Annotation:Soldier's Adieu (1) (The)

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X:1 T:Soldier's Adieu [1], The M:C L:1/8 R:Air B:James Aird – Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 5 B:(Glasgow, 1797, No. 26, p. 10) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:G d|g3f g2f2|d3c B2zc|d2d2B2G2|F2A2 z2d2|g3f g2 (fe)|d3c B2 B>d| c3B (BA) (GF)|G3A G2 zF|B3B d2d2|g2g2B2 B/d/g/b/|a3d d2 ^c>d|d2d2 z2d2| d3c Bcde|=f3F E2ze|e3d ^c>d ef|g3G F2zd|gfge d3 e/c/|B>c A>G G3G| B2G2 G4|dedc B2d2|g2g2 B3c|d2B2e4|e2 d/c/ A/G/ F2d2| g3d a2d2|b3a g3f|e3d c3B|A2 Bc d3d|B2G2 z2z||

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SOLDIER'S ADIEU [1], THE. English, Air (whole time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. "The Soldier's Adieu" [Roud Number 24884] is a song by English composer, musician, dramatist, novelist and actor Charles Dibdin (1745-1814), famous for his sea songs and patriotic anthems. Dibdin had directly experienced the terrors of war, being on a ship that was captured by the French in the Seven Years War, before his rise in renown as an actor and composer. A prolific songwriter, he composed words and music to over 600 songs. In addition he was a successful dramatist, working in conjunction with David Garrick until the two had a falling out. In 1803, Dibdin was given a contract to produce music and lyrics to promote support for the troops and was promised a pension by the government in honor of his patriotic output. It came at a time when England seemed nearly always either at war with France or in an uneasy truce, and needed propaganda for recruitment. However, with a change in governments several years later Dibdin's pension was withdrawn, forcing him to lecture to sustain himself. He never regained the popularity he once had.

"Soldier's Adieu [1]" was first performed in his opera The Wags (1790) and was reprinted many times in Britain and America, with eight copies surviving in the Bodleian collection alone. The song had currency into the early 19th century and appears in a several musicians' manuscript collections and song anthologies.

Adieu, adieu my only life,
My duty calls me from thee;
Remember thou'rt a Soldier's wife,
Those tears but ill become thee

What though by duty I am call'd
Where thund'ring cannons rattle,
Where valour's self might stand appal'd
Where valours self might stand appal'd,

When on the wings of thy dear love
To heav'n above thy fervent orisons
Had flown the tender pray'r thou put up there
Shall call a guardian Angel down,
Shall call a guardian Angel down
To watch me in the battle.

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