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Version A

 

My father he's a knight and a knight of high renown 
 If I should wed a soldier it would bring his honour down.                                   
 It's your birth and my birth it never will agree,
So take it as a warning, bold dragoon, cried she.

No warning, no warning, no warning will I take;
I'd rather die than live for my own true lover's sake.
The lady heard these words which made her heart to bleed.
To church they went together and got married with speed.

In going up to church and coming back again
The lady spied her father with seven arm-ed men.
Look yonder, cried the lady, we both shall be slain
For yonder comes my father with seven arm-ed men.

There is no time to prittle, there is no time to prattle
The soldier being all arm-ed prepared for the battle
The soldier with his broadsword he made their bones to rattle
And the lady held the horse while the dragoon fought the battle.

Stay your hand, stay your hand, dragoon, he cried, dragoon, stay your hand,
For you shall have my daughter and ten thousand pound in hand.
Fight on, cried the lady, the portion is too small.
Fight on, my bold dragoon, you and I will have it all.

Come all you honour-ed ladies that have got gold in store
Pray not despise a soldier although he may be poor,
For they are men of honour belonging to the crown
Here's a health to Queen Victoria and her jolly light dragoon.

 

(Version B)

Come now all you good people, I pray now lend an ear.
'Tis of a jolly dragoon and soon ye shall hear.
He courted a lady, a lady rich and fair.
So how they got married O soon you shall har.

My father was a knight and an honour to the crown
And if I wed a soldier you'll pull his honour down.
And thy birth and my birth will never agree,
So take it as an answer, dear dragoon, says she.

An answer, an answer, an answer I won't take.
I'd rather lay my life down or of my love forsake.
In hearing of these words wishing the lady's heart to bleed
Together they went and was married with speed.

O when they were married and returning back again
She saw her father coming took by armed men.
O dear, replies the lady, I fear we shall be slain.
O fear not al all, says the valiant dragoon.

So now, dearest Polly, no time there is to prattle.
So see how they are armed and fix-ed for the battle.
He drawed his sword and pistol and the buckles they did rattle
The lady held the horse while the dragoon fought the battle.

Now all good people that have got rich in store,
Never distain an soldier because he is poor.
For he that is poor will fight for his own.
Here's a health to the King and the jolly dragoon.

 

(Version C)

My father he's a lord and a lord of high renown.
If I should wed a soldier it shall pull his honour down.
It's your birth and my birth it never will agree
So take it as a warning, bold dragoon, cried she.

A warning, a warning I never intend to take.
I'd rather die than leave you it's all for your sweet sake.
And then he pressed her hand which made to heart to bleed.
To church let us go and get married with speed.

As they were returning from church back again
She met her aged father and seven more arm-ed men
O now, says the lady, we both shall be slain
O feat not at all, says the jolly light dragoon.
With my braodside and cutlash I'll make they bones to rattle
And the lady held the horse while the dragoon fought the battle.

Hold up, my bold dragoon, there i no time to prattle
For don't you see those arm-ed men all fitted for the battle
Hold up, my bold dragoon, my portion is but small;
Hold up, my boldest fellow, and you shall have it all.
Hold up, you bold dragoon, and boldly stand your ground
And you shall have my daughter and thirty thousand pound.

And you young ladies who got bright gold in store
Never distain a soldier for that he is poor.
Although he is poor he will fight for his own.
Here's a health to King Edward and the jolly light dragoon.

 

(Version D)

My father was a lord and a lord of high renown
If ever I wed a soldier 'twill pull his honour down,
So it's your birth and my birth they never will agree
So take it as a warning, bold dragoon, said she.




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Source: Cecil Sharp's Collection of English Folk Songs, Vol 1, p 13, No 3, ed Maud Karpeles , Oxford University Press, 1974

Notes:
Version A sung by Mrs Sage (73) at Chew Stoke, Somerset, 1 April 1907
Version B sung by William Nott at Meshaw, Devonshire, 8 Jan 1904
Version C sung by Charles Ash (63) at Crowcombe, Somerset, 9 September 1908
Version D sung by James Lovell (75) at Ball's Cover, Somerset, 31 July 1908

Roud: 23 (Search Roud index at VWML)
Laws:
Child: 7



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