Soldier's Life, A

DESCRIPTION: After an introduction from "The Sailor Boy," ("A soldier's life is a weary life, Robs young girls..."), the girl is given a letter about her lover, telling her that he is dying. She finds his grave, and says she will join him with joy when she dies
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE:
KEYWORDS: love separation soldier death burial
FOUND IN: US(Ap)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Cox/Hercog/Halpert/Boswell-WVirginia-B, #11, pp. 145-146, "A Soldier's Life" (1 text, 1 tune)
Arnold-FolkSongsofAlabama, p. 49, "The Soldier Boy" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST CoxIIB11 (Partial)
Roud #273
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Sailor Boy (I)" [Laws K12] (lyrics, theme)
NOTES [87 words]: Cox's version clearly opens with material from "The Sailor Boy" (with which Roud lumps it), but this breaks off into something else. The combination probably qualifies as a separate song. Arnold-FolkSongsofAlabama's version appears to be this other song, WITHOUT the "Sailor Boy" opening. Roud still lumps it, but Arnold-FolkSongsofAlabama's version has nothing specific to the Sailor Boy versions -- no building of boats, no asking where the lad is found, no description of a sailor/soldier/lumberman's difficult life. - RBW
Last updated in version 4.2
File: CoxIIB11

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