The White Cockade Words and music are in The Copper Family Song Book, and in Bob Copper's book, A Song for Every Season. The White Cockade was recorded by Bob Copper on Come All Ye Bold Britons. The Watersons have also recorded The White Cockade. Bob Davenport with The Rakes sing the song on Folksound of Britain.
Coppers version'Twas on one summer's morning as my love walked over the plain,
He had no thought of enlisting when a soldier to him came,
Who so kindly invited him to drink the ale that's brown,
He advanced, he advanced, he advanced him a shilling
All to fight for the Crown.So now my love has enlisted and he wears a white cockade,
He is a handsome young man, likewise a roving blade,
He is a handsome young man and he's going to serve the King,
Oh, my very, oh, my very, oh, my very heart is breaking
All for the loss of him.Oh, may he never prosper and may he never thrive
With anything he takes in hand, this world while he's alive,
May the very ground he walks upon the grass refuse to grow,
Since he's being, since he's being, since he's being the only cause of
My sorrow, grief and woe.He pulled out his pocket handkerchief to wipe her flowing tears,
He said, My dear, dry up those tears likewise those mournful sighs,
Be you of good courage stout and bold while I march over the plain,
Then I'll marry, then I'll marry, then I'll marry you, my dearest,
When I return again.
Watersons versionTis true my love's enlisted and he wears a white cockade.
He is a handsome young lad likewise a roving blade.
He is a handsome young lad just right to serve a king.
O my very o my very o my very o my very
heart is breaking all for the loss of him.As I roved out one morning as I wandered over yon moors
I had no thoughts of 'listing till a soldier did me cross.
He kindly did invite me to take a flowing bowl.
He advanced he advanced he advanced he advanced
me the money two guineas and a crown.My love is tall and handsome and comely for to see
but by a sad misfortune a soldier now is he.
May the man that first enlisted him not prosper night and day!
How I wish that how I wish that how I wish that how I wish that
he may perish all in the foaming spray!And may he never prosper and may he never thrive
on that he puts his hands to as long as he's alive!
May the very ground he treads upon the grass refuse to bloom
Since he'as been since he'as been since he'as been since he'as been
my only cause of my sorrow grief and gloom!She's then pulled out her handkerchief to wipe her flowing tears.
Wipe up wipe up them mournful tears likewise them mournful sighs!
And be you of good courage till I return again!
You and I love you and I love you and I love you and I love
will be married when I return again.
New: 15 October 1998 | Now: 16 January 2003 | Watersons version transcribed from the singing of The Watersons by Garry Gillard, with thanks also to Wolfgang Hell. Coppers version from The Copper Family Song Book.