TROOPER AND THE MAID



A soldier lad came here last night

With riding he was weary

A soldier lad came here last night

And the moon was shining clearly



Bonnie lassie, I'll lie near ye yet

Bonnie lassie, I'll lie near ye

And I'll gar all your ribbons reel

In the morning eer I leave ye



She's taken his good horse by the head

And led him to the stable

She's given him corn and hay to eat

As muckle as he was able



She's taken the trooper by the hand

And led him to her chamber

She's given him a stoop of the wine to drink

And his love it flared like tinder



She's made her bed both broad and long

She's made it like a lady

She's taken her nitegown over her head

Saying soldier are you ready



He's taken off his belted coat

Likewise his hat and feather

He's leaned his sword against the door

And now he's down aside her



They had not been in bed an hour

An hour but scarce a quarter

When the drums came sounding up the street

And ilka beat was shorter



Its up, up, up, our colonel cried

It's up, up, up and away, then

It's up, up, up, our colonel cried

The morn's our battle day then



She's taken her coatie over her head

She's followed him up to Stirling

She grew so full that she couldn't bow

And he left her in Dunferline



It's when will you come back again

My own dear soldier laddie

When will you come back again

And be your bairnie's daddy



Oh, hold your tongue my bonnie wee lass

Never let this parting grieve thee

When heather cows grow oxen bows

Bonnie lassie I'll come and see ye



sung by Jean Redpath on Father Adam, Ewan MacColl on Classic

Scots Ballads, and Thoedore Bikel on Folksinger's Choice

Child #299

@ballad @love

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