hung them by his side,
And swore that he would marry her, whatever did betide.

As they had been to church and were coming home again
They met her cruel father and seven well-armed men.
“Let us flee”, cried the lady, “for fear we shall be slain.”
“Fear nothing“, said the soldier to his charmer again.

But her father then addressed her and unto her did say,
“What is this behaviour, is this your wedding day?
Since you have been so foolish to be a soldier’s wife
All in this lonesome valley I will surely end your life.”

“Oh no”, cried the soldier, “you know not what you say,
I have not been defeated and shall not be today!”
He drew forth his broadsword and his pistol he did rattle
And the lady held the horses while the soldier fought the battle.

Now the first man he came to, he had him quickly slain,
And the second man he came to, he ran him through the same.
“Let us flee”, cried the others, “or else we shall be slain,
To fight a valiant soldier is surely all in vain!”

The father cried, “You butcher, you make my blood run cold,
But you shall have my daughter and a thousand pounds in gold.”
“Fight on”, cried the lady, “our portion is too small!”
“Stay your hand”, cried the father, “and you shall have it all.”

So he took the soldier home and he made him son and heir,
But not for love he bore him, but just from dread and fear,
There never was a soldier who would ever fire a gun,
Who would ever flinch a hair till the battle it was won.

So don’t despise a soldier because that he is poor,
He truly is a knight, as he was in days of yore,
He’s bold, brisk and jolly, both sociable and free,
He’d soon as fight for love as to fight for liberty.