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 honored soldier, I fain would be your wife,
But my old Tory father would surely take my life,
He took his sword and pistols and 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 behavior, 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, his pistol he did rattle,
And the lady held the horses while the soldier fought the battle.
Now the first one he came to, he had him quickly slain,
And the next one 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.