The Bold Dragoon

The first version here of The Bold Dragoon is the one sung by John Copper and Jon Dudley on the Coppersongs3 CD; words and music are in The Copper Family Song Book, but not in Bob Copper's book, A Song for Every Season.

The second version was collected by Bob Copper in about 1954 from Enos White in Axford, Hampshire: see Chapter Thirteen, pp. 108-113, of Songs and Southern Breezes for the details; and the appendix for the words.


Copper Family version

My father is a captain of very high renown
And if I marry a soldier 'twill pull his honour down.
It's your birth and my birth they never will agree
So take it as a warning, oh bold dragoon, said she.

No warning, no warning I never mean to take,
I'll either wed or die, my love, all for your sweet sake,
And when the lady heard these words it caused her heart to bleed
So to the church they both went and were married with speed.

But when they were married and returning home again,
The lady spied her father with seven armed men.
I'm afraid, said the lady, we both shall be slain soon
O, I fear nothing at all, said the jolly, bold dragoon

There is no time to prittle, there is no time to prattle,
There are seven armed men just fitting for the battle,
For I will draw my broadsword and make their bones to rattle,
The lady held the horse while the dragoon fought the battle.

O, hold your hand, dear dragoon! Dear dragoon hold your hand,
And you shall have my daughter and ten thousand pounds in hand.
Fight on, says the lady, my portion is but small,
O, hold your hand, 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 so poor he will fight for the crown--
Here's health to King George and his jolly bold dragoons.


Enos White version, as collected by Bob Copper

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

No warning, no warning, no warning will I take,
I will either fight or die in the arm 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, said 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.
I'm afraid, said the lady, my portion is but small,
So hold your hand, bold dragoon and you shall have it all.


index New: 8 November 1998 | Now: 17 March 2002 | Garry Gillard